Hockey
PIHL Notebook – 2014-2015 Class B & C Preview
October 27, 2014
Welcome to another installment of “PIHL Notebook” as we wrap up our season preview four-pack with a look inside what used to be the Open Class. Instead, it will now be known as Varsity Division II, divided into Class B and Class C. It bears mentioning, as touched upon in our feature on the new alignment on October 6, only co-op teams are allowed in Division II. Class B is the cream of the crop, at least on paper. Defending Nailers Cup champion Harbor Creek headlines things, joined by four semifinalists from the 2014 Open Class Playoffs. Also in the mix is a Penn-Trafford squad down from Class AAA, a brand new “B Team” from Upper St. Clair, and a blast from the past in Meadville.PIHL Notebook – 2014-2015 Class A Preview
October 20, 2014
Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook” as we continue our comprehensive preview of the 2014-15 high school hockey season. Today we take a look at the teams vying for the Class A championship. Class A has the most complex breakdown of the new alignment, split into two tiers with two conferences in each. Tier 1 is, fittingly, the more stacked of the two. Three of last year’s final four will compete in the Western Conference, including defending champion Quaker Valley, while McDowell and Montour join from the Open Division and Class AA respectively. The Eastern Conference includes Chiefs Cup finalist Hempfield, the “other” member of last year’s Class A final four in Freeport, and another Open transplant in Gateway.PIHL Notebook – 2014-2015 Class AA Preview
October 13, 2014
Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook” as we continue our full team-by-team preview. Last week we took you inside every team in Class AAA. This week it’s time for Class AA to take center stage.PIHL Notebook – 2014-2015 Class AAA Preview
October 6, 2014
Welcome to “PIHL Notebook” and our annual season preview. Over the next four Monday’s, we will provide thumbnail sketches of all 63 PIHL teams to make sure local high school hockey fans are ready when the puck drops…tonight! And, oh, by the way, we will have exclusive coverage, both audio AND video, of the opening night doubleheader from the RMU Island Sports Center on Neville Island. Seneca Valley will take on Canon-McMillan in Class AAA at 7:15, followed by Quaker Valley against Freeport at 9:15 in a rematch of last year’s dramatic Class A Semifinal.PIHL Notebook – New 2014-2015 Alignment
Welcome to a special edition of “PIHL Notebook.” As documented earlier this fall, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League is under new leadership. A new board of governors was already in place last season, and now with a new commissioner in former North Allegheny head coach Jim Black, the powers that be are setting out to change things with an eye toward restoring some competitive balance across the league. Not since the formation of the Open Class has such a dramatic shift occurred. Sure, some notable programs have joined or left the league over the years. Some have moved up or down a classification. But this goes well beyond that, and it will be an ever-shifting situation going forward.
MSA SPORTS CUP: South Fayette Roars to First Class AAA Cup Title
July 1, 2014
The first ten years of the MSA Sports Cup has shown us that while there are a couple of dominating schools in the other three classifications, the chase for the Class AAA Cup has been up for grabs with eight different schools earning The Cup in ten years. Now in the eleventh year of this competition, we have another first time winner in Triple-A making it nine different champs in eleven years. After finishing as the runner-up in 2012-2013 and being a steady member on the Top 5 in recent years, South Fayette is finally enjoying its day in the Championship Sun with a convincing victory.
