Baldwin Highlanders - 1975 & 1988 AAA

CORAOPOLIS – West Allegheny 14-4-1 and Montour 14-4-0 squared off with a division title on the line, a possible first round bye and possibly two home playoffs games…..and as Carpet says ‘let the players play, the coaches coach and lets all behave ourselves and have a good time’ or something like that ! So if you’re looking for analysis ….go to Discussion Forum, because all the experts are there and PA Hockey is at the game ...so let the game begin !!! Before a packed house standing room only crowd to see a rematch of a 4-3 Montour victory in December with the West Division title on the line. Maybe out of this game comes two, one or no teams ready to challenge for the Class AA Penguins Cup next month. Early on Zach Perry’s centering pass took a fortuitous bounce and almost ended up behind Dan Kuzio in the opening minute. Montour made a mental mistake being caught with too many men on the ice at 13:57, putting West A on the power play employing 5 forwards on the first unit. At 12:09, Mario Panucci made them pay with great speed outraced the Indian defense to the puck and rifled a slapshot which beat Kuzio on the stickside giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead. Montour went on the power at 10:41 and converted as Brian Dugan’s rocket from the center point found the net at 10:22 over the glove of Kuzio for a power play goal and a 2-0 Montour lead. West Allegheny had their best chance to get on the board as Mark Polidor rung one of the pipe at 9:39 and Aaron Williams stopped Ryan Kumpfmiller moments later. Williams made another nice save at 3:21 on Tony Lutz just getting the leg down to keep West A off the board. With 51 seconds left in the first, a shot by Ed Jankoski handcuffed Aaron Williams and bounded behind the Montour goalie to cut the lead to 2-1 after 12 shots on Montour and put the Indians right back in the hockey game. West Allegheny came out flying off the bat in the 2nd and Ryne Savisky converted a loose rebound off the stick off Mark Polidor at 14:41 and all the sudden the 2-0 Montour lead evaporated into a tie game. Ross Polk scored a huge goal at 10:39 on a wrist shot to give Montour the lead 3-2. At 8:58, Norm Cook made a bold move as freshman Kyle Mortimer replaced Kuzio between the pipes and moments later West Allegheny went on a 5 on 3 power play at 8:33. Williams stopped Savisky at 7:58, Sarachene at 7:45, but Mark Polidor scored on a slapshot at 7:33 and the game was tied at 3-3. Chad Talotta just missed at 6:22 and West Allegheny was whistled putting the Spartans back on the power play at 6:15. At 5:47, Mortimer stopped Joe Clarke from just in front. Montour went on the power play late in the 2nd at 1:16, but did’t score. At 10:56, Zach Perry walked down the slot, but Mortimer stopped him. At 10: 19, Steve Sarachene and Chad Talotta raced for the puck and Talotta pulled him down, resulting in an Indian power play and a chance to take the lead. At 9:47, Montour got caught out of position and Mark Polidor found a streaking Ryan Kumpfmiller, who beat Aaron Williams to give WA a 4-3 lead. At 8:18, Zach Perry picked the pocket of the West A defense and fed Mario Panucci, who buried a snap shot upstairs on the blocker side of Kyle Mortimer to tie the game again. At 7:15 West Allegheny got caught in a bad line change and defnseman Ed Elbel found Joe Clarke, who got off a clean shot and Ross Polk pounced on the rebound and gave the Spartans the lead 5-4. Danny Shiwarski scored a big insurance goal at 4:52 on a pass from Mario Panucci to give the Spartans a huge two-goal advantage 6-4. At 2:19, Williams made a great save on Kumpfmiller from point blank range and Montour would hold on for a 6-4 comeback victory.

Montour and Moon have a history of close games and tonight was no different. The classic and physical rivalry provided a great game with an eerily similar outcome from games past. Moon's Andrew Slifkin was outstanding in net and stood on his head to stop 39 of Montour's 41 shots. However, it was not enough as Montour solved Slifkin in the third period for 2 goals and the 2-0 win. Mario Panucci struck twice in the third to score both of Montour's goals while goaltender Aaron Williams preserved the shutout for the win. Slifkin stoned the Montour offense time after time throughout the first two periods, making several sprawling saves. Meanwhile, the Montour defense clamped shut Moon's offense once again to limit Moon's scoring chances. With the game scoreless in the third period, Mario Panucci took a pass from Zach Perry through the neutral zone. Panucci skated into the Moon zone, wound up, and slapped a shot that found its way under Slifkin's glove for the 1-0 Montour lead. Late in the third, Dan Shiwarski out-skated a Moon defenseman along the boards deep inside the Moon zone. Shiwarski centered a pass where Panucci one-timed it into the net for the 2-0 lead and eventual final score.

