Baldwin Highlanders - 1975 & 1988 AAA

DELMONT – Penn Hills coach Jan Battista is really trying to right the Penn Hills Hockey program and has done a fine job despite the Indians 2-15-1 record, which can be mainly attributed to the fallout from the past two seasons of players in the school who are not playing hockey for Penn Hills. Fortunately, Penn Hills has one of the league’s most exciting players and leading scorers Ryan Jones, who is complimented by Willie Banks and Eddie Obenauff. The problem comes from the mix of inexperience and youth which has yet to develop, but the Indians are a team which is a dangerous opponent, especially for a team trying to stay alive in the playoff picture, as evidenced by Monday night’s 9-4 loss to Penn Trafford, which was a 5-4 game well into the third period. If the Penguins Cup playoffs started today, Gateway would currently sit at # 17 and its interesting because prior to Wednesday night, they were # 16. The difference is that Erie Cathedral Prep was given back two forfeited games, which is a source of major controversy in Class AAA, and now stands at 9-10-1. Apparently, the PIHL failed to file the proper paperwork with Cathedral Prep notifying them of the hearings and decisions made, which basically means they are not doing the job which the member schools PAY over $ 100,000 a year for and further evidence that the APPOINTED administration is UNQUALIFIED to run the organization. Cathedral Prep won the games and if they win enough games to get in the playoffs, they deserve to be in the playoffs and Gateway or Shaler, who the Ramblers beat [both] in overtime can look at themselves in the mirror if Cathedral Prep finishes ahead of them and captures the final playoff spot. So now the Gators, who have been to the playoffs five consecutive years, are in a desperate situation and would need a big effort in a must win game. Given the non-sense of players not showing up for practices, who was not in attendance, or missing for a travel game, who was not in attendance, or missing because they can’t find the right colored socks or helmut and missed countless practices, was not in attendance and arguably the best defensive player in the program is out for the season, with an injury. So Gateway could just pack it in and lose to Penn Hills and their season would be over. Sometimes, the best lesson for a true team is that you have the players who WANT IT in attendance and for coach Lou Biancanello, although he had a short bench, he had players who want to play for Gateway and want to win and make the playoffs in the lineup against Penn Hills. The Gators came out with fire in the opening minutes and looked to put Penn Hills on their heels early. Sophomore Scott Lyons found a loose puck in front and banged it home past Zach Cullen at 13:49 for a 1-0 Gator lead. On the very next shift, Craig Leith showed great speed and beat the Penn Hills defense and Cullen at 13:09 and Gateway was off and running 2-0. The Indians came back and Ryan Jones set up Eddie Obenauff who beat J.D. Domenick through the 5-hole to cut the lead to 2-1 at 8:22. Then it was Jones again, who took it coast to coast and beat Domenick on the forehand to tie the game at two apiece at 7:28. Penn Hills came on in the second and took the lead as Jones took and Obenauff pass and buried a wrist shot to the stick side at 13:16 and the Indians had their first lead 3-2. Nice looking sophomore Anthony Battista scored on a Ryan Jones rebound, after a great lead pass by Willie Banks, at 11:48 and Penn Hills held a 4-2 lead. Gateway would have numerous opportunities late in the second on the power play and looked pretty lethargic as Penn Hills took a two-goal advantage to the locker room. Friday the 13th was not looking too good for the Gators as they took to the ice for the 3rd period, but maybe they could get back in the game on the power play to start the final period. Just 17 seconds in it looked like doomsday as Eddie Obenauff beat Dominick on the forehand shorthanded and Penn Hills opened up a 5-2 lead. Brennan DiBasilio tipped in a hot from the point at 13:56 to make the power play count and cut the lead to 5-3. Obenauff finished off the hat trick on a rebound at 12:03 and gave Penn Hills a 6-3 lead and they looked well in command at this point. Gateway never gave up and when Matt Rose scored on the wrist shot at 7:18, the Gators were back in the game 6-4. Steve Lyons threw the puck to the net at 6:06 and it trickled past Zach Cullen to pull Gateway within one at 6-5. Penn Hills showed a ton of frustration and took an illadvised penalty and Gateway made them pay as Craig Leith buried a slapshot from the top of the circles high over the glove side of Cullen and the Gators tied the game 6-6 with 4:14 left in regulation. No comeback would be perfect without a great finish and this time it was Ryan Whitfield in overtime, who lofted a backhand toward Cullen which handcuffed the Penn Hills goaltender and trickled over his shoulder into the net giving Gateway a miraculous 7-6 come from behind victory at Center Ice, keeping the Gators playoff march alive.