North Allegheny Tigers - 2007 & 2013 AAA

AAA

Ø  North Allegheny (15-4-2) appears to be the favorites of the 2013 Penguins Cup AAA and has been for the 17 weeks of the 2013-13 Season. The Tigers are geared more for the 17 minute periods more than any team in the playoffs with balance, defense and timely scoring.  

Ø  Peters Township (17-4-0) is red hot and has been AAA’s best team in the 2^nd half of the regular season. The Indians have front end closers led by Trevor Rectenwald and goaltending if Brian Baker and appears poised for a run at the title.  

Ø  Bethel Park (16-5-0) is the defending champions and owns a lot of close victories over Penguins Cup contenders. Chris Siak and Derek Lesnak will lead the charge and will likely have to beat both NA and PT to accomplish their goal.    

Ø  Canon McMillan (11-6-4) has more offensive firepower than any AAA team and if they find defensive hockey and goaltending can go on a run to win the Penguins Cup

Ø  State College (14-7-0) is a red hot team with 50 goal scorer Stefan Horgos and the question is can the Little Lions overcome travel and the field to achieve a Penguins Cup for the first time.

Ø  Seneca Valley (14-6-1) is back in the Penguins Cup fold led by the goaltending of Tanner Pfeffer and is an interesting darkhorse in a strong field.

AA

Ø  Canevin (16-1-2) owns wins over Latrobe and Pine Richland this season in between an excellent season and the Crusaders three lines and no frills play is very strong for 51 minutes making them an interesting favorite.

Ø  Pine Richland (14-4-1) has logged into the 2^nd favorite of the Class AA Field with depth and scoring tandum of Dillon Kessy and Zach Richey who seem unstoppable for opponents.

Ø  Latrobe (16-3-0) has goaltending of Shane Brudnock and scoring of Josh Singley, Brendan Johns and Dalton Hunter and the question is the depth to go the distance in the playoff over 3 games.

Ø  Chartiers Valley (14-4-1) like Latrobe has great goaltending of Noah Stevenson and scoring with Anthony Franks and Cullen McMahon and will need its depth to shine in the playoffs to win it.  

A

Ø  Quaker Valley (22-0-0) is the defending State Champions and has not looked back with depth, goaltending and balanced scoring and for the Quakers to lose along the way will be a major upset.

Ø  Mars (17-3-1) is clearly the 2^nd best team in Class A and will need to concentrate on getting a 3^rd shot at QV as the field is capable of beating the Planets.

Ø  Freeport (16-5-1) has a Hepler and goaltending and scoring like 2007, but I am not sure they can surprise Quaker Valley, but could be a team who gets a shot at them in the PC Final

Ø  Westmont Hilltop (14-7-1) is a team that has beaten some very good teams in 12-13 and may be a year away from the Penguins Cup, but if the Hilltoppers play well who knows.

Ø  Kittanning (13-8-1) has a goaltender in Cam Langham who can steal games and scoring duo of Christian Miller and Hunter Grafton and will need them to produce to have a shot

2013 Penguins Cup Playoffs

   Watch here for wire to wire coverage to the Pennsylvania HIgh School Hockey Championships on March 23rd at Ice Works in Aston

Class AAA

Class AA

Mars 4 Westmont Hilltop 1 Highlights: Mars spots Westmont a 1-0 lead and then reels off four goals to advance to Consol Energy 4-1. Reed Salada, Michael McCann, Ed Schwadron and Max Master score for the Planets. 

Quaker Valley 4 Kittanning 1 Highlights: Ryan Dickson scores twice and Jimmy Perkins and Clayton Bouchard score for QV as Quakers move on to Penguin Cup final. Cam Langham makes 25 save in defeat for the Wildcats.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette Article    http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/high-school-other/northwest-xtra-unbeaten-quaker-valley-reaches-hockey-final-679191/

2013 Penguins Cup Final

Quaker Valley 5 Mars 1 Highlights: Jimmy Perkins scores twice as QV defends Penguins Cup title

Pittsburgh Post Gazette Article -  http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/high-school-other/quakers-return-to-final-680197/

Penguins Pointstreak Article - http://pihlsite.pointstreaksites.com/view/pihlsite/league-news/news_69312A

Latrobe 3 Chartiers Valley 2 Highlights: Chris Johnson, Adam Ferguson and Dalton Hunter score to give WIldcats a 3-0 lead. CV's Tyler Stevenson is stellar turning away 33 shots for Latrobe inclduing a dozen or so prime scoring chances. The Colts rally with goals by Robert Ferrari and Anthony Franks but fall short.

2013 Penguins Cup Final

Latrobe 5 Pine Richland 0 Highlights: Freshman Dalton Hunter scores twice and Shane Brudnock earns the shutout

Pittsburgh Post Gazette Article -  http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/high-school-other/dominant-2nd-period-sends-latrobe-to-final-680174/

Penguins Pointstreak Article - http://pihlsite.pointstreaksites.com/view/pihlsite/league-news/news_69319

Class AAA

Peters Twp 3 State College 0 Highlights: Brian Baker made 28 saves to earn the shutout and Keenan Whitmer, Alex DeBolt and Trevor Rectenwald scored to send Peters to the PC Final

Pittsburgh Post Gazette Article   http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/high-school-other/peters-township-shuts-out-state-college-679307/

North Allegheny 4 Bethel Park 3 Highlights: Joe Griffin scored twice and Charlie Johnson and Cody Black added goals for NA. Chris Siak scored a pair for Bethel

2013 Penguins Cup Final

North Allegheny 2 Peters Twp 0 Highlights: Joe Griffin scores twice in the 3rd period and Bradford Thornburgh earns the shutout

Pittsburgh Tribune Review Article -  http://triblive.com/sports/hssports/hockey/3687667-74/allegheny-north-griffin#axzz2O1hPjYdq

Penguins Pointstreak Article - http://pihlsite.pointstreaksites.com/view/pihlsite/league-news/news_69326

2013 Flyers Cup Playoffs

Class AA