Peters Twp Indians - 2014 AAA 2002-2003-2005 AA

Penn Trafford 5 Latrobe 3 GREENSBURG – Penn Trafford has won three consecutive Class AAA East Division titles under Todd Purvis and is looking like a pretty good bet for a 4th in a row in the weakest division in that classification in many years. The Warriors are more interested in the roadblock of Bethel Park, who has been responsible for eliminating PT all three years in their last game in the Penguins Cup AAA playoffs. While Chris Cerutti, Joel Sterniak and several PT mainstays have graduated, this year’s version of Warriors looks to be a hard working club that must find scoring touch and goaltending to compete with the top 4-5 teams in Class AAA and move toward their first ever final 4 appearance in March. The Penn Trafford blueprint has built through the proper developmental channels of amateur hockey and excellent Junior Varsity and Freshman programs, which will have to continue to keep moving closer to the ultimate goal. Distractions of travel hockey will at some point have to result in more commitment to the Warrior cause to make this happen sooner rather than later. The Latrobe hockey program is blessed with an excellent developmental program and booster club, which has worked to build numbers in their hockey program. Head coach Ron Makoski has a solid lineup returning from last years squad and has added some nice pieces from a solid Junior Varsity program. The Wildcats look to challenge the likes of Indiana, Franklin Regional, Greensburg CC and Greensburg Salem in what appears to be a very entertaining and wide-open East Division of Class AA. Penn Trafford struck first at 7:29 of the first as B.J. Zagorac tipped an Erik Likar shot past Curt Colianne from the right point to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead. At 5:47 of the opening period Michael McCurdy tied the game burying a cross-ice pass from Jeff Joe Reluga to tie the game at one apiece. Penn Trafford held an advantage in shots in the opening period. At 9:09 of the second period, Michael White broke behind the Latrobe defense and slipped a backhand behind Colianne to give PT a 2-1 lead. The Warriors went to work on the power play and B.J. Zagorac buried a wrist shot up under the crossbar at 5:36 to give the Warriors a 3-1 cushion. Less than a minute later at 4:28, Jeff Smail took advantage of some sloppy play by the Warrior defense to cut the lead to 3-2. The Wildcats tied the game with 2:33 as Andrew Ong blistered a snapshot past Laurito on the short side to knot the game at 3-3. Latrobe had a chance to take the lead with 1:01 remaining in the second on the power play and was whistled again 16 seconds later creating a 5 on 3 situation and a golden opportunity for the Wildcats going to start the final period of regulation. The Warriors were able to kill off the penalties and the score remained 3-3 through the middle of the third period. With 6:09 remaining in the 3rd period Michael White swooped behind the Latrobe defense and beat Curt Colianne to give the Warriors a 4-3 advantage. The Wildcats went on the power play with 5:44 left with a chance to tie the game despite mustering 18 shots toward PT goaltender Tony Laurito in 3 periods. PT’s Erik Likar had the best chance to score on a shorthanded breakaway with 3:42 left but Colianne stopped him. Latrobe called a timeout with 1:48 to try to strategize a plan to tie the game and pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker. The final nail in the coffin came with 1:04 remaining as Michael White completed the hat trick to make the count 5-3 in favor of the Warriors as they advanced to the GCC Invitational finals for the 2nd time in 3 years with an opportunity to repeat the 2004 championship.

Plum 4 State College 2 GREENSBURG – State College enters the 2006 – 2007 season fresh off the Open Division Championship defeating Carrick at Mellon Arena. With the largest enrollment in all of Western Pennsylvania hockey, rather than play in Class AAA, the Icers choose to participate against Class A doormats like Ferndale, Johnstown, Valley, and former AAA turnstile Woodland Hills, who are lucky to even have teams let alone compete at ANY level in the PIHL ‘Glorified JV’ Open Division. State College has faired well in the GCC Invitational defeating 3-time AAA East Division Champions Penn Trafford 3-0, Franklin Regional 3-0 and host Greensburg CC 4-2, while dropping a 4-2 decision to Greensburg Salem, who has decided to return to Class AA and play competitive hockey. Plum had a rough season playing in Class AAA in 2005-06 and head coach Sean Keller has remained on top assist Plum Alum Joe Piccolino, who has taken over the reigns of the Plum program. The Mustangs are coming off a 0-2-1 finish of the stiff competition at the St Margaret’s Fall Face-Off in a bracket with Penguin Cup AAA Finalist North Allegheny and AA powers Thomas Jefferson and Montour, which was the necessary pieces to the puzzle, which will help them compete at the Class AAA level. The Stangs have a little chip on their shoulder after last years wild card playoff loss to Baldwin and are looking to challenge for the East Division title with Penn Trafford this season. Plum defeated Fox Chapel, Kiski, Woodland Hills and tied Latrobe 2-2 in this years tournament and advanced into the Semi-Finals for the 6th consecutive year but has yet to capture the GCC Invitational Title. At 6:33 of the opening period, Ben Colosmo picked up his own rebound and beat State College goaltender Mac Weiler on the ice through the 5-hole to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. Plum kept up the pressure and worked the puck through to the slot and Andy Weston buried a wrist shot on the stick side of Weiler to give Plum a 2-0 lead. Shots on goal for the first period were seven apiece. After three quick shots turned aside by John Bronder, State College went on the power play at 10:07, but John Bronder was equal to the task and the Mustangs kept their 2-0 advantage. The Icers continued to pour on the shots and finally scored as David Scultz scored on a wrist shot high to the stick side at 5:26 to cut the advantage to 2-1. Plum took advantage of a 4-4 situation as Ben Colosmo buried and slap shot high over the glove hand of Weiler from the right point to give the Mustangs a 3-1 with 2:04 left in the seconds period. Ben Colosmo buried a Chad Covol rebound with 11:51 remaining in regulation to give the Mustangs a 4-1 lead and complete the hat trick. John Bronder kept State College off the board stopping 21 of 23 Shots to help the Mustangs advance to the finals of the Greensburg CC Invitational, allowing a meaningless goal to the Icer’s Robbie Holdcroft at the buzzer to make the final count different, but the outcome was a Plum victory.

