Bishop McCort Crimson Crushers - 1994-1995-1996-1997-1999 A

MONROEVILLE - Scoreboard watching is a favorite pastime in February for Pa Hockey fans around the Keystone State. While Central Catholic and Plum set to square off in a battle of division leaders, Plum coach Stu Relnick and Vikings coach Kevin Zielmanski were playing the 'what if' game. Zielmanski was hoping Allderdice would upend Shaler to give CC a chance to clinch a division title and Relnick was hoping that Hempfield would win its first game at the expense of Gateway, which had its moments but didn't happen. Allderdice had a 3-0 lead, which Shaler erased and won with :04 left in OT. Therefore, earning the division title was still at hand as the teams faced off at the Golden Mile. The first period was marked by good goaltending at both ends as Russ Hefner and BJ Schreib, both stopped several quality chances. Then an innocent flip which landed in the Central zone turned into opportunity as Robbie Tunon found the puck an slid it to Travis Senchur, who went upsatirs on Hefner at 2:27 to give Plum the 1-0 lead. Early in the second, Plum looked to add to its lead as Sergio Somma was all alone in the slot, but Viking defenseman Zach Roberts, when down a blocked a golden scoring opportunity at 14:21. The Vikings started to build momentum and Pete Wood scored on the backhand over a fallen Schreib to tie the game at 13:11. Then the 'dirty birds' went to work as John Chmiel's shot was redirected by Jeff Race at 9:09 over the Plum goaltender's shoulder to give the Vikings the lead. The top Viking line did their rendition of the 'dirty bird' dance in front of their bench in celebration. That goal fired up the Vikings and Race put a huge hit on a Mustang defenseman behind the goal and gathered the puck and spun in the same motion with a backhand to beat Schreib just 16 seconds later to extend the lead to 3-1. Central outshot the Mustangs 33-19 on the night and held them off the board in the third as Race added an empty netter and gave CC a big 4-1 win and moved the Vikings a game from clinched the PIHL North. The loss for Plum sets up a showdown with two meetings with Gateway for the PIHL East title beginning next week.