Seneca Valley Raiders

CORAOPOLIS - CORAOPOLIS – A that Pa Hockey provides every year is to compile a yearbook for the Western Pennsylvania schools and the media, which includes history, contact information, Pa Hockey Website information and other somewhat useless statistics including changes in the coaching position. Now I am not going to say that coaches should stay somewhere forever, but sometimes a change of venue is good for a coach or coaching staff. When West Allegheny hired Norm Cook and his assistant Kevin Moore, who coached at Ambridge, I could tell you that this was a very good move on the part of the Indians. With the returning and upcoming talent, West Allegheny’s program can think about returning to the playoffs, which the Indians have accomplished 8 out of the last 10 years and possibly challenge for a Penguins Cup, which occurred four consecutive years from 1996 through 1999. West Allegheny is off to a quick 2-0 start and looks to be heading back over the .500 mark, which it has done for 9 out of the last 11 years. Elizabeth Forward also has a new coaching staff led by John Mooney, who knows all about State Championships and Penguins Cup leading the Eagles to three straight Pennsylvania Cup A titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Along with assistants Larry ‘Briggs & Stratton’ Briggs and Pat McShane, Mooney is looking to take EF’s program to a new level with the same discipline and team effort his teams are accustomed to. The Warriors celebrated their move from Class A to Class AA with an opening night victory over a less than stellar Johnstown team and coach ‘Moon’ knew his team would be in for a stern test against WA, especially without Jeremy DelMaster, Brian Doak and Casey Burns, who had to fulfill EF soccer and other commitments. West Allegheny came out flying in the first period and took control of this contest rights away as Marek Polidor celebrated his return to the lineup with a goal at 12:51. Kevin Walsh extended the lead with 9:18 remaining in the first and Ian Skacan [6:47] and Ryan Kumpfmiller [:46] converted as the Indians launched an 18 shot assault on Warrior netminder Mike Cole for a 4-0 1st period lead. The Indians picked up where they left off in the 2nd period as Rob Hoetzlein scores on a rebound to make it 5-0 at 12:40. Elizabeth Forward finally broke through when Billy Repass scored at 10:20 from just in front of WA netminder Dan Kuzio. West Allegheny just put the game in overdrive courtesy of Ryne Savisky, who scored at 10:07 and again at 9:38 to turn this one into a waltz 7-1. Savisky then set up Steve Sarachene at 6:40 and Marek Polidor at 2:45, with very nice passes on odd man breaks and the Indians led 9-1 after two. West Allegheny had the game in hand and Elizabeth Forward played to win the third period since the outcome was decided and Chase Lizik scored at 6:34 to make the final 9-2 in favor of the Indians, who pushed their record to 3-0-0 in this early season. WA outshot the Warriors 37-13 before a very nice crowd at the Airport Arena of festive West Allegheny students and patrons.