Seneca Valley Raiders

2006 Penguins Cup Semi-Finals Kittanning 6 Canevin 4 CASTLE SHANNON – Canevin (16-4-2) and Kittanning (14-5-4) meet for the right to go where neither program has been for a while and when you discuss Penguins Cup with the ‘Concerned Citizens of Kittanning or Canevin, the word of passion comes up frequently is all of the discussions. Whether it’s the normal 3:30 PM call from the head Crusader Kenny Vance or a rare 3:30 AM call from Joe Avi, Jamie King and Armstrong legend Pat McCue, Canevin and Kittanning have tradition not seen in many programs, but only the Crusaders have State Championships in 1983, 1984 and 1989 and it’s certainly been a long time between and for Kitanning /Armstrong it’s etched in the walls of the Belmont, every time one enters. So two teams who no one could have expected to be here at the start of this season are playing for the Cinderella role opposite the winner of the Pine Richland – Peters Twp nightcap, looking for a trip to the finals, which is the opportunity that either would embrace with open arms. Who will have the passion to carry their team to the promised land? I can tell you that both teams traditions will make for a very hard fought game before an absolutely circus atmosphere at the Ice Castle, with so many Who’s whos in the house, my fingers can’t begin to type them all. At 11:54 Canevin struck first as Josh Daley buried a wrist shot from the bottom of the circle past Joey Mecurio for a 1-0 lead. Joey Ziemanski looked sharp early stopping Zack Avi at 10:43 from just in front. Kittanning continued the pressure on the Crusaders and it paid off at 4:07 as Evan Blodgett unloaded a slapshot high over the stick side of Ziemanski to tie the score at one apiece. At 3:20, the Wildcats went on the power play with an opportunity to take their first lead. Joey Ford hit the post with 1:39 remaining and the score remained tied at 1-1. The shots on goal in the opening period were 17 – 11 in favor of Kittanning. The crowd continued to grow into the second period 3-4 people deep around the glass, like sardines in the stands and people almost hanging from the rafters of Ralph and Alf’s Castle. Joey Mecurio made a real nice stop on Zach Haluszczak at 11:36, who beat the Wildcat defense with good speed. Kitanning scored a beautiful goal at the ten minute mark as Nick Troup took a feed from Joey Ford and deposited through the 5-hole to give the Cats a 2-1 lead. Kittanning looked to be tiring a little but came up with enough effort to capitalize on some Crusader turnovers and Joey Ford gathered a loose puck and beat Ziemanski on the backhand with 55 seconds remaining in the 2nd period to increase the Wildcat lead to 3-1. Kittanning held an 11-9 shot advantage in the middle frame. Joey Mecurio made a sharp stick save on Haluszczak at 14:40 to keep the Cats up by two. Canevin would not be denied as they pinned Kittanning in their zone and at 14:21, Josh Daley continued to crack away at the puck and it found the net to cut the lead to 3-2. Just 38 seconds later, the Crusaders would tie the game as red hot Michael Darnley struck again almost in the same fashion as he did against Canon McMillan to get the Crusaders to this game less than a week ago and the game was now tied early in the third period 3-3. A ghost from seasons past helped Kittanning regain the lead at 11:31 as Ethan ‘Zip’ Zimmerman as he chipped home a Nick Troup rebound and all the sudden the score was 4-3 in favor of the Wildcats. The Crusader’s didn’t waste any time countering as 40 seconds later Jason Rogerio beat Mecurio on the backhand to the glove side on the ice inside the post at 10:31 to knot the score at 4-4. Lee Heilmann intercepted the puck from the Canevin defense at 5:41 putting the Wildcats on the power play with an opportunity to go ahead. With 4:20 remaining in regulation, Lee Heilmann’s shot from the center point caroomed off teammate Justin Kovatch and bounded in the air and behind Joey Ziemanski and Kittanning had a power play goal and a 5-4 lead. At the three minute mark, Zack Haluszczak made a great steal from behind the net and fed Cam Zappi, who was stopped by Joey Mecurio from on the doorstep. Canevin pulled the goalie for the extra attacker and Kittanning was not going to let them tie it as Montour did last week and appropriately it would be Justin Kovatch, whose passion cost him a penalty and almost the game would collect himself and buried a wrist shot into the empty net with 49 seconds to go for a 6-4 victory and a return opportunity to the Penguins Cup for the first time since 2003. Canevin out shot Kittanning 19-9 in the 3rd period.