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

MONROEVILLE - For the Penn Hills Hockey Club, a regime that started back in 1993 under Tom Deery and continued through the guidance of Jerry Bass and Brian Errigo in their ninth season came to an abrupt end on a cold Sunday afternoon at the Golden Mile. I guess a regular season record of 103-61-17 over eight seasons wasn't good enough. A 61.6% winning percentage, equalling some of the best Class AAA programs in Western Pennsylvania including Bethel Park, North Allegheny and Mt Lebanon, throw out through politics and overzealous parents, who are unqualified to run a hockey program, let alone coach it. So now a new era begins for Penn Hills hockey and the question is what lies ahead for the Indians. Could the players, who had their best showing ever in the Scholastic Showcase less than a week ago, put a strong effort together against Central Catholic. Kevin Zielmanski's squad came out playing physical against the Indians and took it to them from the get go. Matt Grabowski drilled a wrist shot from the right point at 5:26 of the first period for the 1-0 lead. The Vikings welcomed back Zach Roberts to the lineup, as he scored on a long wrist shot from the left point with just 8 seconds remaining in the first period. In the second period, Jeff Race scored at 6:27 to extend the Central lead to 3-0. Penn Hills got its only score as 'Action' Jimmie Jackson scored on the rebound with 1:32 left. Central Catholic was looking for the knock out punch and John Chmiel's long slapshot put the Indians on ice. Joe Coulter and Rob Donatucci added goals late in the third in a purely one sided performance including the shots as the Vikings dominated Penn Hills 42-18 and won the game convincingly 6-1.

After extensive search...one of Pa Hockey's first features was the National Rankings of the Interscholastic Hockey Teams of Pennsylvania against the schools across the United States. I caught up with my old pal Mitch Hawkers, who is the professor of High School Hockey from Minnesota and he is gettings the scores from both Eastern and Western Pa for 2002-2003 ! See how we ranking according to Mitch and see how Pa Hockey ranks nationally ! It is a fun look at how we stack up.

Members of the American Hockey League located in Philadelphia, Pa.

CRANBERRY - North Allegheny coach Brian Hershberger has his team playing well this year off to a 10-1 start and ranked # 2 in the Elite 8. But the coach probably takes a look in his rear view mirror every once in a while and sees the Meadville Bulldogs, who are unbeaten in nine games. Gateway, on the other hand is embroiled in a battle with Plum and Franklin Regional for the PIHL AAA East race, that may need a crowbar by mid-February. You see, the Gators have been on one goal games for what seems like eternity this season and lost leads in three ties late in the game. In a fast and swift game through two periods, the Tiger's Thierry Clermont and Gators David Himes closed the door and the game was a 0-0 tie. The Gators had their chances and so did the Tigers, but neither could score. Then in the third more of the same as Clermont stopped Zach Flora on the breakaway early in the third and Himes stopped Tyler Haldane from in close. The NA went on the power play and Dan Lobas fired a rebound pass Himes with 7 1/2 left and the Tigers led 1-0. Gateway came back though as Matt Kopaczynski blew right threw the NA defenseman and beat Clermont to tie the game. Then NA came back as Tim Ward chipped a loose puck past the outstretched Himes with a little over five minutes remaining and NA regained the lead 2-1. Kopaczynski came right back and beat Clermont with a bullet wrist shot which Thierry never saw and we were tied again. A minute later, it was Ward again picking up a loose puck and beating Himes for the game winner. Haldane added an ENG with just nine seconds remaining to make the final 4-2. Gateway outshot North Allegheny 29-28.