Bethel Park Blackhawks - 1997-2000 -2001-2002-2005 AAA

Mt Lebanon 9 Shaler 0 HARMARVILLE – A great night to throw another log on the fire in the fireplace or for the intimate gathering at the BladeRunners an opportunity to see two trains heading in opposite directions [and no references to the CanonBall Please…Ralph and Alf]. Shaler, now 1-8-0 fresh off playing its 7th game in the past four days after an appearance in Erie at the McDowell Invitational, not in the Varsity Tournament, but in a AA Tournament against Beavercreek, Ohio, who the Titans lost to in today’s final 5-3 against and two other teams who are not very competitive. First year coach Steve Esau’s team has rattled off 8 straight losses in league play and appears headed for a 9th this evening on paper against Mt Lebanon. . The Shaler Hockey program, now in its 35th year has struggled the past few years for one reason and one reason only and that’s the pipeline once built by 22 year Coach Ron Steedle has been depleted and replaced by warm bodies, who many could not make Mt Lebanon’s Junior Varsity team. And their parents, many who are former soccer mothers and no nothing about hockey and felt compelled to bend the organization By-Laws and hold a kangaroo court to remove a legendary coach and true gentleman, who built the hockey program and gave it respect and winning seasons for 17 out of 22 years with a record of 245-155-32, which is a .600 + winning percentage during the regular season, which wasn’t good enough for the Tele-Tubbies. Mt Lebanon is on a roll at 8-0 and is the # 1 ranked team in the State of Pennsylvania in the latest Pa Hockey Elite 8 poll. After last season, head coach Paul Taibi appeared headed out of the Mt Lebanon’s organization, but the remaining people in the organization who understand what Taibi brings the program with respect, discipline and hockey knowledge asked him to stay and coach a team with talent, determination and balance needed to win a State Championship for the first time in 29 years. The Blue Devils have destroyed the competition in AAA including an impressive 5-1 victory over defending Class AAA champions Bethel Park. The first period was a Mt Lebanon flurry as the Blue Devils blasted Shaler goaltender Nick Bennardo with 22 shots to the Titans 1, with 2 ½ minutes remaining in the opening period. Lebo started the scoring at 13:16 of the 1st as Jesse Root scored on a backhand through the 5-hole. Then the game turned into the Shane Ferguson show as the crafty winger scored on a tap-in set up by Josh Mandic at 11:10, a one-timer from the opposite face-off circle at 9:16 and a blast over the shoulder of Bennardo at 8:17 as Mt Lebanon cruised to a 4-0 lead. On to the second and the Blue Devils pelted Bennardo with 21 more shot to Shaler’s 4. Ferguson scored his fourth goal on a rebound at 8:43 and added another on a beautiful set-up by Tyler Murovich for a tap-in shorthanded goal at 6:41. What make’s Mt Lebanon a great team was exemplified with under a minute to go in the period as Josh Mandic broke up a two on zero breakaway and poked the puck to safety and preserve Robby Behling’s shutout bid and take a 6-0 lead to the locker room. The third period continued the onslaught on new canon fodder Brent Baburich as Matt Bartkowski scored on a slapshot from the left point at 11:09. Lou Argentari scored another at 6:56 to make it 8-0 and continued the running clock on Shaler, which appears headed to the PIHL holy grail Open Division next season and can hide from playing competitive Varsity hockey with all of the other bad teams doing the same thing. Rick Beuke fought off the Shaler defenders for another goal with 4:45 to go to make it 9-0. Final shots Mt Lebanon 57 Shaler 6 and the playoffs for one team and a 1-9 season for the Titans and a long road ahead.

