Freeport Yellow Jackets

Indiana 3 Kittanning 2 [OT] INDIANA – On the final night of the regular season, it is usually a tradition for Kittanning (8-13-1) to be preparing itself for a playoff run in Class AA and when the Wildcats made the homage down route 422 tonight, they were doing so to play for one reason or another, but most importantly for the crest on the front of the jersey. Kittanning has been to the playoffs for 9 out of the past ten years including Penguins Cup finals in 2003 and a year ago. For Head Coach Jon Yackmack, this was to be a season to build on the performance of a year ago, which was a tremendous overachievement, when each and every player who pulled the jersey over their head and shoulders gave their undivided attention to helping the Red and White reach the promised land, which fell one step short in the Penguins Cup to Pine Richland at Mellon Arena. Injuries to key players, along with a lack of commitment from players expected to lead the way [which became significant distractions] this season have landed the Wildcats out of the playoffs and to their first losing season since 1996. So the season that was to be isn’t and the Boys from the Belmont must build toward the future. Indiana (9-11-1) is the team and the Indiana Ice Center is the home ice that almost wasn’t a year ago and the future was much in doubt for a program with 13 consecutive winning seasons with 7 straight Penguins Cup playoff appearances. S& T Bank stepped up this season and gave the rink, formally known as the HOKS [House of King Samuel after long-time IUP and Indiana Hockey staple], financial stability and a future for HIS, IUP and the Indiana Youth programs. Indiana has been a world beater in this building over the years and has knocked off a nice resume of opponents including # 2 Latrobe, # 4 Franklin Regional and # 6 Montour, but tonight they will need a victory to slide into the playoffs as the 12th and final team in Class AA and win a victory would move on to face Montour sometime next week. With a loss, the Indians fall peril to a tiebreaker with South Park at 9-12-1, that is the best kept secret since the Colonel’s Special KFC recipe and not known to the average fan. Since South Park defeated Indiana, conventional wisdom would let one believe they would get the final spot or possibly decide it with a play-in game, but not in Gotham City, where the unknown is a way of life. Before a raucious standing room only crowd including the 06-07 version of the ‘Hockey Hooligans’ of I.H.S. Indiana struck first at 12:14 as Jonathon Ogden roofed a rebound of Joe Appolonia shot past a helpless Joey Mecurio for a 1-0 lead. With 2:46 to go in the opening period, Joe Appolonia found a loose puck to the right of Mecurio and made no mistake giving Indiana a 2-0 lead. Kittanning made its 8th shot of the game count with just :04.7 left to cut the lead to 2-1, as Evan Blodgett scored on a rebound in front of Kevin Dougherty. Shots were 16-8 in favor of the Indians. With 9:26 to go in the 2nd, Nick Troup undressed the Indiana defeseman and just missed on a backhand high over rhe crossbar. Kittanning went on the power play with 4:43 to go with a chance to tie the game, which grew to a one minute 5 on 3 at 3:42 for a full minute.and without too much of an attack Indiana was successful in killing it off. With :48 seconds to go Mecurio made a nice stop on # 16. Shots in the second period was 7-6 in favor of Indiana. On to the third period and with Indiana needing a win to ensure a playoff spot. Mecurio robbed Apolonia with a sprawling save at 12:03 and Kittanning came right back down the ice and tied the game with 11:47 to go as Zack Avi took a perfect feed from Nick Troup for an easy goal and a 2-2 deadlock. Kittanning would get an opportunity at 9:33 to take the lead on the power play and as Indiana killed the first penalty, they were assessed another at 7:33. Then Kittanning took a penalty at 6:45 to even things up. Joey Mecurio made a nice stop on Appolonia at 6:25 to keep the score tied. Nick Troup raced the length of the ice and was semi hauled down and nothing was called and no goal resulted. Moments later, with 4:35 to play Kittanning was whistled for a holding call giving the Indians an opportunity to take the lead. Joe Appolonia almost converted as he fished through the legs of the Wildcat defense, but Mecurio made the save. With 2:05 to go Indiana was called for goaltender interference and the Wildcats would have a chance to go ahead, but could not score sending the game to overtime. With 2:35 to go in OT, all that stood between Jonathon Ogden and a goal was the puck and the post and he could not get the handle. Moments later with 1:58 remaining in OT, TJ George kept the puck in the zone and Jay Pettina spotted a streaking Joe Appolonia who buried a shot between the 5-hole giving Indiana a thrilling 3-2 overtime win and a trip to the playoffs next week and sends South Park along with Kittanning home for the playoffs.