Burrell hockey team caps memorable season with strong showing at California tournament

By: Michael Love
Monday, March 31, 2025 | 6:06 PM

When the Burrell hockey team hoisted the Division 2 Pennsylvania Challenger Cup championship trophy March 22 at RMU Island Sports Center, the players knew they would have a quick turnaround for a flight a few days later to sunny California

Selected earlier this year to play in the Chipolte USA Hockey High School 1A National Championships, the Bucs skated against some top-flight competition at the Anaheim Ducks’ training facility in Irvine, Calif.

While Burrell fell just short of the eight-team playoff from the original 16-team field, the Bucs held their own with a 2-1 record in their three-games-in-three-days run to cap a successful 2024-25 season.

“It was a super-cool feeling to be able to play in the national tournament and be at the Ducks practice rink,” Burrell co-captain Mike Morascyzk said. “It was just surreal to be representing Burrell all the way out here in California. We were proud to do that, and I thought we did it well.”

Led by Morascyzk and fellow captains Ryan Burkett, Landon Johnson and Luke Mink, the Bucs opened the tournament with a 7-3 victory over the Edwardsville Tigers from St. Louis.

Burrell bounced back from a 4-1 loss in Game 2 to the Charleston Mariners from South Carolina to shut out the Jackson Moose from Wyoming, 2-0, in the final game of Liberty Division pool play.

“(Jackson) was 2-0 going in, and we knew we had to beat them to have a chance at the playoffs,” Mink said. “We were all on the same page, and we skated the whole game and played well at both ends.”

The shutout was a strong effort from the Bucs, but it ended up not being enough for them to advance.

Burrell, Charleston and Jackson ended pool play with six points each. Only two teams could advance. A tiebreaker — point differential between the three teams — was used to determine the two playoff qualifiers, and the Bucs were on the outside looking in.

“We figured it out before the last game against Jackson that we needed four (goals) to be guaranteed a spot in the playoffs,” Burrell coach Drew Burkett said. “Three goals would’ve put it up to something funky that I didn’t understand.

“That was interesting, to say the least. For the entire regular season and the (PIHL D2) playoffs, you don’t really worry about tiebreakers and things like point differential. You’re just worrying about wins and losses. It was tough explaining to the kids after they just went 100% and got a nice win over a good (Jackson) team that they still weren’t in.”

Morascyzk said the team was well rested and prepared with fresh legs for the three games and showed it with their play.

“A lot of us play travel and club, and we’re used to a lot of games, especially a game or two in consecutive days like we had at nationals,” said Morascyzk who, along with Mink, led the Bucs with three goals and an assist over the three games.

“We had the one game each day, and we were able to rest the rest of the day and recover for the next game.”

Jackson suffered an overtime loss in the first round of the playoffs, and Charleston fell in regulation.

“It was tough not getting into the playoffs after going 2-1, but I am proud of everyone with the way we battled,” said Morascyzk, who had both goals, one in the first period and the other in the third, in the win over Jackson to close out the tournament Friday.

Jacob Rose and Jared Wall provided assists on the goals, and Kooper Price picked up the win between the pipes. He stopped 49 of the 56 shots he faced over the three games.

“No one gave up, and we fought to the end as we tried to get that third goal,” Morascyzk said. “It sucks we didn’t get to the playoffs, but it was a great trip and a great experience for everyone. It was a great way to end the year.”

Added Mink: “That was tough, but that is life. We did everything we could to get into the playoffs. I am just proud of the boys for how hard we worked this season and how far we got. We did a lot more than people thought we would do.”

During game days and into the weekend — the team stayed in Southern California through Sunday and flew back Monday — the group went to the beach, toured Hollywood and tried different restaurants.

“We were always together and outside enjoying the time and the weather,” Mink said. “It was definitely a week to remember.”

Burrell went a combined 22-5 from the PIHL regular season to the Penguin Cup playoff championship game, its D2 Challenger Cup triumph and the three-game run at nationals.

“I am definitely going to miss everyone, especially the other seniors who I’ve played with for four-plus years and even those who I met just this year,” Morascyzk said. “We were a great team, and we became a family.

“This California trip really showed it. We got the chance to bond and become even closer while having a great time. I will always cherish these memories.”

From the moment the team was selected for nationals, the team, its booster organization, the school district, and the community began fundraising efforts to make sure the team would have the best trip possible. Burkett said the support for the team was beyond measure.

For him, personally, Burkett, in his first year as head coach, received tremendous support from his players, especially the veterans.

“The captains knew they had to step up a little extra, and everyone carried their weight,” Burkett said. “Everyone knew their goals. Everyone knew what it was going to take to win, and they bought in right from the beginning of the year.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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