Mt Lebanon 9 Shaler 0 HARMARVILLE – A great night to throw another log on the fire in the fireplace or for the intimate gathering at the BladeRunners an opportunity to see two trains heading in opposite directions [and no references to the CanonBall Please…Ralph and Alf]. Shaler, now 1-8-0 fresh off playing its 7th game in the past four days after an appearance in Erie at the McDowell Invitational, not in the Varsity Tournament, but in a AA Tournament against Beavercreek, Ohio, who the Titans lost to in today’s final 5-3 against and two other teams who are not very competitive. First year coach Steve Esau’s team has rattled off 8 straight losses in league play and appears headed for a 9th this evening on paper against Mt Lebanon. . The Shaler Hockey program, now in its 35th year has struggled the past few years for one reason and one reason only and that’s the pipeline once built by 22 year Coach Ron Steedle has been depleted and replaced by warm bodies, who many could not make Mt Lebanon’s Junior Varsity team. And their parents, many who are former soccer mothers and no nothing about hockey and felt compelled to bend the organization By-Laws and hold a kangaroo court to remove a legendary coach and true gentleman, who built the hockey program and gave it respect and winning seasons for 17 out of 22 years with a record of 245-155-32, which is a .600 + winning percentage during the regular season, which wasn’t good enough for the Tele-Tubbies. Mt Lebanon is on a roll at 8-0 and is the # 1 ranked team in the State of Pennsylvania in the latest Pa Hockey Elite 8 poll. After last season, head coach Paul Taibi appeared headed out of the Mt Lebanon’s organization, but the remaining people in the organization who understand what Taibi brings the program with respect, discipline and hockey knowledge asked him to stay and coach a team with talent, determination and balance needed to win a State Championship for the first time in 29 years. The Blue Devils have destroyed the competition in AAA including an impressive 5-1 victory over defending Class AAA champions Bethel Park. The first period was a Mt Lebanon flurry as the Blue Devils blasted Shaler goaltender Nick Bennardo with 22 shots to the Titans 1, with 2 ½ minutes remaining in the opening period. Lebo started the scoring at 13:16 of the 1st as Jesse Root scored on a backhand through the 5-hole. Then the game turned into the Shane Ferguson show as the crafty winger scored on a tap-in set up by Josh Mandic at 11:10, a one-timer from the opposite face-off circle at 9:16 and a blast over the shoulder of Bennardo at 8:17 as Mt Lebanon cruised to a 4-0 lead. On to the second and the Blue Devils pelted Bennardo with 21 more shot to Shaler’s 4. Ferguson scored his fourth goal on a rebound at 8:43 and added another on a beautiful set-up by Tyler Murovich for a tap-in shorthanded goal at 6:41. What make’s Mt Lebanon a great team was exemplified with under a minute to go in the period as Josh Mandic broke up a two on zero breakaway and poked the puck to safety and preserve Robby Behling’s shutout bid and take a 6-0 lead to the locker room. The third period continued the onslaught on new canon fodder Brent Baburich as Matt Bartkowski scored on a slapshot from the left point at 11:09. Lou Argentari scored another at 6:56 to make it 8-0 and continued the running clock on Shaler, which appears headed to the PIHL holy grail Open Division next season and can hide from playing competitive Varsity hockey with all of the other bad teams doing the same thing. Rick Beuke fought off the Shaler defenders for another goal with 4:45 to go to make it 9-0. Final shots Mt Lebanon 57 Shaler 6 and the playoffs for one team and a 1-9 season for the Titans and a long road ahead.

2005 Bethel Park Blackhawks
Pennsylvania Cup and Penguins Cup AAA Champions

1       Rick McLuckie       Goaltender 12
3       Ryan Hedglen         Forward       12
4       Kye Budziszewski Defense 11
6       Ken Lehmann         Forward       10
7       Tyler Zaremski       Forward       11
8       Connor McLean         Forward       12
9       Bryce Merriam         Goaltender 11
10       Timothy O'Brien Forward       11
11       Edward Bendik         Defense       11
12       Jason Hosko         Defense       11
13       Jacobus Bliek         Defense       12
14      Rob Torchia    Defense 10
15       Brian McGinty         Forward       9
16       Graham Cohen         Forward       10
17       Bob Heyl       Forward       11
18       Jason Hedglen         Forward       12
19       Bryan Brown         Forward       10
21       Adam Kaczmarek         Forward       11
22       Logan Bannon         Forward       10
23       Michael Diethorn Forward 12
24       Jeffrey Konyk         Defense       11
25       Tim Davin       Defense       10
                        
       Jim McVay - Head Coach               
       Dan Mackin - Assistant               
       Matt Brunk - Assistant               
       Jack Bliek - Team Manager