JOHNSTOWN- Yes Johnstown ….where Mr. Haney made his first appearance or disappearance if you will. Surely, this trip would yield some Green Acres moments, especially after an 11-0 drubbing Tuesday night at the hands of North Allegheny University in Cranberry, coach Ron ‘Eb Dawson’ Steedle and myself,were looking forward to the game. As we pulled into the War Memorial, you could see the Crimson usher faithful filing in for another rendition of Serra – McCort. Amazingly, a parking space just 10 feet or so from the side entrance. Like Sam Drucker, I fumbled my camera and laptop to find my credentials to present at the door, would it be the postmaster or possibly the reporter or the store owner. You see the more things that things at Drucker’s store in Hooterville, the more they remained the same. Must I remind the McCort faithful or John Bradley of The 2000 Penguins Cup final – Serra 4 Bishop McCort 1 or The 2001 Penguins Cup final – Serra 6 Bishop McCort 3 or The 2002 Penguins Cup final – Serra 3 Bishop McCort 0 or The 2003 Penguins Cup semi-final – Serra 4 Bishop McCort 1 or The 2004 Penguins Cup final – Serra 5 Bishop McCort 2 or perhaps the game earlier this season at Rostraver won again by Serra 6 Bishop McCort 4. Tom Mooney’s Eagles had to feel great about their # 1 Pa Hockey Elite 8 ranking and the 18-0-0 perfect record and their mastery over McCort. For the Crimson Crushers, they are riding a wave into this game with 11 straight victories and a team that seems to be peaking for the upcoming playoffs. Bishop McCort also had an ace in the hole, as Serra was the last remaining undefeated team left in Western Pa Hockey, and the last two weeks have watched two unbeaten teams, Bethel Park and Canon McMillan fall from the ranks of no losses. So Ron ‘Eb’ stated ‘Hey, you are a curse for undefeated hockey teams. Look at what you did to Bethel and Canon Mac.” The 1st period featured some good action at both end and McCort had a few chances in which they missed the net. Serra would strike first as Aaron Nolte scored on a rebound of a Josh Jones rebound at 2:19 to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. The Crushers would tie it as Shawn James scored on a backhand through the 5-hole past Nick Koroly for a 1-1 tie. The goaltending in the 2nd period was good as Serra’s Nick Koroly and McCort’s Ron Stenger stopped several key chances. The third period of hockey would keep the fans at the War Memorial on the edge of their seat throughout and didn’t take long to heat up as Ray Gillis took a Tyler Burda feed and burst with speed around the McCort defense and undressed Ron Stenger with a great move on the forehand at 14:03 to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead. The Crimson Crushers came right back and would not be denied as Marc Domonkos scored on his own rebound at 12:30. Serra came right back as Aaron Nolte showed why he is considered one of the most dangerous players in Class A as he converted a funny bounce past Stenger to give Serra the lead 3-2 at 8:43 after some nice work by linemates Justin Lubasch and Joey Manning. Back came the Crimson Crushers and after Domonkos almost beat Nick Koroly at 8:13, it would be David Champe, who found a loose puck at the feet of a Serra defenseman and flung a shot past the Eagle netminder to tie the game with 7:40 left. McCort would go on the power play at 5:57, as Serra was whistled for a slash behind the play and the Eagles would have the best scoring chance as Ron Stenger had to be tough on a Joey Manning slapshot shorthanded at 4:48. The Crimson Crushers would strike the fatal blow next as Cory Mock rifled a slapshot from just inside the faceoff circle on the ice under the stick of Nick Koroly to give McCort its first lead 4-3 with just 2:39 remaining in regulation. Ray Gillis had a great opportunity to tie the game with the goalie pulled, but Ron Stenger stopped him with 47 seconds left and McCort scored 2 empty net goals to make the final 6-3 in a possible preview of the 2005 Penguins between two schools who have been to the dance every year [except 1998] since 1994.

