Freeport Yellow Jackets

'State of Pa Hockey address' After arriving home Saturday night after the post-Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championship feast at Damon’s with Breakaway’s Matt Sacks, NA’s Tom Pandolfo, Plum’s Stu Relnick, Central’s Kevin Zielmanski and Billy Zuri and former Central player and current Junior A player Tim Recio, and a great Friday night and Saturday Morning visit with the Eastern Pa coaches John Graves, Mike Graves and Father Ed Casey of Malvern Prep, Bill Hammonds and his staff at Archbishop Carroll, and finally Ed Ritti III and Dave ‘Cook’ Wood from Radnor, along with some very knowledgable parents from all the teams and the Philly Inquirer’s Joe Santoliquito at the Station Square Sheraton prior to the 2004 Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships. At the RMU Neville Island Sports Center an opportunity to visit with coaches, players, media and parents who attended three pretty good hockey games. Always great to see Mickey McDermott and his sidekick for the day, Rich Cunningham to rout on Mt Lebanon and the EHSHL’s Vinnie Sammartino and Inter-County’s Greg Dugan representing the Flyers Cup. I was very disappointed that my good friend Brian Tibbels and Jeff Nolan could not join us due to other obligations, but look forward to re-kindling with those guys real soon! It is now time to reflect on the season. The word redemption comes to mind right away as Malvern Prep redeemed three previous trips to the Class AAA State Finals, winning their first Pennsylvania Cup since 1990 and how about Bill Hammonds Archbishop Carroll Patriots, who seized the moment to win their first State Championship since 1981 after 3 unsuccessful trips in 2000,2001 and 2002and finally, for Radnor, who captured their second straight Class A title and avenged a loss to Serra Catholic in the 2002 title. An Eastern Pennsylvania sweep for the first time since 1990 sends a loud message to Western Pennsylvania that the dominance in the Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships enjoyed by Western Pennsylvania should not be taken for granted. Here in Western Pa, applause for a great season for Mt Lebanon, who rose to the top winning their 1st Penguins Cup since 1985 in Class AAA. And for Peters Twp for winning their 3rd straight Penguins Cup in Class AA after losing many key players and reloading with youth during the season and into the playoffs. And for Serra Catholic, who lost their head coach John Mooney, but rallied with a very small roster and captured their 4th Penguins Cup in five seasons. Many breakthrough seasons were evident in Western Pennsylvania as Upper St Clair made it to Western Pa’s final 4, Indiana came within six seconds of de-throning Peters Twp in the Penguins Cup final and Somerset won their first ever playoff game on their way to the Class A finals. In Eastern Pa. we say Bravo ! to the Flyers Cup committee, who took bold steps of creditability to formalize the format of the seedings of the 2004 Flyers Cup. And a commitment from the Leagues to establishing classifications criteria prior to the season for each of the Flyers Cup participants. The growth of the Eastern Pennsylvania Leagues has produced over 100 varsity teams and with the elimination of second varsity teams from the Flyers Cup tournament is a legitimate step in producing a true Pennsylvania High School Hockey championship. Pa Hockey will take on a bold new look in 2004-2005 as a service to each and every Interscholastic Hockey program in the State of Pennsylvania. We will continue to provide Statewide coverage from wire to wire all the way through the State Finals next spring. With over 225,000 visitors over the first 3 ½ seasons and almost 100,000 this season, we are becoming a popular stop across the United States for all fans of Interscholastic Hockey. Special Thanks to Doug Heck, Dave Scott, Al Palowski, Kevin Zielmanski, Jim McVay, Ron Steedle, Earl Bugaile and Maria Jack for their help throughout the season and during the regular season and playoff broadcasts! Finally, we would like to thank all of the players, coaches, parents, media and league officials who support Pa Hockey as a service to the community! Make sure to keep your eyes on the Pa Hockey History site as well at www.eteamz.com/pahockeyhistory as we chronicle the beginnings all the way up to today!