2008 Penguins Cup Playoffs – Quarter-Finals

CRANBERRY –

Bethel Park 2 Seneca Valley 1

      Intimate gathering for a 6:30 PM start for a rematch of two teams who have met twice this season, both times went the way of Seneca Valley, a 4-1 winner during the regular season and a 3-1 winner in the pre-season St Margaret Fall Face-Off. For Seneca Valley Head Coach Mike Schall, this is a stepping-stone of sorts for his program and a barometer of where the Raider program stands in the chase for the Penguins Cup. Considering the Raiders made this game a year ago and lost 7-0 to Bethel Park and have EARNED a home game for round two is some pretty nice progress. Seneca Valley would like to make it three straight over Bethel, bus in the playoffs it is easier said than done and sometimes experience of your program playing in these games is the difference.

     For Bethel Park, it’s a right of spring to participate in the Penguins Cup playoffs and it is more important to reach the ultimate goal of winning the Penguins Cup and competing for a Pennsylvania State Championship. A year ago the Hawks fell short in double overtime to eventual Pa Champions North Allegheny in the Penguins Cup finals 2-1 and although many of that class of players graduated the expectations of the program are that they compete and be a part of the process every year. Bethel was injury riddled for much of the season and is finally healthy and even though they did not finish the season with the momentum Jim McVay would have liked, the Hawks are an interesting underdog choice if they can advance to Mellon Arena.

     Bethel Park came out from the get go in a tight checking mode against Seneca maybe to see if their nerves were up to speed. The Hawks struck first as Tommy Whetsel threaded a very nice pass to Chris Mandia on the short side who buried a snap shot on the short side to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead at 10:17. Seneca’s Michael Rohm got behind the BP defense at 8:28 after a bad clearing attempt, but Ben ‘Jerry’ Garcia made a big save to keep the score 1-0. Bethel continued to hold the slim 1-0 lead as Garcia stopped Matt Jarrett’s bullet with 4:19 to go and the first period ended with BP out shooting SV 9-6. 

       A Bethel Park power play early in the 2^nd period at 12:02 was killed off by the Raiders and they used that to establish some momentum. The Raiders had trouble getting quality scoring opportunities and the game remained 1-0 in favor of the Hawks. With 3:19 to play in the period Bethel Park, on some hard work to win the puck in the Seneca Valley zone, took advantage of their opportunity as Kenny Loeffler won the battle for the puck took a wicked shot to the net, which Ryan Schutte stopped but Ryan Nunez made a terrific play to in one motion gather the puck and jam it past Schutte to make it 2-0 with 3:19 to play in the 2^nd. Seneca went on the power play with 2:19 to play in the 2^nd and really needed to make something happen and after several scrambles the Raiders could not score.

Nation of Meadville routs the Dawgs to a 4-1 win over rival North Allegheny

Meadville 4 North Allegheny 1

CRANBERRY -

         North Allegheny coach Jim Black knew that defending their Pennsylvania State AAA Championship was not going to be a picnic. After the Tigers were throttled by LaSalle at the Meadville Invitational, it became apparent that NA was not just a top team, but had a target on it’s back heading toward the playoffs in March. North Allegheny demolished their first round opponent Penn Trafford and earned a home berth against the 7^th seed Meadville Bulldogs, who the Tigers defeated 2-0 in the 2^nd half of the season, but lost to in November, splitting the season series. NA was able to capture the Division title with their final game victory over Seneca Valley.

          Meadville has had its ups and downs this season and really has been carried by the play of Morgan Nickerson and in some respects Nick Fedorka, who has been red hot over the past five games. The Bulldogs opened up the playoffs dispatching Norwin 7-1 and was the answer to the question of which teams no one really would like to face as the playoffs moved forward. Head Coach Jamie Plunkett has seen plenty of things happen in 21 years of coaching the Dawgs, but this year has been unique with a number of injuries, suspensions and suspense for his squad. The return of forward Billy Espy has really helped solidify some options for Meadville and what would turn out to be a very intruiging match-up with the heading to Mellon Arena for the Penguins Cup Semi-Finals.

You mention the word Penguins Cup in Meadville and it’s like the revelry in the Army as the ‘Meadville Nation’ rises as one and launches their cars down I-79 for the trek to Pittsburgh and this time a little stop in Cranberry for a match-up with rivalry North Allegheny.

          So before a packed house for the second of a twinbill the Tigers and Dawgs began battle in the Class AAA Penguins Cup Quarter-Finals. With 9:05 to go in the opening period Josh Herbert sped down the left wing and his centering feed found Dylan Rohar who just missed. In another good chance for the Tigers, Brady Waldschmidt was robbed by Bryan ‘Duck’ Danczak. The Tigers went on the power play at 1:41 and 5 on 3 trying to get the first score but the period ended in a 0-0 tie.