SOUTHPOINTE - Peters Township’s Mark Cooper was very happy with the underdog tag a year ago as Thomas Jefferson, Kittanning and Indiana headed into the playoffs with a little edge on the Indians and Coop used that as leverage to motivate his PT players to go out and prove to all that their team was the best in the state and they won their 3rd straight Penguins Cup, but were unable to complete the hat trick of Pennsylvania Class AA State Championships falling short against Archbishop Carroll. The Indians season in 2004-2005 has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows resulting in 6 losses, which is more than in 3 regular seasons prior to this one. So Coop and PT is looking for that magic to appear again and what better motivation than an undefeated # 1 ranked opponent. Canon McMillan is the target on every Class AA teams bullseye and coach Dave Fryer is starting to become accustomed to the Big Macs # 1 ranking in the Pa Hockey Elite 8. The coach also knows that his team will be one loss away from ending their season, when the playoffs start in a few weeks and even though this team has an undefeated record, it will have to prove it when March 1 means only five in a row will make them champions. The Big Macs will be looking to go where no other Canon McMillan team has ventured and have a pretty good start on it with an 18-0-1 record and an opportunity to tie down the # 1 seed and a bye in round one of the Penguins Cup playoffs. Before a packed house of rowdy CM fans on Senior night and Peters faithful of over 600, along with many of the Class AA players who had the night off, the first period began and Peters had a great chance as Brandon Tingle, had a two on one chance, which was gloved by Drew Stanton at 14:14. Then at 13:22, Justin Cormack dipsy doodled in the Peters zone and fired a shot, which Rob Madore handled, but Jesse Patnesky was perfectly positioned at the side of the net and beat Madore to give the Big Macs a 1-0 lead. Canon Mac went on the power play at 7:57 and Madore made a real nice leg save on Patneskey at 6:07. At 5:23, Doug Stanton beat Madore at the far post for a 2-0 lead with a slick shot. The Big Macs dominated the opening period, but may have been a little overzealous in their hitting and Peters had a great opportunity to get back in the game at 3:27 on the power play. At 1:21 a streaking Bryan Papciak had a point blank chance, but Drew Stanton said no! The 2ns period began much like the 1st and the Big Macs went on a 5 on 3 at 14:35 and a chance to go up 3 again. Rob Madore made several key saves and Peters survived and Jeff Hannan’s shot off the crossbar was really the Indians first legitimate scoring opportunity and the PT made it count as Chris Papciak scored into an empty net on a Jake Machel rebound at 11:14 to cut the lead to 2-1. At 8:16, the play was blown dead and the puck was loose and Peters had a chance to score, which was a huge break for Canon Mac, which became a little lifeless in the middle of the 2nd. At 3:43 Rob Madore made a tremendous save on a CM 2 on 1 where Doug Stanton fed Justin Cormack and the Peters goalie made a sliding stop. At 2:17 Peters got the spark they needed as Chris Papciak scored on the short side beating Stanton to tie the hockey game. Moments later at 1:30, Jeff Hannan found the net again on a wrist shot which fooled the Canon Mac goaltender and gave Peters its first lead 3-2. With 42 ticks left in the 2nd, Canon Mac showed frustration and Peters went back on the power play, with a chance to go up by two. Brandon Tingle apparently scored, but referee Dave Kosick ruled it was directed by a foot and no goal was called with 20 seconds left and the game remained 3-2 in favor of Peters. On to the third period we went and with Canon Macs undefeated season and possible # 1 seed on the line and Peters Twp’s chance to regain respectability in the Class AA playoff chase, the next goal go a long way to determining a winner in this one. At 13:31, Eric Lang put a licken on Jake Machel to get the CM crowd back in the game. Madore continued to play strong in between the pipes with another excellent save on Jesse Patnesky at 10:15 and again on Corey Griffith at 9:42 from just in front. At 9:11, Peters Twp scored a big goal as Gerry Raymond swung a pass to a streaking Jeff Hannan who chipped the puck past Drew Stanton for a 4-2 Indian advantage. With 3:29 left Canon Mac was whistled for a penalty and Peters only had to kill the clock on the power play, but Justin Cormack made something happen getting behind the Peters defense causing a penalty and a 4 on 4, but the Indians maintained a 4-2 lead. With 57 seconds left Justin Cormack missed a great chance to cut the lead to one and that would be all she wrote as Peters Twp would win it 4-2.

Click on the Penguins Logo for the Complete History of the Penguins Cup from 1975 to present [Year by year] for Class AAA, AA and A. Only available on Pa Hockey and see the long awaited Pa Hockey Penguins Cup Previews of every playoff team are here and can be accessed HERE ! 2005 Class A Penguins Cup - Tuesday March 22, 2005 @ 7 PM Bishop McCort Crimson Crushers 5 Serra Catholic Eagles 2 ***PLEASE READ THE GAME SUMMARIES*** 2005 Class AA Penguins Cup - Wednesday March 23, 2005 @ 7 PM Peters Township Indians 6 Pine Richland Rams 2 ***PLEASE READ THE GAME SUMMARIES*** 2005 Class AAA Penguins Cup - Wednesday March 23, 2005 @ 9 PM Bethel Park Blackhawks 1 North Allegheny Tigers 0 ***PLEASE READ THE GAME SUMMARIES***