Central Catholic Vikings

Serra captures 3rd Penguins Cup Class A Title in a row ! PITTSBURGH - Class A Penguins Cup Final Serra coach John Mooney began the 2002 season with an undaunting task. It let he and his brother Tom and assistant coach Eddie Figas, revisit the days back at the Golden Mile in the mid-1990's when Serra Catholic used to practice with 8 or 9 or if they were very fortunate 12-13 players on the ice. I know because my practice slot was right behind theirs. The Eagles began the season with stars Steve Leppo and Jesse Lubasch and two other players with suspensions from the 2001 State Finals. The 'Moon Man' probably uttered at the first game after seeing the new influx of freshman "King, Lubasch (Justin), Songer you guys are startin". And start they did ! The young lions responded and carried the Eagles for the early part of the season and when Leppo and the others returned the Eagles never looked back. Bishop McCort, on the other hand, lost their core senior group from a year ago and was not supposed to be near the team it was a year ago. Coach John Bradley's Crimson Crushers, who have been to the Penguins Cup final 10 out of the last 11 years, kept tradition and went through the season with a young team and captured the # 1 seed in the playoffs. And they sliced through the Penguins Cup playoffs with dominating performances against West Allegheny and Elizabeth Forward. And they headed toward the Penguins Cup final with Serra on their minds and to answer the question.....would this be the year they would finally solve Serra, who had defeated them two consecutive years. A majority of Western Pennsylvania did not have the pleasure of seeing the 2001 Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championship, in which Serra Catholic, down 3-0 came back to defeat a very good Springfield team to win its second State Title. When the cards were on the table and Serra was desperate, it was Timmy Johnson who rescued them. With save after save after terrific save against Springfield to keep his team in the game, while Leppo and Lubasch led the big comeback offensively. Now was a chance for the rest of the hockey community and the archrivals Bishop McCort to discover what coach Mooney had in his back pocket for them this year. Besides, McCort beat Serra (minus Leppo and Mooney) 3-1 late in the season and probably had visions of Penguins Cup dancing in their heads. The first period of the championship at the Mellon Arena was a feeling out process with McCort having a better of the play and an early shot advantage at 9-1. With the Crimson Crushers on the power play, Serra was able to ice the puck and Jessie Lubasch caught McCort's defense and goaltender Anthony Feyock sleeping, as he gathered a playable puck behind the net and patiently waited as Steve Leppo, coming late on the play walked alone down the middle of the ice. Lubasch found Leppo, who buried a wrist shot upstairs on the glove side and Serra took the lead 1-0 on a shorthanded goal with 5:04 reamaining in the opening period. In the second period, McCort was looking to tie the game on the power play, but some great defensive work by C.J. King resulted in him gaining the puck and spotting Lubasch up ice. With probably the best touch pass of the day at the Mellon Arena (including 60 minutes of the Penguins-Flyers game), King feathered a lead pass to Jessie, who moved in on Feyock and deked him to give the Eagles another shorthanded goal and a 2-0 lead at the 13:00 mark. The Crimson Crushers continued their barrage on Timmy Johnson, who was stellar in preserving the 2-0 lead. Johnson's teammates got into the act with some terrific penalty killing. Then a break, as one of McCorts defensemen fell down, King broke up the right side and went upstairs to make it 3-0. McCort continued to try to crack Johnson and Joe Delic watched a wide open opportunity sail wide at 2:29 and Serra went to the locker room up 3-0 being outshot 22-8. In the final period, McCort continued to press, but it was Johnson, who stole the show stopping 14 more shots for the shutout and a third consectuive Penguins Cup victory for the Eagles. Serra Catholic moves on to play in the Pennsylvania High School Hockey Class A Championship against the Flyers Cup Champion.

