Archbishop Carroll Patriots - 1981 AAA 2004 AA

First Round Results Class A Blackhawk 4 Deer Lakes 0 Highlights: Travis Stoll scores the hat trick for the Cougars & Jake Polas adds insurance as Blackhawk outshoots Deer Lakes 43- 14 & avenges last years playoff loss. John Fitzgerald with the shutout. BANG ! BANG ! Forest Hills 4 Westmont Hilltop 2 Highlights: Freshman Ben Webb scores two goals in the first 1:19 of the 3rd period to tie the game & put Forest Hills ahead as Rangers overcome a 2-0 deficit. Bryan Parkinson with a goal & 2 assists while Kyle Single stops 35 of 37 Westmont shots Sewickley Academy 3 Quigley 2 Highlights: Panthers hold on for victory as Quigley's late rally falls short at the buzzer. Conner Blood with a pair & Scott Limbach with a single as Sewickley Academy wins its first ever playoff game. Richland Cambria 5 Elizabeth Forward 4 [2 OT] Highlights: Rams overcome a 4-3 deficit in the third to tie the game & Mike Werder scores the game winner in second overtime period. Werder scored a pair along with Dean Carpenter, while Jason Layman added the other goal for Richland Cambria. Class AA Pine Richland 6 Canevin 0 Highlights: Josh Fodor & Ryan Tessmer each with a pair as Michael Kearney & Pat Nicholas score shorthanded goals to lead Rams to a shutout win over the Crusaders. Dan Gazzo faces just 12 shots. Montour 4 Moon 2 Highlights: Montour overcomes a 2-1 deficit to begin the 3rd period as Chad Tallotta & Dan Shiwarski put the Spartans ahead & Mario Pannuci adds an empty netter. Andrew Slifkin stops 39 of 42 Montour shots for Moon. ***GAME SUMMARY IS NOW AVAILABLE*** South Park 5 Trinity 3 Highlights: Eagles erase a 2-0 deficit late in the 2nd and add three in the third to defeat Trinity. Larry Locante scores the go ahead goal with a little over ten minutes remaining in regulation. ***GAME SUMMARY IS NOW AVAILABLE*** Greensburg CC 1 Canon McMillan 0 Highlights: Jake Genes stops 29 Canon Mac shots & Josh Kennedy scores the games only goal with 5 1/2 minutes remaining in regulation time Class AAA Mt Lebanon 7 Gateway 0 Highlights: Eric Sloan & Michael Jordan with a pair & Tony Valerino, Dan Wilen and Chad Uddstrom add singles as Blue Devils outshoot Gators 26-14 as Matt Vaughn records another shutout for Mt Lebanon Meadville 8 Cathedral Prep 0 Highlights: Phil Siverd win a pair & CHristian Nickerson with 5 pts as Bulldogs open defense with a pounding of rival Prep. D.J. Durkee, David Moyer, Chris Leone, Rick Thomas and Justin Wilkinson add goals as Meadville outshoots Ramblers 37-17 for a Dan O'Sharuk shutout ***GAME SUMMARY IS NOW AVAILABLE*** Fox Chapel 3 Shaler 1 Highlights: Matt Quigley is the difference as he records a hat trick to fight off upset minded Shaler squad before a packed house at Harmar ***GAME SUMMARY IS NOW AVAILABLE*** Central Catholic 6 McDowell 2 Highlights: Matt Capalongo with a pair as Central defeats McDowell & Russ Hefner stops 26 of 28 shots for the Vikings North Allegheny 3 Baldwin 0 Highlights: Ian Fitzpatrick, Joe Williams & Matt Pekins score as NA outshoots Baldwin 32-17 & Jeff Kristan earns the shutout. Upper St Clair 6 Plum 5 [OT] Highlights: Mike Penkrot scores with 8:27 remaining in first OT period as USC wins a wild one at Ice Castle ***GAME SUMMARY IS NOW AVAILABLE*** Butler 2 Franklin Regional 1 Highlights: Jon Pakutz scores with :08 left in OT as Jared 'Bucky' Holt stops 36 of 37 Franklin shots. Franklin Regional holds a 1-0 lead on a goal by Jimmie Daugherty in the 1st until B.J Tipton ties the game with 8 1/2 minutes left in regulation time Bethel Park 4 Penn Trafford 2 Highlights: Conner McLean breaks 2-2 tie with 1:42 left in the 2nd as Hawks outshoot PT 42-17. ****GAME SUMMARY IS NOW AVAILBLE***

DELMONT – Penn Trafford has had a dream season winning the South Division by edging out rival Franklin Regional by one point for its first ever division title. Coach Todd Purvis was not around for the near playoff upset of Bethel Park in the 1st round of last years playoffs, but is very familiar with the Hawks from his battles as the coach of North Allegheny over the years. The Warrior were hosting their first ever home playoff game before a standing room only crowd at Center Ice Arena and would need to concentrate on playing defensively and eliminate over 450+ penalty minutes which have been the Achilles heel for PT. On the flip side, if Penn Trafford could generate its offensive prowess against BP, it could spell an upset [even though the Warriors were the higher seed] and revenge for the overtime loss from a year ago. Bethel Park coach Jim ‘Mort’ McVay is always looking for an edge and his team’s commitment to doing whatever it takes to put Bethel Park in position to win a championship. Take Bryce Merriam, the Bethel Park goaltender, who joined the team in late January and played in the last seven regular season games and could be seen running out of Varsity games to play in Junior Varsity games just to meet the 10 game minimum for the State Playoffs. This is the kind of commitment expected from a hockey program, which