MSA SPORTS CUP: Another Year, Another Quad-A Title for North Allegheny
June 30, 2014
Another school year and another MSA Sports Cup in Class AAAA for North Allegheny High School. NA captured their 11th Cup in eleven years since the MSA Sports Network started this school year long competition to determine the top sports programs in each classification. There are 20 sports in which schools can earn points in the competition and for the second straight year and only the second time in this history of the coveted competition, the Tigers earned points in ALL of them. In the 2012-2013 school year, North Allegheny scored a mind-numbing and record 1,115 points. In 2013-2014, they had to settle for a mere 965 points. The second place school finished 530 points behind NA.PIHL Notebook – 2013-2014 MSA All-Icers
March 31, 2014
Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. With the Penguins and Pennsylvania Cup champions crowned, there is just one more order of business we must attend to. It’s time once again to unveil the annual “All Icers Team” as voted on by the MSA Sports Network staff. So, let’s light the lamp on the final 2013-14 edition of “PIHL Notebook.” 2013-14 MSA SPORTS NETWORK “ALL ICERS” – FIRST TEAM: Christian Siak – Bethel Park Regular Season: 17 GP, 29 G, 13 A, 5 PP, 1 SH, 2 GW, 2.47 PTS/GM Penguins Cup Playoffs: 3 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 3 PP, 2 GW, 2.00 PTS/GM
Bethel Park Black Hawks Win High School Hockey National Championship
March 30, 2014
After losing to Peters Township in the PIHL Penguins Cup championship game nearly two weeks ago, the Bethel Park Black Hawks regrouped in a major way and now they have a NATIONAL title to show for it. Bethel Park became the first Western Pennsylvania team to win the USA Hockey national Championship when they edged Providence, Illinois 2-1 Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska. Both Bethel Park and state champion Peters Township were a part of the 32-team national tournament. While the Indians were eliminated in pool play, the Black Hawks won their pool to advance to the Quarterfinals. There they beat Sioux Falls, South Dakota 3-0 on Saturday morning, then knocked off Des Moines, Iowa 3-1 in the National Semifinals Saturday night.
Peters Twp Holds On to Win Class AAA Pa Cup Title
March 22, 2014
Peters Township killed off a pair of late penalties to capture a 2-1 victory over LaSalle College High School in winning the Class AAA Pennsylvania State Championship at Pegula Ice Arena on the campus of Penn State University. Indians captain Josef Kittelberger’s second period goal proved to be the game-winner, and Peters Township goalie Brian Baker made 31 saves, including several key stops in the waning moments. The triumph marks the fourth Pennsylvania Cup for Peters Township, and its first in AAA. Adam Alavi put the Indians (20-4) on the board 7:18 into the opening period, when he skated into a drop pass from Samuel Barnes, and snapped the shot past LaSalle College netminder Harrison Feeney.
Bisop Canevin Falls 5-2 in PA Cup Class AA State Finals
In the AA Pennsylvania Cup Hockey High School championships at Pegula Arena at Penn State University the Central Bucks South Titans defeat the Biship Canevin Crusaders by a score of 5-2. It is the first state hockey title and only the second state title in any sport for the school in only its 10th year of existence.
Quaker Valley Falls to WC Bayard Rustin in PA Cup ‘A’ Finals
It might seem cliché, but a quick start in the playoffs is often talked about as a key in championship games. In the Pennsylvania Cup Class A title game at the Pergola Ice Arena at Penn State University, a fast start by Bayard Rustin was the difference as the Knights defeated Quaker Valley 5-2 to capture their 2nd PA Cup title and first since 2009. Less than two minutes into the game, Bayard Rustin led the Quakers 2-0 and that was a lead that QV could never overcome. Sophomore forward Brett Christie took a pass from J.R. Barone and went forehand-backhand to beat Parker Sherry just : 42 into the contest.2014 PIHL PENGUINS CUP PLAYOFFS RESULTS
March 18, 2014
The fourth time is a charm for Peters Township as they won the Class AAA Penguins Cup after three consecutive seasons of going home second. Meanwhile, the other two champions crowned at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh on Monday were the top-seeds in their classification. Quaker Valley captured a third straight PIHL Penguins Cup Class A crown with a dominant victory over Thomas Jefferson while Bishop Canevin edged Erie Cathedral Prep in a Class AA thriller for the Crusaders second crown in four years. Here are ALL of the results from the 2014 PIHL Penguins Cup Playoffs. All games marked with (MSA) after the result (which is ALL but one game) can be heard archived here on the MSA Sports Network.
