Baldwin Highlanders - 1975 & 1988 AAA

VALENCIA – So my schedule said the game between Thomas Jefferson and Pine Richland started at 6:00 PM and then it was changed to 7:00 PM and then the e-mail nobody ever gets changed it to 7:30 PM. Another fiasco in a year of fiasco’s including JV and Freshman scheduling, which not only effected our game this evening, but also a freshman game at Center Ice with no referees! And all of you out there are paying a lot of money, for ineptitude and remember…..”if you don’t show up, you will be fined $ 1000.00”! I can’t wait until the freshman playoffs in Wheeling for 5 nights in March. So we had an opportunity to spend some quality time with the Thomas Jefferson folks and talk about the old times and good times over the past few years and well we won’t get into that right now. Speaking of which, there was a game played in the 1999 Penguins Cup Semi-Finals at the Rostraver Ice Garden between Pine Richland – Thomas Jefferson, that was the ‘2nd most famous’ stick measuring incident in Pa State Playoff history. The Jaguars won that game and went on to win their 2nd of 3 straight Pennsylvania State AA Championships under Don Powell, the Dean of Class AA coaching. In 2004-2005, TJ entered this evening’s game at 7-6-1 with a young, but maturing team, which could make lots of noise in the playoffs, if it finds consistent scoring and goaltending. Pine Richland coach Jimmy Black’s team is just looking for consistency period as the Rams have survived the opening night loss to Ambridge and then won 10 of 12, before being defeated by Montour. PR can score goals and their goaltending has had its moments as they figure to be in the mix when the playoff bell rings in March. So after a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem by a young lady from Pine Richland, we all settled into our seats at the Ice Connection for the now 7:40 start to this game. The first period featured a few good chances and goaltending, which both coaches are looking for in the playoffs. The Ram’s Josh Fodor beat the TJ defense and tried to score on the backhand at 11:12. but Mike Patterson stood tall. Then at 8:10 of the first, Phil Trombetta had a great chance from in front, but Patterson stopped him to keep the game scoreless. Thomas Jefferson had their chance in the opening 15 minutes as Joe Moore intercepted a pass while shorthanded but was stopped on a glove save by Andy Hildreth. The Jaguar’s Gary Bucci had a 2 on 1 late in the period, but shot high and wide as the game remained scoreless. Pine Richland had several chances on the power play in the 2nd period, but Patterson and the Jags defense held them off as key saves came on Jordan Yoklic at 13:22 and Tom DiDinato at 12:06. The thirds power play was a charm for the Rams as Yoklic found a loose puck in the slot and buried it past a sprawling Patterson for a 1-0 lead for PR at 8:20. The turning point of the hockey game came with The Jaguars on their first power play, but it would be Josh Fodor, who displayed great speed and finesse beating the TJ defense and Mike Patterson on the forehand at 5:02 for a shorthanded tally and a 2-0 lead. Thomas Jefferson had a great chance to get back into the game on a 5 on 3. but Fodor and the Rams killed it off. Brendan Conlon banged home a Jordan Yoklic rebound at 11:50 of the third period and Pine Richland had the game in their hands 3-0. Thomas Jefferson tried to mount a comeback as Brock Heinauer used the Pine Richland defenseman and beat Andy Hildreth with a wrist shot at 3:20, but it would prove to be the last score of the evening as the Rams defeated the Jaguars 3-1.