Peters Township holds off furious Indiana rally ! PITTSBURGH - Peters Township was the prohibitive favorite to win the Class AA Penguin Cup this season and coach Mark Cooper faced the job of making sure his team wasn't too overconfident in the Penguins Cup final. Especially after his team defeated Indiana earlier this season 6-0. If the distraction of two of his (14 year old) 10 Grade players not playing in the Penguin Cup to pursue some supposed Junior A opportunity seven hours away wasn't enough, it probably was a blessing in disguise. Lets give credit to Matt and Chris Clackson, who stayed and played with their schoolmates in an opportunity of a lifetime for Peters Township hockey, who had been to only one Penguins Cup in their history in 1998 (only to lose to Thomas Jefferson, marking the beginnings of the TJ dynasty). Indiana, knows all about opportunities of a lifetime in the Penguins Cup. In 1996, a team which dominated Class AA similar to Peters Twp this season from Indiana seemed headed for a sure State Championship. Leading 3-0 against Greensburg CC, Steve Putt's penalty shot was stopped late in the second by Jon Vesely and the GCC came back to defeat Indiana 4-3 and put a cloud over Indiana's terrific 145-70-18 record in 11 seasons entering the 2002 Penguins Cup final. This group of Indiana were just beginning their hockey careers in 1996, but have heard the stories. So it was a day to root or the Indians as a huge crowd at the Mellon Arena took in Peters Township's Indians vs Indiana's Indians. In the first period, Indiana looked a little nervous and could not get on track. Peters Twp started to gain territorial advantage and at 8:09 Mike Papciak was in a two on one situation and tried to move the puck to a breaking Peters Twp player and the puck glanced off Indiana defenseman Brad McCoy's skate and behind Mike Lady to give PT a 1-0 lead. Indiana picked up its offense after the goal and on a similar 2 on 1 that led to Peters goal, but defenseman Rob Feltovitch made a spectacular break up of the Indiana chance. Then Peters struck again as extra effort of Matt Clackson jammed a Chris Clackson rebound past Lady to give the PT Indians a 2-0 lead. Peters looked to extend the lead on yet another 2 on 1 with 1:40 remaining, but Joe Lenz made a diving breakup of the the Peters chance and the score remained 2-0. Peters goaltender Kittleberger made a great save on Zach Diamond with 42 seconds left in the 1st and the score remained 2-0. On to the second and Indiana went on the power play to try to get on the board at 10:39. Mike Papciak stripped the Indiana defense of the puck and was in on the breakaway and on a great move with great control undressed Lady to put Peters on top 3-0 at 10:18. Now you couldn't help but have compassion for Indiana, now down 3-0 and looking for some answers. Could their be a truning point to rid the Indiana program of the GCC Ryan Davis floater that beat them in 1996. Well, this group of Indians was determined to right the ship, as Indiana found themselves midway through the second as Mike Lady stopped Matt Clackson on the breakaway with 8:24 remaining. Casey Haines was dancing now and walked around the Peters defense and hit the post at 7:30, no goal, not this time. Then frustration as Clint Pizarchik took a very undisciplined penalty at 3:55 putting Peters on the power play. Indiana killed it and Pizarchik, looking to redeem himself and give his team a lift, took the puck from his own zone down the right side and blasted a slapshot, looking like Guy Lafluer of the late 1970's, past Kittleberger which awoke the 'Hockey Hooligans'(Indiana's famed fan club) with a shorthanded goal with 1:43 remaining to put the IHS Indians on the board and give Ron Hellen's club new life. Indiana now was in business and began looking more like the team that throttled Kittanning and all of its opponents in this years playoffs. IHS still had time and started to get chances as Jason Vaughn's shot glanced of the crossbar at 11:03. Kittleberger robbed Bryan Schlemmer with a great save with a little over 10 minutes to go. Then the IHS Indians went on the power play and this time Zach Diamond scored on the rebound sending the Indiana faithful into a frenzy as the score was 3-2. Indiana was now dominating and looking to tie the score beat could not beat Kittleberger. Then a questionable call by the one of the two referee at 3:53 put Peters on the power play and Matt Clackson had a chance to put the game on ice, but Lady made a great save to keep it 3-2. Indiana never seemed to recover and pulled the goalie and Chris Clackson put the dagger through Indiana for a 4-2 final and sent Peters Township to its first ever Penguins Cup and a date with the winner of the Archbishop Ryan - Archbishop Carroll Flyers Cup AA champ in the Pennyslvania State Final. A great victory for coach Mark Cooper and Peters Township, who delivered as the favorites to win it all and hopefully the 20 (-2) PT Indians will show that the team is more important than the sum of its parts in next weekends Pennsylvania AA Finals and bring a State Championship to a program after 23 years, which deserves to win one !

