Baldwin Highlanders - 1975 & 1988 AAA

DELMONT – Friday night Interscholastic Hockey is not something that is much of a tradition in Western Pennsylvania, because the Mr. Haney’s discipleship of the unneeded 6 AAA midget teams like to drink lots of Kool-Aid starting about 5 O’Clock for happy hour, which lasts essentially until the Monday morning hangover when somebody needs to go back to work and pay for these budding hockey careers. The battle between high school hockey and amateur hockey has reached a new level of ridiculousness, as now bantams and pee wees are calling off for freshman and junior varsity teams and subsequently, high school and amateur programs are dying off at an alarming level. Back in the 1997-98 season, as a coach at Franklin Regional, our program had 75 players with two freshman teams, a junior varsity and varsity team and Plum, our next door neighbor had well over 70 as well, with a developmental team, freshman team, two junior varsities and a varsity. Boy how times have changed in just seven years and although Plum has had a tremendous season at 16-3-1, clinching their 2nd division title in three years, there is great concern about the viability of the program. Even the aforementioned Franklin Regional has only 40 something players in its program. Ladies and Gentleman, the reason is cost. People are being priced out of high school hockey and this week the beginning of the avalanche is happening as 12-15 schools from the Johnstown area have announced plans to leave the PIHL for 2005-2006. So with Newt Kiley on hand to give and not present Plum their Division Championship trophy, and leave Penn Trafford’s in the lobby for the Center Ice staff to give their team, we all must wonder what the future holds. Ralph [not Murovich] and Alf are busy working on that banner for Connellsville (4-14-0), West Mifflin (4-15-0) and Trinity (4-15-0) for the Open Division South title, who are teams which have been busy snatching defeat from the jaws of victory at such an alarming rate, not even I can predict which one of those teams will back into a division title. One thing I can predict is that 2 or 3 of those programs will be extinct within the next few years. So Senior Night for this Plum team would be all the more special in Hooterville as coach Stu Rulnick and his sidekicks Jerry ‘Dr Evil’ Bass, Mike ‘I scored 100 goals in AAA and only ten against Connellsville’ Sargo and Sean Keller prepared their troups for a playoff run and maybe the people in Plum and Franklin are cherishing these Senior nights, because the parking lot was more crowded than the Pixley Bazaar, with cars parked down the hill, which could have disturbed the Lamplighter Nightclubs attraction, the Vogues, which also was a happening event in Delmont, Pa. The Mustangs have all the makings of a very good playoff team and are maybe a Serge Somma or Ian Beitler, plus a couple of bodies away from really putting together a playoff run, which is a direct byproduct of the lack of numbers in the program and the lack of cooperation between Interscholastic and Amatuer hockey. In town tonight was Mt Lebanon, the defending Penguins Cup champions of Paul Taibi and assistants Dave ‘I didn’t play for Mort at Bethel, but know Mr. Haney’ Dorsey and our good friend Bobby Montana, who is back in town after a trip on the Goodship Lollipop. So reluctantly as Mort and I maneuvered ourselves for parking position in the parking lot, Mr Montana triggers just by his prescence a Friday special edition of Whos Who night with Bethel Park’s Jim ‘Mort’ McVay, Norwin’s Dave Warren, North Allegheny’s Tom ‘I couldn’t miss tonight’s Pizza Pub meeting with my buddy Stu’ Pandolfo, Mrs Mary Jo Rulnick, Cindy ‘Mrs. Dr Evil’ Bass, Ron Valerino Sr, Ron Valerino Jr, Norm Uddstrom, Mt Lebanon Pres Gina Colligan, Ralph ‘the real Ralph and real contractor’ Murovich, Dave ‘I dropped out of the top 5 fans for Pa Hockey because I go to the Boulevard’ Scott, Lou ‘I am still coaching the Gator’s’ Biancanello, his sidekick Ray ‘I have way too much time on my hands’ Leith, and Mr and Mrs Bob Smith Sr in attendance to watch their grandson, while son Bobby was home or at the Pixley library studying up on ‘Due Process’, but here in spirit, and a whole host of other people to jockeying back and forth between the Franklin –USC game and this one. Arnold ‘Slick’ Ziffel would be in front of his television as Plum ‘do we have PIHL television rights?’ Cable access was on hand to televise tonight’s affair before a packed house at Center Ice Arena. Sorry about that…..anyway, Mt Lebanon has been one of Class AAA’s best teams in the 2nd half of the season and it has been the development of a number of players, who have flourished under coach Taibi’s system and the emergence of a solid third line unit, who wreck havoc on opposing teams and contribute each night to a total team effort. This enable’s the Blue Devils to have their top guns fresh late in the game or in key situations when the game is on the line, which is a contrast to Plum’s lack of numbers, which could be the difference in this very important seeding game. Mt Lebanon goaltender Evan ‘Max’ Baehr has also been sharp as of late, particularly in the Blue Devils 1-0 win over Bethel Park a week ago and will be a key player in Lebo’s defense of their title. Plum came out with grit and emotion in the opening minutes as the first period turned into a physical tight checking period. Phil Mains, who is arguably the best defenseman in Class AAA, was doling out checks like it was the first of the month and the senior defenseman struck the game’s first tally as he read the play and pounced on a Ben Colosmo rebound and beat Baehr at 9:24 to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. Mt Lebanon regained their momentum on a power play that they didn’t score on at 4:03, but the affect may have resulted in a late goal in the period as freshman Tyler Murovich used his quickness to beat Brandon King on a Brandon Dornish rebound with just 27 seconds remaining in the opening period. On to the second period and after a 4 on 4 situation expired the Blue Devils went to work down low which left a wide open point and Matt Bartkowski, who blistered a slapshot through traffic and past King for Mt Lebanon’s first lead at 12:15. Plum looked to be a little tired and Mt Lebanon took the tempo up a notch in the middle of the period and the result was a loose puck in the slot and an opportunistic Tony Valerino, who found the puck and roofed it up under the crossbar [which several people including Mt Lebanon behind the net thought never went in] but it was ruled a goal and Mt Lebanon now has a 3-1 lead with 4:48 remaining. Back came the Mustangs in the 3rd as a streaking Ryan Griffin took a great cross ice pass from Mains and beat Baehr cleanly to cut the lead to 3-2. Plum was building some more momentum and executed some nice work in the offensive zone as Jonathon Smith, beat the Mt Lebanon defense and found Ben Colosmo, who buried a wrist shot upstairs at 8:14 to tie the game at three apiece. The Mustangs looked to take this game but Evan Baehr made a nice stop on David Dicau at 8:01 and Plum had another chance on the power play at 6:48, which they could not capitalize on giving Mt Lebanon a little momentum. Enter Mt Lebanon’s Shane Ferguson and one of the teams money players when the game is on the line [who sat the bench with a slight injury and could afford to with 18 players on the bench] and Fergy delivered as he swooped into the Plum zone found a rebound and lofted an ‘Arnold Slick if you will’ backhand, which handcuffed Brandon King and gave the Blue Devils a 4-3 lead with 4:14 remaining. All of the hard work of Plum to mount a comeback turned to frustration and an ill-advise penalty at 4:14 and The Blue Devils knew what was coming next as their chairman of the boards Tony Valerino put closure to a Plum upset slamming home a rebound with :49 seconds left to send the Plum faithful to the parking lot with a key 5-3 Mt Lebanon victory keeping them tied with Bethel Park, in the loss column, behind North Allegheny.