Peters Township Finally Golden in Win Over Rival Bethel Park
March 17, 2014
At Consol Energy Center in the PIHL AAA Championship, the Peters Township Indians defeated the top seeded Bethel Park Black Hawks by a score of 4-2. This is the fifth overall title for the Indians and first since 2005. Both teams came into the showdown as numerous Penguin Cup winners and veterans to championship games. The Indians were in the title game for the fourth straight year and last won a title in 2005. The Black Hawks' last title was in 2012, a win over Peters Township 2-1. Both are led by two veteran coaches with 11 Penguin Cup titles between them.
Quaker Valley Three-Peats With Rout of Thomas Jefferson 8-2
In the PIHL Penguins Cup Semifinals, Quaker Valley pulled off a dramatic come from behind victory by scoring two goals in the final half minute of regulation in a victory over the Freeport Yellowjackets. The Quakers came back again Monday afternoon, except there were no dramatics needed in a 8-2 victory over Thomas Jefferson at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh. (Left: Connor Quinn scores one of his five goals in QV's 8-2 win) The win gives Quaker Valley a third straight Penguins Cup title and their fifth championship over. Thomas Jefferson scored first when off a clean face off win, Tommy Kimmick cranked a shot from the point that beat QV goaltender Parker Sherry for their lone lead of the game.PIHL Notebook – 03/17/2014
Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. After yeoman’s work by Josh Rowntree and Mike Azadian recapping the semis and previewing the 2014 Penguins Cup Finals on “The PIHL Power Play” show last Thursday night, how best to supplement that? For only the third time in this column’s history (but second in a row, so this may become tradition) Adam Hoerner returns from sick leave along with Josh to “choose sides” in Monday night’s championship match-ups, telling you why each of the six teams skating at Consol Energy Center have a chance to win gold. So, let’s light the lamp on this special postseason edition of “PIHL Notebook.” CLASS A PENGUINS CUP FINAL:This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 03/16/2016
March 16, 2014
Welcome to our own version of March Madness and the winter sports Championship Week all this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have coverage of the Semifinals and the State Championships from Hershey as we conclude our coverage of the 2014 PIAA State Basketball Playoffs along with the three Championship games from CONSOL Energy Center of the 2014 PIHL Penguins Cup high school hockey playoffs and the debut of college basketball featuring Slippery Rock University, plus the final edition of the PIHL Power Play Show and the next to last WPIAL Roundball Report ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, March 17th:PIHL Penguins Cup Recaps – Wednesday, March 12th
March 12, 2014
There was little separation all season between South Hills rivals Bethel Park and Peters Township. so it comes as no surprise that the two decorated programs will collide for a 2014 high school hockey crown as both were impressive Wednesday night registering convincing victories. here are recaps from both of the PIHL Penguins Cup Class AAA Semifinals played Wednesday night and setting up Championship Monday at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh. PIHL PENGUINS CUP CLASS AAA SEMIFINALS: Bethel Park Black Hawks 4 - Pine-Richland Rams 0PIHL Penguins Cup Recaps – Tuesday, March 11th
March 11, 2014
Monday saw thrills and chills with a couple of PIHL Penguins Cup Class A Semifinals instant classics. Tuesday presented plenty of fireworks in the Penguins Cup Class AA Semifinals, but they all seemed to be shot from one side and the top two seeds put up dominant performances. Here are recaps from both the Bishop Canevin and Erie Cathedral Prep Semifinals victory from Tuesday night. PIHL PENGUINS CUP CLASS AA SEMIFINALS: Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers 9 - Armstrong River Hawks 5
2014 PIHL PENGUINS CUP PLAYOFFS Update
All three high school hockey title games are now set as Final Four week concluded with two AAA Semifinals doubleheader on Wednesday. Bethel Park broke a scoreless tie with a four-goal third period explosion while Peters Township jumped out early and cruised, setting up a Battle of South Hills rivals for AAA gold between the Black Hawks and the Indians at CONSOL Energy Center. Here are ALL of the results from the Semifinals, plus the three championship games schedule in the 2014 PIHL Penguins Cup Playoffs for the Penguins Cup titles at CONSOL Energy Center on Monday and here on the MSA Sports Network. PIHL PENGUINS CUP CLASS AAA Semifinals: Bethel Park Black Hawks 4 - Pine-Richland Rams 0 (MSA)