prides itself in being on top of anything that can put itself in a position to win and takes nothing for granted. The Hawks are a dangerous playoff team, who no one wants to play because they are a great defensive team and have found a goaltender, who has a .931ish save percentage, a healthy Dan Zabkar and is finding some scoring touch from 2nd and 3rd line players….. a recipe for playoff success and a legitimate darkhorse. Bethel Park worked its opening period plan to perfection putting Penn Trafford on its heels and outshooting the Warriors 15-7. After a scoreless opening 8 ½ minutes, Jason Hedglen opened the scoring at 6:31. Penn Trafford tied the game at one apiece as Glenn Bowersox beat Merriam at 3:50. Jacobus Bliek scored on an assist from Dan Zabkar to put the Hawks back on top with 2:01 remaining in the opening period. Penn Trafford continued to shoot themselves in the foot in the second period with penalties and Bethel Park kept up the pressure with an 11-6 shot advantage. Bethel Park had a golden opportunity to extend their lead in the second with a 5 on 3 advantage but could not beat Joel Sterniak, who made several keys saves in the period to keep Penn Trafford in the hockey game. Devon McCusker delivered for Penn Trafford as he took the puck through the neutral zone on his off wing shot the puck, which Merriam saved but could not control the rebound and McCusker buried with a wrist shot high over the shoulder of the BP goaltender to tie the game with 5:20 remaining in the middle frame. With 1:42 remaining in the second, BP sharpshooter Conner McLean walked off the near boards and beat Sterniak on the short side over the glove side to give Bethel Park a 3-2 lead. On to the third period and the Blackhawks wasted no time taking control as Michael Diethorn scored on the power play to make Penn Trafford pay for its undiscipline at 14:13 and extend the BP lead to 4-2. Bethel Park continued to frustrate the Warriors by clamping down defensively and yielding only 4 shots on Bryce Merriam and forcing PT into undisciplined penalties and Bethel Park poured 16 more shots for a 42-17 advantage on the evening nullifying a strong goaltending performance by Joel Sterniak, who finished with 38 saves. The Hawks will now move on to face archrival and # 1 seed Mt Lebanon next Monday night at the Mt Lebanon Recreation Center.

DELMONT – Penn Trafford has had a dream season winning the South Division by edging out rival Franklin Regional by one point for its first ever division title. Coach Todd Purvis was not around for the near playoff upset of Bethel Park in the 1st round of last years playoffs, but is very familiar with the Hawks from his battles as the coach of North Allegheny over the years. The Warrior were hosting their first ever home playoff game before a standing room only crowd at Center Ice Arena and would need to concentrate on playing defensively and eliminate over 450+ penalty minutes which have been the Achilles heel for PT. On the flip side, if Penn Trafford could generate its offensive prowess against BP, it could spell an upset [even though the Warriors were the higher seed] and revenge for the overtime loss from a year ago. Bethel Park coach Jim ‘Mort’ McVay is always looking for an edge and his team’s commitment to doing whatever it takes to put Bethel Park in position to win a championship. Take Bryce Merriam, the Bethel Park goaltender, who joined the team in late January and played in the last seven regular season games and could be seen running out of Varsity games to play in Junior Varsity games just to meet the 10 game minimum for the State Playoffs. This is the kind of commitment expected from a hockey program, which prides itself in being on top of anything that can put itself in a position to win and takes nothing for granted. The Hawks are a dangerous playoff team, who no one wants to play because they are a great defensive team and have found a goaltender, who has a .931ish save percentage, a healthy Dan Zabkar and is finding some scoring touch from 2nd and 3rd line players….. a recipe for playoff success and a legitimate darkhorse. Bethel Park worked its opening period plan to perfection putting Penn Trafford on its heels and outshooting the Warriors 15-7. After a scoreless opening 8 ½ minutes, Jason Hedglen opened the scoring at 6:31. Penn Trafford tied the game at one apiece as Glenn Bowersox beat Merriam at 3:50. Jacobus Bliek scored on an assist from Dan Zabkar to put the Hawks back on top with 2:01 remaining in the opening period. Penn Trafford continued to shoot themselves in the foot in the second period with penalties and Bethel Park kept up the pressure with an 11-6 shot advantage. Bethel Park had a golden opportunity to extend their lead in the second with a 5 on 3 advantage but could not beat Joel Sterniak, who made several keys saves in the period to keep Penn Trafford in the hockey game. Devon McCusker delivered for Penn Trafford as he took the puck through the neutral zone on his off wing shot the puck, which Merriam saved but could