Baldwin Highlanders - 1975 & 1988 AAA

ROSTARVER – Dave Stepanian finally has his full team together and when Serra defeated Blackhawk 5-0 in February, the Cougars were without Jake Polas and Erik Stedman, who were out with injuries. Blackhawk plays a very patient puck control game and it is very important to have two of your top guns in the lineup for a little BANG ! BANG ! While Blackhawk has had an outstanding season and opening playoff game against Deer Lakes, the Cougars are a work in progress as far as playoff experience goes, which could be a huge factor in facing the perennial playoff studs from Serra, who have pulled out their share of games in which they were outplayed but still came out on top. And if Blackhawk doesn’t believe me just ask Bishop McCort or Radnor or Springfield, who lost to Serra or Westmont who defeated them in last years Penguins Cup. Serra Catholic has been on an unfamiliar roll as off late, which led to two final game season losses to Sewickley Academy 4-3 and Wheeling Park 4-2. With John Mooney not coaching and Eddie Figas on the sidelines, the coaching reins where left to Tom Mooney. The Eagles could have very well packed it in against Blackhawk, but people who have been around Interscholastic Hockey know that the 3-time Pennsylvania Class A champions ‘never say die’ and have only a playoff loss to Westmont in last years Penguin Cup final over the past five years. Timmy Johnson has been the best goaltender in the state in the playoffs over the past four years and dreams of another matchup with his friends from Bishop McCort, which is exactly what will happen if the favorites advance in round two of the 2004 Penguins Cup playoffs. The opening minutes of this playoff game at the Rostraver Ice Garden was fast paced with good flow and featured two of the best goaltenders in Western Pennsylvania. Both teams had an opportunity on the power play in the opening 10 minutes, but it was Serra who capitalized as Joey Manning blasted a slapshot from the right point high over the glove hand of John Fitzgerald at 6:05 for a 1-0 Eagle lead. A poor show of discipline put the Cougars in the box at 4:08 of the opening period and Serra made Blackhawk pay as Josh Jones took a nice cross-ice pass from Justin Lubasch and buried it high upstairs past Fitzgerald at 3:30 and Serra was having it all their way 2-0 and 12-8 in shots. On to the second and Blackhawk went on the power play at 10:18 on a very controversial interference call at 10:08. The Cougars picked up their game to an unreal level pounding Timmy Johnson and the Serra defense with 22 shots in the 2nd period. Johnson made at least a half dozen incredible saves including on Travis Stoll, who was in all alone at 10:05, Jake Polas, three times, on a great glove save at 9:56 and again on a rebound ticketed for the upper corner at 9:56 and finally on another rebound at 9:49. It looked like Blackhawk was never gonna score at this point and Johnson was on fire. At 8:47 Sam Kristan held the puck for seemed like eternity at the left point and patiently waited for his players to get open in front, the Cougar defensemen unleashed a wicked snapshot which Johnson saved but could not control the rebound and Matt Stepanian pounced on the rebound and beat Johnson to put Blackhawk on the board with 8:47 remaining in the period. The Cougars were on a roll and pressing to tie the game, but Johnson came out of nowhere to make a brilliant sliding save on Stepanian, who took a great feed from Eric Stedman at 5:03 and another great save just getting his leg on the snake bitten Jake Polas’ shot at 2:09. Eric Stedman would not be denied as the quick Cougar forward scored on a wraparound at 1:44 to tie the game at two apiece. Blackhawk had finally tied the game and had expended so much energy trying to beat Johnson, you just knew Serra would have their chances and it almost happened with just 50 seconds remaining, but John Fitzgerald made a terrific leg save on Ray Gillis and the teams went to the locker room tied at 2-2. Rather than attacking both teams went into a lull early in the third period and played very conservatively. This would bode well for Serra Catholic, who had a short bench and not very much momentum, but has the playoff experience to know it only takes one break or one shot or a bad penalty to win a close hockey game, putting them in the drivers seat against a Blackhawk team, who last played a game of significance in the Penguins Cup playoffs back in 1996 against West Allegheny in the Penguins Cup playoffs. Serra Catholic would deliver the big blow from Philip Ivkovich, who found himself alone in front with John Fitzgerald on his wallet and all day to shoot it. The Serra forward watched as the Blackhawk goaltender squirmed to try to recover and buried a wrist shot just inside the post for a huge goal at 8:21 of the final period and a 3-2 lead. Blackhawk had to be demoralized at this point, but was given an opportunity on the power plat at 8:04, but never got established in the Serra zone due to some great penalty killing from Ray Gillis, Joey Manning and Ryan Noone. All Serra had to do was show some discipline and get the puck deep into the Cougar zone and this is a trademark of what John Mooney [along Tom Mooney and Eddie Figas] have tried to establish in a very disciplined program when the cads are on the table in playoff games and unfortunately John Mooney was unable to relay and the reason he left the program. Well, its funny that with 2:15 remaining Serra would take a very undisciplined penalty with a slash from a veteran player and put the game in the balance and Blackhawk on the power play with 2:15 remaining. The Cougars had new life and were able to get set up in the Eagle zone and it would all come down to Jake Polas, who had been robbed on several occasions in the 2nd period and Timmy Johnson, the goaltender who is ‘Al Davis on skates’ and says ‘just win baby’…. With 52 ticks left on the clock, Polas was alone in front and Johnson just absolutely robbed him and that’s how close it is in the playoffs because if Polas scores, I think Blackhawk may have won it in overtime. But those Eagles, they just keep finding the way and when Justin Lubasch scored into the empty net with 3 seconds left making it 4-2, it was a little reminder to the teams in Class A that the Penguins Cup still goes through Serra Catholic.

MT LEBANON – They were parking on Cedar Boulevard and on the sidewalks and all over the hillside for what was billed as ‘the game’. You see the Mt Lebanon Recreation Center is a mecca of sorts and when Bethel Park and Mt Lebanon lock horns, everything else gets thrown out the window because this is a great rivalry, which has stood the test of time for over 25 years. We all remember the 1997 game at Rostraver, when the Blue Devils held a 4-0 lead entering the third period and Bethel Park stormed back to win it with five unanswered tallies en route to their first ever Pennsylvania Class AAA crown. And in 2002, when Mt Lebanon rode a wave all the way to the Penguins Cup only to be dispatched by the Hawks, who were on their way to their third consecutive Pa State crown. The common denominator has been Jim McVay, who always has his Bethel Park teams prepared and especially for rival Mt Lebanon. Mt Lebanon Paul ‘Pat’ Taibi has not had a lot of sleep lately, because of this game to be honest. The # 1 seed, a great season for the Blue Devils and a possible dream of that elusive State Championship could all go away if Mt Lebanon could not beat Bethel. The last meeting of the two teams saw Bethel Park hold a 1-0 lead until late in the third period, but the Blue Devils rallied to win 3-1. This one would have a lot more meaning and significance if Mt Lebanon could beat Bethel Park before a fantastic standing room only crowd 2-3 deep around the glass and along the railing settled in at the Mt Lebanon Recreation Center. Oh how important the opening goal would be in this one and both teams knew it as the first period was fiercely contested and displayed tight checking and some clean but physical play. BP goalie Bryce Merriam made a nice stop on Tony Valerino at 11:15 and another on Chad Uddstrom after a nice feed from Eric Sloan at 8:20. Bethel went on the power play at 4:27, but the Blue Devils killed it with a nice penalty killing effort. The shots were 6-5 in favor of Mt Lebanon, but Bethel Park looked as if they were the aggressor at times in the opening period. Merriam continued to shine as he made an acrobatic save on Michael Jordan from just in front at 10:51. The Blue Devils went on the power play and this time they would capitalize as Billy Leckenby unleashed a wicked slapshot from the center point which Merriam juggled and dropped for a rebound, which Chad Uddstrom found and swept past the big Hawk keeper for a 1-0 Lebo lead at 9:25. The Blue Devils pressed for the second goal but Bethel Park staved off the Mt Lebanon surge and 10-4 second period shot advantage. Bethel Park was still very much in this hockey game entering the third period and Mt Lebanon was struggling with a few turnovers early on. Michael Diethorn intercepted a neutral ice pass and transitioned the play into the Blue Devil zone. On a tremendous individual effort, Diethorn somehow got a shot off on a 1 on 2 and the shot eluded Matt Vaughn and apparently hit the post to the right of Vaughn at 9:52. The Bethel Park fans thought it went in, but the referees ruled no goal, which was a huge turning point in this hockey game and an even bigger break for Mt Lebanon. The Blue Devils seized the opportunity as Eric Sloan took the puck from his own end and raced into the Bethel zone and around the net. Sloan showed great quickness and hands as he swooped around the Bethel net on a wraparound and beat Merriam to the post at 8:28 for a big insurance goal and a 2-0 Mt Lebanon lead. Bethel Park tried to rally but Matt Vaughn and the Blue Devils shut the door and when Chad Uddstrom found the empty net with just :49 seconds left, the Blue Devils would march one more step in the process with a 3-0 victory over BP.

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First Round Results Class A Blackhawk 4 Deer Lakes 0 Highlights: Travis Stoll scores the hat trick for the Cougars & Jake Polas adds insurance as Blackhawk outshoots Deer Lakes 43- 14 & avenges last years playoff loss. John Fitzgerald with the shutout. BANG ! BANG ! Forest Hills 4 Westmont Hilltop 2 Highlights: Freshman Ben Webb scores two goals in the first 1:19 of the 3rd period to tie the game & put Forest Hills ahead as Rangers overcome a 2-0 deficit. Bryan Parkinson with a goal & 2 assists while Kyle Single stops 35 of 37 Westmont shots Sewickley Academy 3 Quigley 2 Highlights: Panthers hold on for victory as Quigley's late rally falls short at the buzzer. Conner Blood with a pair & Scott Limbach with a single as Sewickley Academy wins its first ever playoff game. Richland Cambria 5 Elizabeth Forward 4 [2 OT] Highlights: Rams overcome a 4-3 deficit in the third to tie the game & Mike Werder scores the game winner in second overtime period. Werder scored a pair along with Dean Carpenter, while Jason Layman added the other goal for Richland Cambria. Class AA Pine Richland 6 Canevin 0 Highlights: Josh Fodor & Ryan Tessmer each with a pair as Michael Kearney & Pat Nicholas score shorthanded goals to lead Rams to a shutout win over the Crusaders. Dan Gazzo faces just 12 shots. Montour 4 Moon 2 Highlights: Montour overcomes a 2-1 deficit to begin the 3rd period as Chad Tallotta & Dan Shiwarski put the Spartans ahead & Mario Pannuci adds an empty netter. Andrew Slifkin stops 39 of 42 Montour shots for Moon. ***GAME SUMMARY IS NOW AVAILABLE*** South Park 5 Trinity 3 Highlights: Eagles erase a 2-0 deficit late in the 2nd and add three in the third to defeat Trinity. Larry Locante scores the go ahead goal with a little over ten minutes remaining in regulation. ***GAME SUMMARY IS NOW AVAILABLE*** Greensburg CC 1 Canon McMillan 0 Highlights: Jake Genes stops 29 Canon Mac shots & Josh Kennedy scores the games only goal with 5 1/2 minutes remaining in regulation time Class AAA Mt Lebanon 7 Gateway 0 Highlights: Eric Sloan & Michael Jordan with a pair & Tony Valerino, Dan Wilen and Chad Uddstrom add singles as Blue Devils outshoot Gators 26-14 as Matt Vaughn records another shutout for Mt Lebanon Meadville 8 Cathedral Prep 0 Highlights: Phil Siverd win a pair & CHristian Nickerson with 5 pts as Bulldogs open defense with a pounding of rival Prep. D.J. Durkee, David Moyer, Chris Leone, Rick Thomas and Justin Wilkinson add goals as Meadville outshoots Ramblers 37-17 for a Dan O'Sharuk shutout ***GAME SUMMARY IS NOW AVAILABLE*** Fox Chapel 3 Shaler 1 Highlights: Matt Quigley is the difference as he records a hat trick to fight off upset minded Shaler squad before a packed house at Harmar ***GAME SUMMARY IS NOW AVAILABLE*** Central Catholic 6 McDowell 2 Highlights: Matt Capalongo with a pair as Central defeats McDowell & Russ Hefner stops 26 of 28 shots for the Vikings North Allegheny 3 Baldwin 0 Highlights: Ian Fitzpatrick, Joe Williams & Matt Pekins score as NA outshoots Baldwin 32-17 & Jeff Kristan earns the shutout. Upper St Clair 6 Plum 5 [OT] Highlights: Mike Penkrot scores with 8:27 remaining in first OT period as USC wins a wild one at Ice Castle ***GAME SUMMARY IS NOW AVAILABLE*** Butler 2 Franklin Regional 1 Highlights: Jon Pakutz scores with :08 left in OT as Jared 'Bucky' Holt stops 36 of 37 Franklin shots. Franklin Regional holds a 1-0 lead on a goal by Jimmie Daugherty in the 1st until B.J Tipton ties the game with 8 1/2 minutes left in regulation time Bethel Park 4 Penn Trafford 2 Highlights: Conner McLean breaks 2-2 tie with 1:42 left in the 2nd as Hawks outshoot PT 42-17. ****GAME SUMMARY IS NOW AVAILBLE***

DELMONT – Penn Trafford has had a dream season winning the South Division by edging out rival Franklin Regional by one point for its first ever division title. Coach Todd Purvis was not around for the near playoff upset of Bethel Park in the 1st round of last years playoffs, but is very familiar with the Hawks from his battles as the coach of North Allegheny over the years. The Warrior were hosting their first ever home playoff game before a standing room only crowd at Center Ice Arena and would need to concentrate on playing defensively and eliminate over 450+ penalty minutes which have been the Achilles heel for PT. On the flip side, if Penn Trafford could generate its offensive prowess against BP, it could spell an upset [even though the Warriors were the higher seed] and revenge for the overtime loss from a year ago. Bethel Park coach Jim ‘Mort’ McVay is always looking for an edge and his team’s commitment to doing whatever it takes to put Bethel Park in position to win a championship. Take Bryce Merriam, the Bethel Park goaltender, who joined the team in late January and played in the last seven regular season games and could be seen running out of Varsity games to play in Junior Varsity games just to meet the 10 game minimum for the State Playoffs. This is the kind of commitment expected from a hockey program, which prides itself in being on top of anything that can put itself in a position to win and takes nothing for granted. The Hawks are a dangerous playoff team, who no one wants to play because they are a great defensive team and have found a goaltender, who has a .931ish save percentage, a healthy Dan Zabkar and is finding some scoring touch from 2nd and 3rd line players….. a recipe for playoff success and a legitimate darkhorse. Bethel Park worked its opening period plan to perfection putting Penn Trafford on its heels and outshooting the Warriors 15-7. After a scoreless opening 8 ½ minutes, Jason Hedglen opened the scoring at 6:31. Penn Trafford tied the game at one apiece as Glenn Bowersox beat Merriam at 3:50. Jacobus Bliek scored on an assist from Dan Zabkar to put the Hawks back on top with 2:01 remaining in the opening period. Penn Trafford continued to shoot themselves in the foot in the second period with penalties and Bethel Park kept up the pressure with an 11-6 shot advantage. Bethel Park had a golden opportunity to extend their lead in the second with a 5 on 3 advantage but could not beat Joel Sterniak, who made several keys saves in the period to keep Penn Trafford in the hockey game. Devon McCusker delivered for Penn Trafford as he took the puck through the neutral zone on his off wing shot the puck, which Merriam saved but could not control the rebound and McCusker buried with a wrist shot high over the shoulder of the BP goaltender to tie the game with 5:20 remaining in the middle frame. With 1:42 remaining in the second, BP sharpshooter Conner McLean walked off the near boards and beat Sterniak on the short side over the glove side to give Bethel Park a 3-2 lead. On to the third period and the Blackhawks wasted no time taking control as Michael Diethorn scored on the power play to make Penn Trafford pay for its undiscipline at 14:13 and extend the BP lead to 4-2. Bethel Park continued to frustrate the Warriors by clamping down defensively and yielding only 4 shots on Bryce Merriam and forcing PT into undisciplined penalties and Bethel Park poured 16 more shots for a 42-17 advantage on the evening nullifying a strong goaltending performance by Joel Sterniak, who finished with 38 saves. The Hawks will now move on to face archrival and # 1 seed Mt Lebanon next Monday night at the Mt Lebanon Recreation Center.