            On to the 2^nd period we went and Meadville would have its first chance on the power play and made it count as Morgan Nickerson took advantage of a bad clearing attempt by NA and threaded a perfect back door feed to Drew Finton who scored at 9:50 to give the Dawgs a 1-0 lead. Meadville went back on the power play at 8:37 and NA cleared the puck twice but Nick Fedorka semi break resulted in a drop to trailer Morgan Nickerson who fired a shot to the net save by Max Richards, but Nickerson crashed the net and the puck went off his skate and found its way past Richards to make it 2-0 with 7:19 to go. NA Coach Black saw it as did the Bulldog faithful and a lot of others, but the goal stood, which was a huge lift for the Bulldogs and deflated North Allegheny. Max Richards made several very good saves to keep the Tigers in the hockey game in the middle of the 2^nd period, but the Dawgs struck again as Aaron Nyes blistering slapshot from the center point beat Richards at 5:24 to make it 3-0 and it was all Meadville as the teams headed to the ice cut.

        North Allegheny got a power play to start the third period, but could not capitalize as Meadville continued to play smart defense and keep the puck out of their end. Bryan Danczak was turning aside everything that the Tigers threw at him late into regulation. North Allegheny got a power play at 4:24 and then a 5 on 3 at 4:11 and finally scored wit 3:11 to go as Josh Herbert scored on a wrist shot with 3:30 to play to make it 3-1. Plenty of time remained on the power play for NA, but Danczak stood tall making a save on Dylan Rohar at 3:09 and more saves as North Allegheny pulled goaltender Richards with 1:44 to play. Morgan Nickerson got to a loose puck after the faceoff and deposited it into an empty net to give the Bulldogs a 4-1 cushion and a trip to Mellon Arena to face # 1 and undefeated Pine Richland in the Penguins Cup semis next week. A big win for Meadville, the 7^th seed, who will live to play another day for a trip to the Penguins Cup final.

2008 Penguins Cup Playoffs – Quarter-Finals

CRANBERRY –

Bethel Park 2 Seneca Valley 1

      Intimate gathering for a 6:30 PM start for a rematch of two teams who have met twice this season, both times went the way of Seneca Valley, a 4-1 winner during the regular season and a 3-1 winner in the pre-season St Margaret Fall Face-Off. For Seneca Valley Head Coach Mike Schall, this is a stepping-stone of sorts for his program and a barometer of where the Raider program stands in the chase for the Penguins Cup. Considering the Raiders made this game a year ago and lost 7-0 to Bethel Park and have EARNED a home game for round two is some pretty nice progress. Seneca Valley would like to make it three straight over Bethel, bus in the playoffs it is easier said than done and sometimes experience of your program playing in these games is the difference.

     For Bethel Park, it’s a right of spring to participate in the Penguins Cup playoffs and it is more important to reach the ultimate goal of winning the Penguins Cup and competing for a Pennsylvania State Championship. A year ago the Hawks fell short in double overtime to eventual Pa Champions North Allegheny in the Penguins Cup finals 2-1 and although many of that class of players graduated the expectations of the program are that they compete and be a part of the process every year. Bethel was injury riddled for much of the season and is finally healthy and even though they did not finish the season with the momentum Jim McVay would have liked, the Hawks are an interesting underdog choice if they can advance to Mellon Arena.

     Bethel Park came out from the get go in a tight checking mode against Seneca maybe to see if their nerves were up to speed. The Hawks struck first as Tommy Whetsel threaded a very nice pass to Chris Mandia on the short side who buried a snap shot on the short side to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead at 10:17. Seneca’s Michael Rohm got behind the BP defense at 8:28 after a bad clearing attempt, but Ben ‘Jerry’ Garcia made a big save to keep the score 1-0. Bethel continued to hold the slim 1-0 lead as Garcia stopped Matt Jarrett’s bullet with 4:19 to go and the first period ended with BP out shooting SV 9-6. 

       A Bethel Park power play early in the 2^nd period at 12:02 was killed off by the Raiders and they used that to establish some momentum. The Raiders had trouble getting quality scoring opportunities and the game remained 1-0 in favor of the Hawks. With 3:19 to play in the period Bethel Park, on some hard work to win the puck in the Seneca Valley zone, took advantage of their opportunity as Kenny Loeffler won the battle for the puck took a wicked shot to the net, which Ryan Schutte stopped but Ryan Nunez made a terrific play to in one motion gather the puck and jam it past Schutte to make it 2-0 with 3:19 to play in the 2^nd. Seneca went on the power play with 2:19 to play in the 2^nd and really needed to make something happen and after several scrambles the Raiders could not score.

Nation of Meadville routs the Dawgs to a 4-1 win over rival North Allegheny

Meadville 4 North Allegheny 1

CRANBERRY -

         North Allegheny coach Jim Black knew that defending their Pennsylvania State AAA Championship was not going to be a picnic. After the Tigers were throttled by LaSalle at the Meadville Invitational, it became apparent that NA was not just a top team, but had a target on it’s back heading toward the playoffs in March. North Allegheny demolished their first round opponent Penn Trafford and earned a home berth against the 7^th seed Meadville Bulldogs, who the Tigers defeated 2-0 in the 2^nd half of the season, but lost to in November, splitting the season series. NA was able to capture the Division title with their final game victory over Seneca Valley.

