Freeport Yellow Jackets

West Allegheny 2 Canevin 0 MT LEBANON - Another night for a log in the fireplace as some ‘Concerned Citizens of Canevin and Concerned Citizens of West Allegheny’ braved the elements and wandered out on a night where 11 out of 13 games on the schedule were postponed due to bad roads. That didn’t stop a limited Who’s Who night at the Mt Lebanon Rec Center as perennial top 5 fan Earl Bugaile, the MSA Crew, NA coach Tom Pandolfo, Batman and Robin [f/k/a Canon Mac coach Dave Fryer] and King Tut, the professor of Egyptology to see a big Class AA match-up between the Indians [8-0-0] face the Crusaders [5-1-2], with the lone blemish to the WA club losing 4-2 on opening night for both clubs. Canevin’s hockey program is on the rise according to long time Canevin head Kenny Vance and with players like Zack Haluszczak, Jason Ruggerio and Josh Daley leading a new offensive look and a strong developmental program coming behind this group. If head coach Brian Henderson’s team expects to make things interesting come March, it will need to postion itself in the top 8 for home ice advantage. West Allegheny has not looked back since the season opened in November and has been perfect thus far handling four of the Elite 8 teams with ease beating Canon McMillan, Greensburg CC, Thomas Jefferson and Canevin by two or more goals. The Indians feature a balanced attack and as a novelty pays attention to the defensive end as well, which will be a huge factor in any playoff success they may have. The first period was quick moving with only one penalty and limited number of scoring opportunities as West Allegheny outshot Canevin 10-6. The second period was more of the same as the Crusader’s Joey Ziemianski and the Indians Kyle Mortimer stopped several chances at both ends keeping the game scoreless. West Allegheny held a shot advantage of 17-13 in the middle frame, but the game remained scoreless going to the ice cut in a very fast paced and entertaining hockey game. With 12:40 remaining in regulation, West Allegheny went on the power play from only the second penalty of the hockey game and a golden opportunity to take the lead. Zack Haluszczak had a couple of shorthanded opportunities, one glancing off the post. The Indians would cash in at 11:16 as Tony Lutz took a Steve Sarachene pass and deposited pass Ziemianski for a 1-0 WA lead. At 7:59 of the 3rd period, Ryne Savisky rang a shot off the far post which caromed out of the net right on to the stick of Ryan Kumpfmiller who pushed it into an empty net for a 2-0 lead for the scarlet and gray, according alumnist Robin the Boy Wonder. Canevin went on the power play with a little under 6 minutes to go and Kyle Mortimer made several nice stops and the Indians penalty killing took care of the rest. The story of Canevin’s night came with 1:03 remaining as the puck came to D.J. Zeh, who could not finish a bang bang play from right on the doorstep as Mortimer somehow found the puck and kept it out. The Indians would hold on and complete the shutout with a 2-0 victory and move to 9-0 on the regular season.