Penn Trafford 5 Latrobe 3 GREENSBURG – Penn Trafford has won three consecutive Class AAA East Division titles under Todd Purvis and is looking like a pretty good bet for a 4th in a row in the weakest division in that classification in many years. The Warriors are more interested in the roadblock of Bethel Park, who has been responsible for eliminating PT all three years in their last game in the Penguins Cup AAA playoffs. While Chris Cerutti, Joel Sterniak and several PT mainstays have graduated, this year’s version of Warriors looks to be a hard working club that must find scoring touch and goaltending to compete with the top 4-5 teams in Class AAA and move toward their first ever final 4 appearance in March. The Penn Trafford blueprint has built through the proper developmental channels of amateur hockey and excellent Junior Varsity and Freshman programs, which will have to continue to keep moving closer to the ultimate goal. Distractions of travel hockey will at some point have to result in more commitment to the Warrior cause to make this happen sooner rather than later. The Latrobe hockey program is blessed with an excellent developmental program and booster club, which has worked to build numbers in their hockey program. Head coach Ron Makoski has a solid lineup returning from last years squad and has added some nice pieces from a solid Junior Varsity program. The Wildcats look to challenge the likes of Indiana, Franklin Regional, Greensburg CC and Greensburg Salem in what appears to be a very entertaining and wide-open East Division of Class AA. Penn Trafford struck first at 7:29 of the first as B.J. Zagorac tipped an Erik Likar shot past Curt Colianne from the right point to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead. At 5:47 of the opening period Michael McCurdy tied the game burying a cross-ice pass from Jeff Joe Reluga to tie the game at one apiece. Penn Trafford held an advantage in shots in the opening period. At 9:09 of the second period, Michael White broke behind the Latrobe defense and slipped a backhand behind Colianne to give PT a 2-1 lead. The Warriors went to work on the power play and B.J. Zagorac buried a wrist shot up under the crossbar at 5:36 to give the Warriors a 3-1 cushion. Less than a minute later at 4:28, Jeff Smail took advantage of some sloppy play by the Warrior defense to cut the lead to 3-2. The Wildcats tied the game with 2:33 as Andrew Ong blistered a snapshot past Laurito on the short side to knot the game at 3-3. Latrobe had a chance to take the lead with 1:01 remaining in the second on the power play and was whistled again 16 seconds later creating a 5 on 3 situation and a golden opportunity for the Wildcats going to start the final period of regulation. The Warriors were able to kill off the penalties and the score remained 3-3 through the middle of the third period. With 6:09 remaining in the 3rd period Michael White swooped behind the Latrobe defense and beat Curt Colianne to give the Warriors a 4-3 advantage. The Wildcats went on the power play with 5:44 left with a chance to tie the game despite mustering 18 shots toward PT goaltender Tony Laurito in 3 periods. PT’s Erik Likar had the best chance to score on a shorthanded breakaway with 3:42 left but Colianne stopped him. Latrobe called a timeout with 1:48 to try to strategize a plan to tie the game and pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker. The final nail in the coffin came with 1:04 remaining as Michael White completed the hat trick to make the count 5-3 in favor of the Warriors as they advanced to the GCC Invitational finals for the 2nd time in 3 years with an opportunity to repeat the 2004 championship.

2006 Tournament Results October 27-29, 2006 Belmont Complex - Kittanning, Pa. BUTLER 5 - BALDWIN 2 KITTANNING 4 - GREENSBURG CC 2 BALDWIN 7 - ARMSTRONG MIDGET 1 BUTLER 5 - McDOWELL 4 CONESTOGA 5 - KITTANNING 4 BALDWIN 7 - McDOWELL 3 LATROBE 4 - GREENSBURG CC 0 BUTLER 3 - ARMSTRONG MIDGET 0 CONESTOGA 1 - GREENSBURG CC 1 KITTANNING 3 - LATROBE 2 CONESTOGA 5 - LATROBE 1 ARMSTRONG MIDGET 6 - McDOWELL 2 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME CONESTOGA 3 - BUTLER 2 TOURNAMENT MVP #44 VINCE MASCIANTONIO (CONESTOGA)

2006 Tournament Results October 27-29, 2006 Belmont Complex - Kittanning, Pa. BUTLER 5 - BALDWIN 2 KITTANNING 4 - GREENSBURG CC 2 BALDWIN 7 - ARMSTRONG MIDGET 1 BUTLER 5 - McDOWELL 4 CONESTOGA 5 - KITTANNING 4 BALDWIN 7 - McDOWELL 3 LATROBE 4 - GREENSBURG CC 0 BUTLER 3 - ARMSTRONG MIDGET 0 CONESTOGA 1 - GREENSBURG CC 1 KITTANNING 3 - LATROBE 2 CONESTOGA 5 - LATROBE 1 ARMSTRONG MIDGET 6 - McDOWELL 2 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME CONESTOGA 3 - BUTLER 2 TOURNAMENT MVP #44 VINCE MASCIANTONIO (CONESTOGA)