Latrobe and Pine-Richland Win to End Penguins Cup Title Game Droughts

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 | 1:00 AM

They haven't been log froughts, but a pair of former Penguins Cup champions are headed back to the high school hockey finals. Latrobe ended a three year title game abscence by edging Chartiers Valley while Pine-Richland knocked out top-seed Bishop Canevin in overtime to make it back to the PIHL Championship Game for the first time since 2008. Here are recaps from both PIHL Penguins Cup Class AA Semifinals games.

Pine Richland Rams 3 – Bishop Canevin Crusaders 2 in Overtime

Sometimes hockey is a game of bounces, and the 4th seeded Pine-Richland Rams got the bounces to go their way Tuesday night, defeating the top-seeded Bishop Canevin Crusaders 3-2 and punching their ticket to the Class AA Penguins Cup Final. The game-winner had its fair share of controversy, as the Rams Dillon Kessy threw the puck on net at 2:40 of the overtime period. Canevin goaltender Nikita Meskin was down on the ice trying to find the puck, but Kessy slipped it past him, even though the net did come off its moorings. Canevin coaches felt the net was off before the puck crossed the goal line, but the officials ruled that it was a good goal with the puck in the back of the net before it was dislodged.

The game was very evenly matched much of the way, especially in the 1st period. Back and forth action was the story of the 1st period, with limited opportunities through the first 15 minutes. But Canevin got the first power play of the game as Zach Richey went off for tripping. It took Canevin under 30 seconds to connect as Brennan Adams' shot from the high slot found its way past Brendan Bagnato at the 12:11 mark of the 1st period to give the Crusaders the 1-0 lead. 

But Pine-Richland responded after Canevin's Blaine Adams took a penalty. It took 20 seconds for Pine-Richland to connect as Ryan Cole's shot from the left side found its way past Meskin at the 13:24 mark to tie the game at one.

Onto the 2^nd period where Bishop Canevin got the only goal and it came once again on the power play. And once again it was Brennan Adams with the go-ahead goal as his shot from the right point put the Crusaders up 2-1. Pine-Richland had two opportunities on the power play in that 2nd period but they were unable to convert on either one. 

An early penalty in the 3rd gave Canevin a power play on which they could not convert. After that, the Crusaders did a nice job of controlling the tempo of the hockey game, playing a stout defensive game and limiting Pine-Richland's scoring chances. But it was a bad bounce that gave the Rams the chance to tie the game, and tie they did. A crazy bounce off the right wing boards sent the puck right to the stick of Pine-Richland's Matthew Cole, who beat Meskin stick side to tie the game at 2 with over 7:34 left in regulation. The back and forth play continued after that, yet each team clamped down defensively to send the game to overtime, where Kessey's goal 2:40 in sealed the deal for the Pine-Richland Rams. 

The Rams improve to (16-4-1) and they are back in a familiar spot, playing for a Penguins Cup Championship next Wednesday. With the loss Bishop Canevin's season comes to an end with a final overall record of (17-2-2).

Scoring Summary

Pine-Richland Rams 1 – 0 – 1 – 1 = 3

Bishop Canevin Crusaders 1 – 1 – 0 – 0 = 2

1st period

BC: Brennan Adams (1) PP (Patrick Large/Christopher Reda) 12:11

PR: Ryan Cole (2) PP (Tyler Mikita/Dillon Kessy) 13:24

2nd period

BC: Brennan Adams (2) PP (Reda/P. Large) 5:38

3rd period

PR: Matthew Cole (2) (unassisted) 9:26

Overtime

PR: Dillon Kessy (2) (unassisted) 2:40

Shots:

Pine-Richland 30 

Bishop Canevin 30

Latrobe Wildcats 3 – Chartiers Valley Colts 2

At the Island Sports Center at  Robert Morris University in PIHL semi final action, the Latrobe Wildcats hold off a hard charging Chartiers Valley Colts by a  3-2 score to head to the PIHL finals next Wednesday March 20th  where they will face the Pine Richland Rams. Latrobe gets back to the finals for the first time since winning three straight PIHL AA titles form 2008-2010.

Latrobe struggled in the first five minutes as they couldn't get the puck out of their zone,but the Colts could not take advantage. From this point the Wildcats would dominate the game for the first two periods. They would score first on a pretty two on one goal by Christopher Johnson to make it 1-0 at 8:04. That  was the only scoring in the first stanza as Latrobe went 0-1 on the power play and CV went 0-2 missing a golden opportunity. The Wildcats out shot the Colts 9-7 in the first stanza

In the second period the Colts again would go 0-2 on the power play and get out shot 15-5, and at times seemed completely out of it. Latrobe scored twice in the first five minutes to take a 3-0 lead. Adam Ferguson on the power play at 2:53, the Dalton Hunter at 4:20. CV would use their time out to try to slow the Wildcat advantage and try to regroup. Their offense couldn't muster much,and when they did Latrobe goalie Shane Brudnok was a wall in net.

The third period was like a different game as Latrobe seemed determined to keep the Colts in the game. They too a penalty in the first minute, and the Colts would score on the power play. Robert Ferrari made it 3-1 at 1:06 and Chartiers Valley was alive as the bench exploded. Latrobe again took a penalty and at 5:20 Anthony Franks scored on the power play to cut it to 3-2. On a four on two break, Franks took a long centering pass,and made a great move on Brudnok. Now CV was right back in the game. However as hard as they pushed they could not get all the way back and finally succumbed 3-2. Latrobe on the night was 1-5 on the power play and the Colts 2-7. The Wildcats for the game out shot Chartiers 36-18.

Chartiers Valley ends their season at 15-5-1, while the Wildcats improve to 18-3. The three stars of the game were: 3rd Star Brudnok with 16 saves, 2nd star Josh Singley with 2 assists and phenomenal all around play, 1st star Ferguson with a goal and an assist.

Scoring Summary:

1st Period
Latrobe    Christopher Johnson (Brendan Johns, Joshua Singley)   8:04

2nd Period
Latrobe     Adam Ferguson  (Christopher Johnson, Joshua Singley)   2:53   PPG
Latrobe     Dalton Hunter    (Adam Ferguson) 4:20

3rd Period
Chartiers Valley     Robert Ferrari  (Anthony Franks, Rich Monti)   1:06 PPG
Chartiers Valley     Anthony Franks (Rich Monti, Ryan Ziss)   5:20  PPG

Shots on Goal
                          1st  2nd  3rd
Chartiers Valley    7     5      6      18
Latrobe                9     15    12     36