          Meadville has had its ups and downs this season and really has been carried by the play of Morgan Nickerson and in some respects Nick Fedorka, who has been red hot over the past five games. The Bulldogs opened up the playoffs dispatching Norwin 7-1 and was the answer to the question of which teams no one really would like to face as the playoffs moved forward. Head Coach Jamie Plunkett has seen plenty of things happen in 21 years of coaching the Dawgs, but this year has been unique with a number of injuries, suspensions and suspense for his squad. The return of forward Billy Espy has really helped solidify some options for Meadville and what would turn out to be a very intruiging match-up with the heading to Mellon Arena for the Penguins Cup Semi-Finals.

You mention the word Penguins Cup in Meadville and it’s like the revelry in the Army as the ‘Meadville Nation’ rises as one and launches their cars down I-79 for the trek to Pittsburgh and this time a little stop in Cranberry for a match-up with rivalry North Allegheny.

          So before a packed house for the second of a twinbill the Tigers and Dawgs began battle in the Class AAA Penguins Cup Quarter-Finals. With 9:05 to go in the opening period Josh Herbert sped down the left wing and his centering feed found Dylan Rohar who just missed. In another good chance for the Tigers, Brady Waldschmidt was robbed by Bryan ‘Duck’ Danczak. The Tigers went on the power play at 1:41 and 5 on 3 trying to get the first score but the period ended in a 0-0 tie.

            On to the 2^nd period we went and Meadville would have its first chance on the power play and made it count as Morgan Nickerson took advantage of a bad clearing attempt by NA and threaded a perfect back door feed to Drew Finton who scored at 9:50 to give the Dawgs a 1-0 lead. Meadville went back on the power play at 8:37 and NA cleared the puck twice but Nick Fedorka semi break resulted in a drop to trailer Morgan Nickerson who fired a shot to the net save by Max Richards, but Nickerson crashed the net and the puck went off his skate and found its way past Richards to make it 2-0 with 7:19 to go. NA Coach Black saw it as did the Bulldog faithful and a lot of others, but the goal stood, which was a huge lift for the Bulldogs and deflated North Allegheny. Max Richards made several very good saves to keep the Tigers in the hockey game in the middle of the 2^nd period, but the Dawgs struck again as Aaron Nyes blistering slapshot from the center point beat Richards at 5:24 to make it 3-0 and it was all Meadville as the teams headed to the ice cut.

        North Allegheny got a power play to start the third period, but could not capitalize as Meadville continued to play smart defense and keep the puck out of their end. Bryan Danczak was turning aside everything that the Tigers threw at him late into regulation. North Allegheny got a power play at 4:24 and then a 5 on 3 at 4:11 and finally scored wit 3:11 to go as Josh Herbert scored on a wrist shot with 3:30 to play to make it 3-1. Plenty of time remained on the power play for NA, but Danczak stood tall making a save on Dylan Rohar at 3:09 and more saves as North Allegheny pulled goaltender Richards with 1:44 to play. Morgan Nickerson got to a loose puck after the faceoff and deposited it into an empty net to give the Bulldogs a 4-1 cushion and a trip to Mellon Arena to face # 1 and undefeated Pine Richland in the Penguins Cup semis next week. A big win for Meadville, the 7^th seed, who will live to play another day for a trip to the Penguins Cup final.

   The 2008 Flyers Cup seedings have been announced and are now available on Pa Hockey.

The quest for the Flyers Cup begins on March 10, 2008 and culminates in the Flyers Cup Champsionships on March 22nd at the Spectrum.

Check out the complete Flyers Cup schedule by clicking on the logo above or the path below

www.eteamz.com/pahockey/files/FlyersCup2008.xls

  2008 Flyers Cup Preview 

Class AAA

Ø     LaSalle (25-1-2) has been the class of the Class AAA in Eastern Pennsylvania for the entire 2007-2008 Season and when the Explorers blew through Meadville and manhandled defending State Champions North Allegheny, along with some other top flite competition from Ohio and Pennsylvania, a lot of people figured LaSalle as a sure pick for the Flyers Cup and the Pennsylvania title. The Explorers had the same tag a year ago and could not get it done, so March will be an interesting time to watch to see if they can do it.

Ø     Malvern Prep (14-7-3) has not had a great year by Malvern standards but holds on to the # 2 seed in the Flyers Cup field. The nice thing for the Friars is that they avoid LaSalle until the finals, that is if they get there.

Ø     Cardinal O’Hara (11-7-0) also avoids LaSalle until the finals after they were manhandled twice by the Explorers twice during the regular season. The Lions will face a very tough defending Flyer Cup Champions Holy Ghost Prep team in the quarter-finals and better be ready or could fall short again.

Ø     Father Judge (13-8-1) and Archbishop Ryan (13-9-0) both fell in the Lower Bucks league playoffs, which Holy Ghost won the championship.

Ø     Holy Ghost Prep (15-7-0) is the defending Flyers Cup Champions and may be hitting their stride at the right time again this season and frankly is the only team in Eastern Pa who may have  chance to stop LaSalle.

Prediction: I like LaSalle to advance pretty easily to the Flyers Cup final and their opponent will be either

Malvern Prep or my darkhorse Holy Ghost Prep. I think this is LaSalle’s year and they will atone for falling short a year ago.