not control the rebound and McCusker buried with a wrist shot high over the shoulder of the BP goaltender to tie the game with 5:20 remaining in the middle frame. With 1:42 remaining in the second, BP sharpshooter Conner McLean walked off the near boards and beat Sterniak on the short side over the glove side to give Bethel Park a 3-2 lead. On to the third period and the Blackhawks wasted no time taking control as Michael Diethorn scored on the power play to make Penn Trafford pay for its undiscipline at 14:13 and extend the BP lead to 4-2. Bethel Park continued to frustrate the Warriors by clamping down defensively and yielding only 4 shots on Bryce Merriam and forcing PT into undisciplined penalties and Bethel Park poured 16 more shots for a 42-17 advantage on the evening nullifying a strong goaltending performance by Joel Sterniak, who finished with 38 saves. The Hawks will now move on to face archrival and # 1 seed Mt Lebanon next Monday night at the Mt Lebanon Recreation Center.

CASTLE SHANNON – The Trinity hockey program has not been exactly a Class AA power over the years, but under the guidance of Larry Marks the team is a far cry from the 1-18-1 record in 2001-2002. The Hillers entered the 2004 Penguins Cup playoffs for the second straight year and while making the playoffs was a big deal last year, Trinity was looking for its first ever playoff victory. The Hillers have a short bench and have relied heavily on players like Jeff Hildebrand, Chris Graff, Greg Bandzuch, Josh Kelly and Matt Warco, who have provided over 80 % of Trinity’s scoring throughout the season. South Park has been to the Penguins Cup playoffs for 16 years and has yet to capture a Penguins Cup in 31 years, which is amazing given the talent that has been developed in the program over the years. The closest call believe it or not was way back in 1976, when the Eagles lost 3-2 to Gateway, who went on the next day to lose to Abington in the Class AA State Championship. The best South Park team may have been in 1997, when the Eagles were SHIHL AA Champions and could not overcome a early deficit against eventual Pa State AA Champions Erie Cathedral Prep and lost 5-3 at Rostraver. Head coach Bob Juha’s team down the stretch looked more like a team heading out of the playoffs as the Eagles have struggled to score goals when they need them and a prime candidate for a first round exit if they didn’t change things in a hurry. Trinity slowed the pace of the game down in the first period to perfection with smart play and good puck control, which kept the short Hiller bench fresh. South Park’s Matt Nichol appeared to score the opening goal at 9:57, but was waived off for the net was dislodged. The Hillers struck first late in the period as Chris Graff poked home a rebound and Trinity was on top 1-0 with 48 seconds left in the period. The Hillers extended their lead to 2-0 at 13:49 of the second as Chris Graff’s wrist shot through a screen handcuffed Ian Artim and the Eagles looked to be in trouble. Artim made a huge save on Jeff Hidebrand at 9:56 to keep South Park within reach. The momentum swung South Park’s way after a power play at 4:48, but Mick Alexander made two diving stops on Matt Lutrell and Michael Englert with 4 ½ minutes remaining. On the unsuing face-off this playoff game would take on a complete momentum switch. Dennis Fleming’s wrist shot from the right point found its way through traffic and bounced past Mick Alexander and South Park was finally on the board with a power play goal at 4:15. The Eagles were flying now and Tim Ryan took a great cross ice pass from Matt Slogan and tied the game deking Alexander at 2:55. Both teams had great chances late in the period to take the lead but Jared Miley’s shot rang off the post ay 2:02 and Josh Kelly just missed on a wide open chance at 1:53. Trinity had the first opportunity of the third period as Josh Kelly had a partial break, which was stopped by Ian Artim at 14:40. Alexander robbed Don Remlinger with a glove save at 12:57 after the Trinity defenseman lost his edge and fell. South Park just kept coming and Tommy Vaughn found Larry Locante alone in front, who beat Alexander between the legs to give the Eagles their first lead 3-2 at 10:40. South Park took a very undisciplined penalty at 8:01 and Trinity went to work on the power play in an attempt to tie the game. The Hillers were all over the South Park goal but could not score but the Eagles somehow kept them out after a big scramble in front of Ian Artim at 6:39. This would be all South Park would need as Tim Ryan took a nice chip pass from Slogan and beat Alexander on a breakaway to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead with 5:06 remaining. Matt Slogan would put the nail in Trinity’s coffin as the lanky forward scored on a wrist shot with 3:20 left. Greg Badzuch’s goal with 2:16 remaining brought the Hillers within two, but it was too little too late and the Eagles earned a 5-3 victory and a date with arch-rival Peters Township next week in the Elite 8 Class AA Penguins Cup.