Bethel keeps the dream season alive and wins 3rd straight ! PITTSBURGH - Bethel Park Head Coach Jim McVay must have a lot of fun coaching the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks 78-2-1 record over the last three seasons, including two consecutive Penguin Cups and Pennsylvania State Championships has elevated BP vs the world mentality across the State of Pennsylvania. Sooner or later, they are going to lose, but it is impressive to look at the accomplishments, which incudes this seasons defensive gem of giving up just 13 goals in 23 regular season games. Mere mortals have challenged them...of course Gateway was 11 minutes away from winning, but getting outshot 39-13 gives you less of a chance. Sure Central Catholic, held a 2-1 lead with 8 minutes left in the semis, to watch it evaporate in OT. Mt Lebanon coach Paul Taibi, a Bethel disciple, and his team have come close and he knows what it takes. For Mt Lebanon, 26 years since its last State Title and its first trip to the Penguins Cup finals since 1987. A great year by most standards, but not complete. The Blue Devils would need goaltender Colin Sebastian to be Superman, get a lead (possibly a two goal lead) and play a spotless defensive game. So 'lets give it our best shot' was the motto of the seniors of Mt Lebanon and try and do the unthinkable. Who better than senior captain Mike Colligan to get things started and he did at 11:20 on a powerful backhand at give Mt Lebanon a 1-0 lead. Mt Lebanon was doing it and Sebastian was stoning the Blackhawks at the other end as BP outshot them 10-5 in the first period. All it takes is a lapse and you never know which one of these Blackhwks is gonna strike. At 13:23, just nine seconds in the power play, the almost forgotten one Dan Mackin blasted a slapshot from the point through the five hole and traffic and the game was tied 1-1. Bethel was settling in and Mt Lebanon was matching them, but to put BP on the power play is trouble and with just one second remaining in a late second period power play, C.J. Strauss picked up a Mackin rebound and deposited it past Sebastian to give Bethel the 2-1 lead. Early in the third period, Sebastian made a key save as Nick D'Allesandro had a breakaway opportunity and Steve Preite missed a great opportunity. Sebastian was stopping everything Bethel could throw at him and his team still had a chance, albeit a slim one. Matt Feige stopped all 6 shots Mt Lebanon could muster in the 3rd and the road to Rostraver for the Blue Devils was about to close. Enter Justin Glock, who looked like a bus comin through the Mt Lebo defense and while falling down one handed a shot over Sebastian with 4:42 remaining to seal the deal and give Bethel Park a 3-1 victory over their arch rivals and its third straight Penguins Cup. So now Bethel Park can put closure to a great run next week at Rostraver, but it will not be a picnic. Should Malvern Prep capture the Flyers Cup next Thursday, it will set up a rematch of last years Pennsylvania AAA State Final. Some unfinished business for Malvern Prep, who have lost their most recent opportunities for State Titles to Bethel Park in 1997 and last season. If Germantown advances, Bethel Park has some unfinished business with them, a 1983 defeat in BP's first State Championship appearance, which is coincidentially a year before this group of players was born. Any way it stacks up, Bethel Park can put closure to a lot of history next weekend.