The 2005 Flyers Cup Schedule is now available on Pa Hockey. The only place you can see the teams of the Flyers Cup and our speadsheet has links to every league on the respective teams as well. Coming next week you will notice the Flyers Cup Schedule will be at the bottom of our site and you can follow all of the Scores, Highlights and Game Summaries to the State Finals in Hershey on March 26th............Only on Pa Hockey !!! Make sure to check out the Complete Flyers Cup history and history of the Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships ALL in ONE PLACE [Click on Title or Flyers Cup 2005 Logo]! The Flyers Cup previews are here [Click on old Flyers Cup Logo]! Flyers Cup Schedule updated with Round 1 scores and Round 2 Matchups [Click on Title or Flyers Cup 2005 Logo] ! 2005 Flyers Cup AAA Championship Thursday March 17, 2005 @ the Spectrum Malvern Prep Friars 4 Germantown Academy Patriots 3 HIGHLIGHTS: Malvern Prep captures 5th straight Flyers Cup and moves on to defend its State Title 2005 Flyers Cup AA Championship Tuesday March 22, 2005 @ the Haverford Skatium Haverford High Fords 5 Council Rock South Hawks 1 HIGHLIGHTS: ***GAME SUMMARIES*** 2005 Flyers Cup A Championship Wednesday March 23, 2005 @ the Ashton Ice Works Penncrest Lions 6 Central Bucks West Bucks 2 HIGHLIGHTS: Penncrest captures first ever Flyers Cup

ROSTRAVER - This game summary was provided by Carrick Hockey The Carrick Cougars upset the undefeated Chartiers Valley Colts at Rostraver Ice Gardens tonight. Carrick was led by sophomore Aaron Hahne who had a hat trick and two assists. Junior Matt Abbott added 2 goals and an assist. But the story of the night may have been goaltender Jonathan Rethage. Char Valley peppered Rethage with 54 shots including 21 in the final period, but the All Star Goalie stood his ground and led his team to their 16th win of the season. Ryan Woodall and Drew Paocelli scored for Chartiers Valley.

Once again...we at Pa Hockey have looked far and wide over the rosters of Major Junior A and NCAA Division 1 Colleges across the United States and in Canada and came up with the players from the State of Pennsylvania playing at that level. Keep in mind that this list does not include ACHA Division 1 or NCAA Division 3. Now we know that when this list gets combed over that we may have omitted a player or two......so if you know of someone playing at that level, please let us know !

