Freeport Yellow Jackets

2005 Penguins Cup Semi-Finals Class AAA HARMARVILLE - Sometimes in hockey, programs are made by a milestone victory and for Bethel Park, it had to be the 1997 comeback victory at the Rostraver Ice Garden, when the Hawks were down 4-0 and performed a miracle coming back and winning it in overtime 5-4, which sent BP on to their first State Championship defeating Meadville in the Penguins Cup final 3-2 at the Civic Arena and then Malvern Prep in the Pennsylvania High School Championship at Ice Line 4-3 ending 23 years of a jinx from the 1983 loss in the State Final to Germantown Academy and goaltender Mike Richter. When inspecting that team you have to go back to 1994 and the humiliating 13-0 loss to Meadville in the Penguins Cup, which really molded the Bethel Park program with the decision to hire Bob Kennedy, who lead the Hawks to the promised land along with assistants Chris Stern and Jim ‘Mort’ McVay. When Kennedy and Stern left for greener pastures or Green Acres if you will, McVay stayed and led the Hawks to State Championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Part of the Bethel Park building process in that exact era was Mt Lebanon head coach Paul Taibi and while at Bethel, he instilled the discipline in many of the players who were an integral part of their State Championship season. When coach left BP for Mt Lebanon, the program which had been a revolving door of coaches was now stabilized upon his arrival the Blue Devils experienced immediate success by going to the Penguins Cup finals before losing to the Hawks at the Mellon Arena in 2002. Then, they won their first Penguins Cup in 2004 by defeating Meadville 3-0 at the Mellon Arena and then came less than 6 minutes away from their 1st State Title since 1976 but succumbed to Malvern Prep 4-3. The thirst to get back for the remaining players has been evident as they have reeled off 17 in a row to currently hold a 24-2-0 record. The climb back to the State Title game was given a severe blow, when leading scorer and captain Tony Valerino was bounced from the lineup an unavailable and it would be up to his teammates to face archrival Bethel Park. After not scoring in the February game in which the Blue Devils won 1-0 at the Mt Lebanon Rec Center, Bethel looked to score first. At 5:50 of the first period Bethel Park struck first as Kenny Lehman found a loose puck and beat Evan ‘Max’ Baehr cleanly high to the glove side for a 1-0 lead. Mt Lebanon’s hole got a little deeper early as they were whistled for a penalty at 4:03 of the 1st period. The Hawks outshot Mt Lebanon 12-2 in the opening period and carried the play. On to the 2nd we went and Mt Lebanon was sorely missing their leading scorer Tony Valerino, who could only watch from the bench in street clothes. In the games first big break a Bethel Park shot landed on the of the net causing a faceoff to the left of Baehr. At 12:55 right after the faceoff, Brian McGinty won the draw to the point where Kye Budziszewski shot it and it fumbled its way to the net where Evan Baehr could only watch it slip past him for a 2-0 Hawk lead. Mt Lebanon started to build a little zone time, but not many quality chances as BP held a 22-4 shot advantage through two periods and the teams headed to the ice cut. Coach Taibi mixed his lines up at the ice to try to generate some offense by putting together Chad Uddstrom, Shane Ferguson and freshman Tyler Murovich to try to build on the miniscule 6 shots through two. Early on and down 2-0 Mt Lebanon just refused to shoot and at 10:19 Rick Bueke had an open chance, but the Bethel Park defense dove tipping the puck out of danger and keep the score 2-0. The Blue Devils started to mount some pressure, but refused to throw everything they could at the net until at 8:12, Shane Ferguson got it and backhanded a shot which almost went in. At 7:31, Tyler Murovich was tripped and Mt Lebanon’s hopes rested with a power play. The best chance came as Tyler Murovich just missed on the backhand as the clock moved toward five minutes on Mt Lebanon’s season. Brandon Dornishs shot with 5:01 left was deflected by Bryce Merriam. And with 4:38 left Timmy O’Brien drove a stake through the heart of the Mt Lebanon bench and faithful with a slick wrist shot on the stick side for a 3-0 Bethel Park lead and an eminent trip to the Penguins Cup. With 3:52 left, Conner McLean sealed it with a wraparound to make it 4-0. Bethel Park will make its first trip to the Penguins Cup final since 2002 and a chance to bring a State Championship back to the black and orange.