Archbishop Carroll Patriots - 1981 AAA 2004 AA

CORAOPOLIS - When you are a first year coach for a hockey program, it is a long season when you go winless for the first 15 or 16 games. For Carrick’s Chris Chuisiano and Knoch’s John Nicholas, this 2002-2003 campaign has to be even more strenuous since both teams have had trouble competing and have been on the back end of some blowouts that were in the teens and some have reached twenty. So for both coaches Carrick vs Knoch was the ‘Game of the Year’ and an opportunity to put some light on a dismal season. The teams traded goals in the first period as Knoch’s Zach Neubert scored on the breakway at 13:27 and Carrick’s T.J. Gault scored on a wrist shot at 2:35 to keep the score at 1-1 after one. In the second period, after Knoch killed a 5 on 3 disadvantage, Carrick senior Ryan Sullivan made it a Senior Night to remember as he buried a rebound past Knight netminder Joey Zacherl with 6:56 remaining to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead going to the third. Knoch wanted this game so badly that Neubert and fellow Senior Phil Jancosko never left the ice in the third period. An extraordinary feat as the Knight seniors vowed to lead their team to its first victory. While killing a penalty, it was Jancosko, who stole the puck from the Carrick defense and raced in one the breakaway and beat Justin Ritz on the forehand with 12:47 remaining to tie the game at 2-2. Then at 9:58, it was Neubert, who made a nice move and beat Ritz to give Knoch a 3-2 lead with 9:58 remaining. Knight first year goaltender Zacherl shut the door on Carrick and Jancosko add an empty netter with :01 left and Knoch captured its first win which brought a big smile from coach Nicholas.

CORAOPOLIS - West Allegheny coach Sean Hart has to be going nuts as he has watched his team try to hunt down Canon McMillan for the Class AA West Division title. The Indians were in prime playoff position after a big win over Canevin a few weeks ago, but have fallen on hard times in the scoring department since dropping a couple of key games to remain behind the Big Macs. First year coach Norm Cook, would like to have Hart’s problems as his Bridgers have fallen off the map in the Class AA playoffs picture. Ambridge has had some impressive performances, but has been unable to put it together against the league stronger teams. In the first period, Ambridge looked to be in a battle with West Allegheny as the game remained game scoreless early on. Then off a turnover, Terry Maitz beat Phil Sweet on the backhand and the Bridgers were on top 1-0 with 8:20 remaining. West Allegheny came right back as Tom Quinn’s wrist shot from the point was tipped by Tony Lutz behind goaltender Morgan to tie the game at 7:41. Then it was the Indians freshman sensation Steve Sarachene, who benefited from some great corner work by Josh Fuoco, who buried a shot upstairs to give WA a 2-1 lead at 5:50. Then the backbreaker for Ambridge came with just 11 seconds remaining, as Fuoco showed why he is one of Pa Hockey’s top 25 as he made a nifty move from behind the net and slipped a backhand past Morgan to give the Indians a 3-1 lead. The floodgates opened in a five goal West Allegheny second period as Tom Quinn, Steve Sarachene, Bobby Maliszewski, Derek Keller and Quinn again tallied to break the game wide open. The Indians were now outshooting Ambridge 30-9 after two periods with an 8-1 lead. Josh Fuoco and Kevin Walsh added goals in the third and West Allegheny captured a much need 10-1 victory.

CORAOPOLIS - When you are a first year coach for a hockey program, it is a long season when you go winless for the first 15 or 16 games. For Carrick’s Chris Chuisiano and Knoch’s John Nicholas, this 2002-2003 campaign has to be even more strenuous since both teams have had trouble competing and have been on the back end of some blowouts that were in the teens and some have reached twenty. So for both coaches Carrick vs Knoch was the ‘Game of the Year’ and an opportunity to put some light on a dismal season. The teams traded goals in the first period as Knoch’s Zach Neubert scored on the breakway at 13:27 and Carrick’s T.J. Gault scored on a wrist shot at 2:35 to keep the score at 1-1 after one. In the second period, after Knoch killed a 5 on 3 disadvantage, Carrick senior Ryan Sullivan made it a Senior Night to remember as he buried a rebound past Knight netminder Joey Zacherl with 6:56 remaining to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead going to the third. Knoch wanted this game so badly that Neubert and fellow Senior Phil Jancosko never left the ice in the third period. An extraordinary feat as the Knight seniors vowed to lead their team to its first victory. While killing a penalty, it was Jancosko, who stole the puck from the Carrick defense and raced in one the breakaway and beat Justin Ritz on the forehand with 12:47 remaining to tie the game at 2-2. Then at 9:58, it was Neubert, who made a nice move and beat Ritz to give Knoch a 3-2 lead with 9:58 remaining. Knight first year goaltender Zacherl shut the door on Carrick and Jancosko add an empty netter with :01 left and Knoch captured its first win which brought a big smile from coach Nicholas.

Listen to the interview session with Jeff Nolan on the Breakaway Hockey Network as we preview the upcoming Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships !

Listen to the interview session with Jeff Nolan on the Breakaway Hockey Network as we preview the upcoming Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships !