Plum Mustangs - 1989 A

Indiana hitting full stride with big win over Kittanning ! ROSTRAVER - Kittanning coach Jeff Smouse had mixed emotions entering the Wildcats Penguins Cup Semi-Final matchup with arch rival Indiana. On one hand, coach was very excited about the opportunity for his young team and on the other hand he knew of the firepower they would face in Ron Hellen's Indians. Indiana looked to be the nervous team early as they agressive Wildcats carried the play in the opening minutes being cheered on by a large contingent of Kittanning faithful. The Indians survived a couple of power plays and the score remained 0-0 until Aaron Smith's wrist shot at 2:32 beat Adam Toy to give Indiana a 1-0 lead, which it maintain after one. In the second period, the Indians took the game over as freshman phenom Casey Haines threaded a beautiful back door pass to Zach Diamond at 8:51 to make it 2-0. Then, captain Nicko Spielmann had his shot blocked but recaptured the puck and walked down the slot at 6:27 and beat Toy and made it 3-0. Mike Nesper blew by the Wildcat D shorthanded and scored another Indian tally at 1:53 to put the Indians up 4-0 and one period away from their first trip to the Penguin Cup Finals since 1996. In the third period, Haines and Diamond added goals and Mike Lady earned the shutout stopping all 24 Kittanning shots for a 6-0 victory. The Indians got a terrific effort as they have all season from the defensive corps and excellent backchecking from their second and third line forwards, who will play a key role in the Indians chances for their first Penguins Cup ever against Peters Twp.