NEVILLE ISLAND – Peters Township is ranked # 2 in Pa Hockey Elite 8 in Western Pennsylvania in the latest poll, not counting the 6-5 overtime disaster loss against West Allegheny on Monday night. That game has encompassed Mark Cooper’s season as the Indians were impressive with a 5-2 lead after two periods and then self destructed with penalties and opportunist play by West A, who stormed back with a couple of power play goals and won it in overtime in a statement game of what we can expect in the Class AA Penguins Cup playoffs, which are less than a month away. Less than a month ago, Peters pummeled Montour 8-1 sending a message to Class AA that the Indians can turn it on at anytime, which everyone knows, but the question remains can they do it for 5 straight in March. With a full lineup, discipline and water rather than Kool Aid for some underachieving players would help, but this rematch with Montour would be different as Coach Cooper would watch from the stands, while my one-time State Championship broadcast partner Rick Tingle and Scott Simmons substituted for Coop behind the bench and only a dozen or so skaters due to suspension or injuries or reindeer game for Gerry Raymond, Rob Madore, Jake Machel, and Matt Lazzaro. Peter Twp Television was there to televised game with no announcers and one phone call could have netted myself and perennial Pa Hockey top5 fan Earl Bugaile, both in attendance. Great crowd of Montour fans for Senior Night on hand including several coaches and players from Class AA teams including Canon McMillan, who are on the verge of clinching the South Division with a Montour victory. Danny Siegel’s Montour club is ranked # 5 in Pa Hockey Elite 8 Western Pa and the Spartans have been up and down this season, but look to be one of the half dozen to a dozen AA teams in the mix, when the playoff bell rings in three weeks. So after a very nice rendition of the nation anthem by Lauren Talotta, sister of Chad Talotta….before the game and heading off to the Super Bowl, we all settled in for tonight’s game. The first period was very quick and fast paced as the Spartans missed several chances against Justin Marahamas. At 10:20 Montour went on the power play and at 9:30 Ross Polk tipped a Brian Dugan wrist shot past the Peters Township goaltender to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. At 9:25 Peter’s Eric Windemueller just missed as the puck glanced off the post. Montour looked to take control of this contest in the 2nd period and at 12:23, Paul Ciotti scored from in close on a rebound of a Jeff Peters shot to give Montour a 2-0 lead. At the 10-minute mark, Peters came back as Dustin Roux overpowered Aaron Williams with a wrist shot on the short side to cut the lead to 2-1. Lighting struck again at 8:41 with another Peters Twp power play and at 7:29, it was Roux again as he circled from behind the net and showed great patience beating Williams inside the post to tie the game at two apiece. Not to be outdone at 6:45, Roux came down the off wing and undressed the Montour defense and beat Williams through the 5-hole for a 3-2 Peters lead. The Indians went back on the power play at 5:30 as Montour showed frustration evident from the first meeting and looked to be self destructing themselves. The turning point of the hockey game came when Peters took an ill advised and undisciplined penalty, which broke the Peters momentum with a little over 5 minutes left. And at 4:45 Peters took another bad interference call, which put Montour on a 4 on 3 power play. And it happened …..just like that Brian Dugan scored a big goal with a big slapshot on the stickside to tie the game again at 3-3. At 3:05, Marahamas made a point blank save on Danny Shiwarski and stopped him again just moments later at 2:40. With 46 seconds left, a harmless shot by Adam Rizza fell right on the doorstep and Jeff Peters found a loose puck and scored on a wide open net for a 4-3 Spartan lead. On to the 3rd period and Montour killed the penalty to start the period. As many of you have been following the Game Summaries the last few weeks, it was time for Green Acres and we now have learned that Ralph [not Murovich] and Alf were given the exclusive contract to build the division championship trophies and if Montour defeated Peters, thus giving Canon McMillan their first ever division championship. Rumors surfaced at the Island Sports Center [from qualified media representatives not related to Arnold ‘Slick’ Ziffel, that the trophies would be arriving on the Cannonball after a stop in Pixley. With Floyd unavailable this evening, Montour’s Zach Perry lit the engine with a big slapshot goal from the top of the circles past Marahamas at the 10 minute mark to extend the lead to 5-3. Then it was Mario Panucci, who moved the train down the tracks at 7:31 with a great wrist shot in the upper right hand corner to make it 6-3. At the 5:32 mark Montour went on the power play and Marahamas made a great glove save on Zach Perry to keep the game within three, but could not stop him again as Perry wrapped it up with 1:29 with a rebound goal to make it 7-3. Dustin Roux scored on a great effort with his 4th goal beating Williams on the short side shorthanded to make it 7-4 with 45 ticks left, but Montour scored a huge 7-4 win at RMU Island Sports Center.