ROSTRAVER - Mt Lebanon defeated Cathedral Prep in mid February by the score of 8-3 and Blue Devils coach Paul Taibi was a little concerned about his team, but what the coach also knew is that he has one of the hottest goaltenders in Western Pennsylvania between the pipes in Colin Sebastian. Cathedral Prep goaltender Jon Freeman has quitely been playing superb for coach Nels Whites upstart Rambler squad. It didn't take long for the Mt Lebanon to solve Freeman as at 11:48 Mike Colligan walked the puck off the near boards and blasted a snap shot high on the short side to give Mt Lebanon a 1-0 lead. The playoffs are special because of the heros created, who come up big when you least expect them to. Pat Magerski, who tallied the big goal to defeat North Allegheny, continued his hot hand with a goal at 5:58 of the 1st to tie the score at 1-1. Everyone knows to beat Mt Lebanon, you must stop the dynamic duo of Jason Schultz and Colligan, what Prep forgot was the diamond in the rough as freshman call-up Eric Sloan walked the puck behind the Rambler net and fed a wide open Dan O'Connell at 6:40, who made no mistake and beat Freeman to give the Blue Devils a 2-1 lead. Then the same combo did it again, as O'Connell threaded a perfect pass to Sloan, who was walking down the slot and the freshman buried it with just :29 seconds left to extend the lead to 3-1. On to the third period and Magerski found a loose puck in the slot and beat Sebastian through the legs to put the Ramblers within one at 3-2. But it was Mt Lebanon who wanted this game more than anyone can imagine, as Mr. Magic Eric Sloan put the game on ice hooking up with his newfound best friend O'Connell and gave Mt Lebanon a 4-2 victory. For Mt Lebanon another shot at Bethel Park and they have to love their chances with their hot goaltender Sebastian, who stopped 38 Prep shots and the new dynamic duo of O'Connell and Sloan.

Bethel Park shows why they are the Champions ! ROSTRAVER - Bethel Park survived a first round scare with Gateway because hot goaltender David Himes almost caught lightning in a bottle. Blackhawk coach Jim McVay takes nothing for granted and prepares his team for the playoffs to play a 45 minute game. Central Catholic on the other hand is looking to re-write a little history as they defeated Meadville in Meadville last Monday night in a classic overtime affair. Now the game plan and target was the two time defending State Champions and the Vikings welcomed leading scorer Jeff Race back into the lineup and hope he would provide that extra intangible to vault CC to an upset win. Central came out early determined to win the battles for loose pucks and get shots on Bethel. The Vikings went on the power play at 12:06 and looked to take the lead, but the Hawks Justin Glock had other ideas as he walked around the CC defense and beat Russ Hefner to give Bethel a shorthanded goal and a 1-0 lead. That 45 minute game plan came into play as Central's new young gun Eddie Martin outworked the Bethel Defenseman for the puck and snapped a shot through a screen past Matt Feige with just :07 left in the 1st and the score was tied at 1-1. The second period was very even with both teams getting some opportunities and near misses. Central's Martin dug the puck out of the corner and found C.J. Bruce cutting to the net, who beat Feige on the stick side to give Central a 2-1 lead with just 1:00 left in the middle frame. Could this be the upset or would the champs refind their third period magic ? On to the third and Central keep Bethel out and Hefner began to play spectacular stopping everything the Hawks could muster. Then a mistake with an undiscipline penalty by CC put BP on the power play and then another penalty behind the play put the Blackhawks on a 5 on 3. 5 on 3's are like sucide against the Bethel Park power play and Brandon Hanley found an open area between the circle and shoved a shot down on the ice through a screen and into the net to tie the game at 7:28. Now Bethel smelled a wounded animal and this is when the champs go for the jugular and put their opponents away. It nearly happen with 2:35 left as a BP shot trickled through Hefner and toward the goal line, but a great play by Zach Roberts to dive and clear the puck to saftey preserved the tie and send the game to OT. Overtime....Central must have liked that sound and after beating Meadville last week, they had confidence and the unthinkable almost happened as Jeff Race's shot beat Feige between the legs and just went wide on the opening shift of OT. Bethel Park came right back down the ice and Steve Preite found Jason McLean cutting down the right side, who slid a one timer past Hefner to give Bethel a hard earned 3-2 overtime victory. The win also kept alive the undefeated season for the Hawks, who will look to join the 1987 Upper St Clair Panthers as the only undefeated AAA team in Pa State History, whose goaltender was none other then BP coach Jim McVay !