Baldwin Highlanders - 1975 & 1988 AAA

HARMARVILLE – Deer Lakes status for the 2004-2005 season was up in the air as of the middle of October 2004 and rumors were surfacing that there would not be a hockey season for the Lancers. The club was able to get enough kids and a head coach in Terry Marynchak and by the looks of it has about 15 players on the bench according to the roster. After 6 winning seasons and 6 Penguins Cup playoff appearances in eight seasons under Al Palowski, the Lancers program will be challenged to keep the tradition going, especially with low numbers and lack of developmental programs. Mars enters the 2004 – 2005 season with a chip on its shoulders after missing the playoffs for the first time in five years under Eric Glover. Anyone who knew the situation could tell you that last season was a rebuilding year for the Planets and that this years team would be better as Mars is dominated with a strong Junior class. Anytime rivals Mars and Deer Lakes faceoff you will be in for a spirited game and both teams entered this contest with opening night victories. Mars dominated the opening period as they out shot Deer Lakes 7-2. The Planets would capitalize on their shot advantage as Evan Reel cashed in twice at 12:00 and 5:56 to give his team a 2-0 lead. Tyler Brooks would extend the lead early in the second period as Mars took a comfortable 3-0 lead. Back came the Lancers as Moritz Weissenhorn banged home a rebound to get Deer Lakes on the board at 9:33 on the 2nd. Just a minute and a half later, it was Weissenhorn again taking a nice cross ice feed from Rich Bigley on the 2 on 1 and depositing high over the glove side of Bryan Ross at 8:04 to make it a hockey game at 3-2. Mars was determined to win this game and got a huge goal late in the period as Steven Matusak poked home a loose puck from in close as Adam Finney made the play t o get the puck to the front of the net and the Planets regained a 4-2 lead with just 1:02 remaining in the period. On to the third period and Mars iced this game with three goals including Finney at 12:50, Carroll Smith at 9:03 and a beautiful redirection by Jim Kelly of a John Becker shot at 4:44 to close out the scoring and lead the Planets to a 7-2 victory at Blade Runners in Harmarville.