Freeport Yellow Jackets

CORAOPOLIS - West Allegheny coach Sean Hart has to be going nuts as he has watched his team try to hunt down Canon McMillan for the Class AA West Division title. The Indians were in prime playoff position after a big win over Canevin a few weeks ago, but have fallen on hard times in the scoring department since dropping a couple of key games to remain behind the Big Macs. First year coach Norm Cook, would like to have Hart’s problems as his Bridgers have fallen off the map in the Class AA playoffs picture. Ambridge has had some impressive performances, but has been unable to put it together against the league stronger teams. In the first period, Ambridge looked to be in a battle with West Allegheny as the game remained game scoreless early on. Then off a turnover, Terry Maitz beat Phil Sweet on the backhand and the Bridgers were on top 1-0 with 8:20 remaining. West Allegheny came right back as Tom Quinn’s wrist shot from the point was tipped by Tony Lutz behind goaltender Morgan to tie the game at 7:41. Then it was the Indians freshman sensation Steve Sarachene, who benefited from some great corner work by Josh Fuoco, who buried a shot upstairs to give WA a 2-1 lead at 5:50. Then the backbreaker for Ambridge came with just 11 seconds remaining, as Fuoco showed why he is one of Pa Hockey’s top 25 as he made a nifty move from behind the net and slipped a backhand past Morgan to give the Indians a 3-1 lead. The floodgates opened in a five goal West Allegheny second period as Tom Quinn, Steve Sarachene, Bobby Maliszewski, Derek Keller and Quinn again tallied to break the game wide open. The Indians were now outshooting Ambridge 30-9 after two periods with an 8-1 lead. Josh Fuoco and Kevin Walsh added goals in the third and West Allegheny captured a much need 10-1 victory.

CORAOPOLIS - When you are a first year coach for a hockey program, it is a long season when you go winless for the first 15 or 16 games. For Carrick’s Chris Chuisiano and Knoch’s John Nicholas, this 2002-2003 campaign has to be even more strenuous since both teams have had trouble competing and have been on the back end of some blowouts that were in the teens and some have reached twenty. So for both coaches Carrick vs Knoch was the ‘Game of the Year’ and an opportunity to put some light on a dismal season. The teams traded goals in the first period as Knoch’s Zach Neubert scored on the breakway at 13:27 and Carrick’s T.J. Gault scored on a wrist shot at 2:35 to keep the score at 1-1 after one. In the second period, after Knoch killed a 5 on 3 disadvantage, Carrick senior Ryan Sullivan made it a Senior Night to remember as he buried a rebound past Knight netminder Joey Zacherl with 6:56 remaining to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead going to the third. Knoch wanted this game so badly that Neubert and fellow Senior Phil Jancosko never left the ice in the third period. An extraordinary feat as the Knight seniors vowed to lead their team to its first victory. While killing a penalty, it was Jancosko, who stole the puck from the Carrick defense and raced in one the breakaway and beat Justin Ritz on the forehand with 12:47 remaining to tie the game at 2-2. Then at 9:58, it was Neubert, who made a nice move and beat Ritz to give Knoch a 3-2 lead with 9:58 remaining. Knight first year goaltender Zacherl shut the door on Carrick and Jancosko add an empty netter with :01 left and Knoch captured its first win which brought a big smile from coach Nicholas.

Listen to the interview session with Jeff Nolan on the Breakaway Hockey Network as we preview the upcoming Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships !

KITTANNING – Greensburg CC defeated Kittanning 6-4 in the second game of the season and Centarian coach Joe Dykta had to be a little worried as his # 1 ranked team took the ice at the Belmont Ice complex. GCC has taken care of business for most of the season with their only loss coming at the hands of Thomas Jefferson early in the season. Kittanning, on the other hand, is riding the crest of a twelve game winning streak since dropping their first two contests. Wildcat skipper Jeff Smouse was looking for some healthy bodies to fill jerseys as two of his all-star forwards are on the injury list with an uncertain return date. So the coach decided to move defenseman Michael Mecurio to offense to provide a little spark for the # 3 ranked team. The Centarians came out flying in the first period with good pressure on the Kittanning defense and displayed great composure to neutralize the boisterous packed house at the Belmont. Allen Pershing got things started for GCC on a nice passing play out of the corner as he spotted Josh Chido, who took the pass and beat Adam Toy low to the glove side at 13:17 for a 1-0 GCC lead. Greensburg continued its early dominance and it paid off again as Chido’s shot was gathered in by Pershing, who slammed home a rebound at 10:35 and the Centarians were now on top 2-0. Greensburg CC had a power play early in the second period as a result of sloppy Kittanning play but was unable to capitalize and get the third goal. Then, at 9:19, Michael Mecurio, on a great individual effort, beat the GCC defense and Jake Genes on the ice to cut the lead to 2-1. The pace of the game picked up, especially from the Wildcats and an opportunity to tie the game at 5:53 bounced over Mecurio’s stick. Adam Toy made a key stop of a Colin Ludwig backhand with 5:30 remaining in the middle frame. With GCC on the power play at 3:35, Kittanning’s Dustin Kellner stole the puck and was in alone but was stopped on a terrific save by Jake Genes. On to the third and the next goal would be huge and this time after a great save by Genes on Luke Heller with 8:09 left in regulation, Mecurio burst down the slot and deposited the rebound over the fallen GCC netminder, which tied the game and sent the partisan crowd into a tizzy. Now with the game on the line, Kittanning turned up the heat and the result was Eddie Germy calmly collecting a rebound with 4:35 remaining ad beating Genes to give Kittanning its first lead. GCC went on the power play with 2 ½ minutes remaining and could not solve Toy and the Wildcats eld on for a breathtaking 3-2 victory.

2003 Flyers Cup AAA Championship AAA-CH Malvern Prep 2 LaSalle 1 2003 Flyers Cup AA Championship AA-CH Holy Ghost Prep 4 West Chester Henderson 3 [OT] 2003 Flyers Cup A Championship A-CH Radnor 6 Cherokee 0