Game Summary provided by Plum Hockey DELMONT - The Fox Chapel Foxes defeated the Plum Mustangs by a score of 5-3. Plum came out flying early in the first period and capitalized in the first 1:54. Senior Jonathan Smith took a pass from Sophomore Nick Walters and broke into the Fox Chapel end on his off wing. He beat the Foxes' defenseman and roofed the puck over Fox Chapel goalie Eric Thiessen for his 11th goal of the season to give Plum the early lead. Senior Matt Giunta also assisted on the goal. At 10:20, Plum Junior Andy Weston was the recipient of a beautiful pass from fellow Junior Ben Colosmo and ripped the puck past Thiessen for his first of the season to give the Mustangs a two-goal lead. Fox Chapel then took control. At 7:40, Justin Kreps stripped a Mustang defenseman and walked in alone on Plum Sophomore goalie John Bronder. Kreps' shot handcuffed the Plum netminder and just trickled over the line to put the Foxes on the board. Only 1:19 later, Fox Chapel forward Kyle Misour fed linemate Greg Lorenz who fired a shot at the Plum cage. Bronder made the save, but Joe Budz picked up the rebound and buried the puck to tie the game at two. With 3:06 to go in the first period, Misour, who was left all alone in the slot, took a pass from Budz and ripped a one-timer off the post to Bronder's right and into the net to give Fox Chapel the lead. Steve Bartynski earned the second assist on the goal. The Foxes outshot the Mustangs 16-7 in the opening frame. Plum climbed back into the game at 13:27 of the second period when Junior Chad Covol one-timed a pass from Smith past Thiessen for his fourth of the year to tie the game once again. Junior David Humphrey also picked up an assist on Covol's goal. With only 2:49 to go in the second, Misour stole a clearing effort from a Mustang defenseman and slipped the puck to Budz who was wide open in the slot. Budz blistered a slapshot off Bronder's blocker and into the net to make the score 4-3. With time running out in the period, Misour took advantage of a Plum miscue in front of their own net and scored with 18 seconds to go to put the Foxes up by two. Bartynski and Budz were credited with the assists. The Foxes took two penalties in the third period, but Plum was not able to score, hitting the post at the midpoint of the third period and the crossbar a few minutes

West Allegheny 4 Greensburg CC 2 GREESNBURG – West Allegheny is off to one of its best starts in its history at 6-0-0 after a disappointing end to the 04-05 season being upset by Elizabeth Forward in round 1 of the playoffs. Coach Norm Cook’s squad has been impressive in beating Canevin, Canon McMillan, & Thomas Jefferson among the better competition in Class AA, but all of those games were at home, so this evening’s test against Greensburg CC would be a test against a good team on the road. Ryne Savisky and Ryan Kumpfmiller have led the charge offensively and one could only imagine if Mark Polidor, who is not playing for the Indians and only playing for the Penguin and this is after he had a terrific Chicago Showcase, representing West Allegheny. Anyway, West A looks to challenge in AA this season and by the looks of their start could make noise in March. Greensburg CC is off to a 3-2-1 start after a championship in the 2005 GGC Invitational in October. First year coach Bill Buchholz’s team has had its up and downs losing to Thomas Jefferson and Pine Richland in relatively close games. The Centarians should be in the mix of Elite 8 teams but will have to display better discipline, which cost them offensive stud Alfonso Arevalo during a recent contest to suspension. In order to compete with the top teams, they will have to have all of their guns in the lineup and also will rely on the superb play of sophomore goaltender Ryan Homanics. West Allegheny opened the scoring at 5:35 of the opening period as Tony Lutz pounced on a rebound and beat Ryan Homanics. The Centurians went on the power play at 2:46 GCC power play, but West Allegheny went on the power play as GCC committed two separate penalties at 1:43. With :36 seconds left in the opening period, Jeff Rich chipped the puck past the GCC goaltender to make it 2-0 for the Indians. The Indians went on the power play early in the 2nd and Homanics made a terrific sliding stop on Jeff Rich at 11:32. Homanics continued to hold his team in the game as West Allegheny dominated play through the opening 30 minutes with a 25-11 shot advantage and a 2-0 lead heading to the ice cut at Kirk Nevin. On to the third we went and at 12:53 Ryan Kumpfmiller scored a big insurance goal from right on the doorstep to make it 3-0. Central had a 5 on 3 in the middle of the final period of regulation for well over a minute and finally cracked the West A armor as Dan Seijk slipped a shot through the 5-hole of Kyle Mortimer with a little under 6 minutes to go to make it 3-1. With 4:34 left, the Centurians went back on the power play, but could not score. After a timeout by West Allegheny, GCC came back and scored as David Ulishney scored on a Shane Purvis rebound with 1:49 remaining. West Allegheny came right back just 18 seconds later as Ross Midgely scored from right in front of Ryan Homanics to give WA a two-goal lead again at 4-2. The Indians outshot GCC 31-22 on the evening and moved to a perfect 7-0-0 mark.