After surpassing 100-point milestone, Burrell’s Mike Morascyzk turns focus to Penguins Cup
By:
Monday, January 20, 2025 | 10:43 AM
Mike Morascyzk walked into Brady’s Run Ice Arena and was suiting up for an important milestone of his career as the Burrell hockey team took on Central Valley.
Morascyzk donned the dark blue and powder blue, laced up his skates and got his stick with the P92 curve all while on the cusp of scoring point No. 100 for his career.
He tallied 96 points in 63 games over the past three-plus years and was poised to hit the milestone.
“Going into the game, I knew I would need four points, and I was going to the third (period) with three,” Morascyzk said. “I had two goals and an assist, and we were out. Mink and Kemp were like, ‘You’re gonna get it on this shift.’ Mink got me the puck for a breakaway, and I scored and it was the hat-trick goal, so it was really a cool moment.”
It was quite fitting as his senior teammates Luke Mink and Julian Kemp assisted him on the goal. All three were key players on their run to the Penguins Cup final last season.
“I was just thinking that I can’t mess it up because I knew I wanted to do it that night and how I didn’t want to let them down, because I knew they were trying to get me it,” said Morascyzk, who became the third Burrell player all-time to reach the milestone. “I was definitely a little nervous, but it was also exciting.”
Morascyzk set the goal before the season started. He said he would have never believed it would happen when he was a freshman. Nonetheless, he buried his 47th goal to reach the accomplishment.
“I definitely took the gym more seriously over the summer, and I still do,” Morascyzk said. “Last year, I didn’t really work out in the season as much, but I went to a trainer over the summer and definitely focused on that more. I’ve just felt better with my feet, and my shots have gotten a lot harder and just speed and everything.”
Morascyzk has 17 goals and 10 assists this season for 27 points in 14 games. Kemp has 24 points, and Mink has 21 points.
The Bucs have won their last four games and are 11-3 on the season.
“When we dropped the game against Knoch, I feel like it woke us up a bit, but ever since then, we’ve been playing really well and playing good as a team,” Morascyzk said. “I’m really excited for our future, and I think we’re going to have a deep run this year. I’m proud of how hard everyone’s working and how everyone’s buying in.”
Morascyzk said making the Penguins Cup was his favorite hockey moment, but he wants to win the title this year after losing to Neshannock a year ago. He and the team are using last year’s runner-up finish as motivation.
“I want to take the team back this year, and I’ll do everything I can to make sure that we have the best opportunity to do so,” he said. “It’s been a big motivator every game, just thinking about what it felt like to lose the most important game last year.”
Morascyzk mentioned that Sidney Crosby is a big influence on his game and he wants to lead the team, while also backchecking and playing like a third defenseman.
“I love the role, and I’ve always wanted to be a leader to the team,” Morascyzk said. “I want to role model them and help them become better players. I like to think they look up to me, so it’s nice to be in that position.”
Morascyzk said he’s proud of his current linemates, Landon Johnson and Jacob Rose, because of how they approach the forecheck and mesh as linemates.
He’s also proud of goaltender Kooper Price, who holds a 2.03 goals-against average and 10-2 record. He added the Bucs’ defense also does a great job keeping the opposition to the outer part of the faceoff dots and limits scoring opportunities.
He and the Bucs are all buying into first-year coach Andrew Burkett’s methods and looking to continue their win streak.
“He does a great job at keeping us together, and he gives us good talks before the games,” Morascyzk said. “I think everyone’s just buying into our forecheck and emphasizes the 1-2-2, and just working hard every shift, and just not being selfish. I think he’s led us well in that respect.”
There’s nothing more Morascyzk wants than to win the Penguins Cup.
“Every game we talk about how this is our path to the Pens Cup,” he said. “We just have to keep improving every day, every game, every practice. If I could leave with a Pens Cup, I’d be pretty happy, and it would be the first one in Burrell history. That would be awesome.”
Tags: Burrell
More High School Hockey
• Deer Lakes’ Ryan Grunden reaches 100 points for career, turns attention to playoff push• PIHL standings, playoff clinchings through Feb. 2, 2025
• Burrell hockey team eager to play in national tournament in March while keeping an eye on Penguins Cup
• North Allegheny hockey looking forward to important tournament at Notre Dame
• 3 of PIHL’s 5 All-Star Games decided by 1 goal