CASTLE SHANNON – The Trinity hockey program has not been exactly a Class AA power over the years, but under the guidance of Larry Marks the team is a far cry from the 1-18-1 record in 2001-2002. The Hillers entered the 2004 Penguins Cup playoffs for the second straight year and while making the playoffs was a big deal last year, Trinity was looking for its first ever playoff victory. The Hillers have a short bench and have relied heavily on players like Jeff Hildebrand, Chris Graff, Greg Bandzuch, Josh Kelly and Matt Warco, who have provided over 80 % of Trinity’s scoring throughout the season. South Park has been to the Penguins Cup playoffs for 16 years and has yet to capture a Penguins Cup in 31 years, which is amazing given the talent that has been developed in the program over the years. The closest call believe it or not was way back in 1976, when the Eagles lost 3-2 to Gateway, who went on the next day to lose to Abington in the Class AA State Championship. The best South Park team may have been in 1997, when the Eagles were SHIHL AA Champions and could not overcome a early deficit against eventual Pa State AA Champions Erie Cathedral Prep and lost 5-3 at Rostraver. Head coach Bob Juha’s team down the stretch looked more like a team heading out of the playoffs as the Eagles have struggled to score goals when they need them and a prime candidate for a first round exit if they didn’t change things in a hurry. Trinity slowed the pace of the game down in the first period to perfection with smart play and good puck control, which kept the short Hiller bench fresh. South Park’s Matt Nichol appeared to score the opening goal at 9:57, but was waived off for the net was dislodged. The Hillers struck first late in the period as Chris Graff poked home a rebound and Trinity was on top 1-0 with 48 seconds left in the period. The Hillers extended their lead to 2-0 at 13:49 of the second as Chris Graff’s wrist shot through a screen handcuffed Ian Artim and the Eagles looked to be in trouble. Artim made a huge save on Jeff Hidebrand at 9:56 to keep South Park within reach. The momentum swung South Park’s way after a power play at 4:48, but Mick Alexander made two diving stops on Matt Lutrell and Michael Englert with 4 ½ minutes remaining. On the unsuing face-off this playoff game would take on a complete momentum switch. Dennis Fleming’s wrist shot from the right point found its way through traffic and bounced past Mick Alexander and South Park was finally on the board with a power play goal at 4:15. The Eagles were flying now and Tim Ryan took a great cross ice pass from Matt Slogan and tied the game deking Alexander at 2:55. Both teams had great chances late in the period to take the lead but Jared Miley’s shot rang off the post ay 2:02 and Josh Kelly just missed on a wide open chance at 1:53. Trinity had the first opportunity of the third period as Josh Kelly had a partial break, which was stopped by Ian Artim at 14:40. Alexander robbed Don Remlinger with a glove save at 12:57 after the Trinity defenseman lost his edge and fell. South Park just kept coming and Tommy Vaughn found Larry Locante alone in front, who beat Alexander between the legs to give the Eagles their first lead 3-2 at 10:40. South Park took a very undisciplined penalty at 8:01 and Trinity went to work on the power play in an attempt to tie the game. The Hillers were all over the South Park goal but could not score but the Eagles somehow kept them out after a big scramble in front of Ian Artim at 6:39. This would be all South Park would need as Tim Ryan took a nice chip pass from Slogan and beat Alexander on a breakaway to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead with 5:06 remaining. Matt Slogan would put the nail in Trinity’s coffin as the lanky forward scored on a wrist shot with 3:20 left. Greg Badzuch’s goal with 2:16 remaining brought the Hillers within two, but it was too little too late and the Eagles earned a 5-3 victory and a date with arch-rival Peters Township next week in the Elite 8 Class AA Penguins Cup.