Coming off strong regular season, Quaker Valley skates into Penguins Cup playoffs

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, March 2, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Quaker Valley’s quest for an undefeated season in the PIHL hit a snag in early February.

After building a 17-0 record, the Quakers lost a pair of 3-2 decisions to Plum on Feb. 3 and Montour in overtime on Feb. 10.

The Quakers roared back a week later with a 5-2 victory against McDowell to take an 18-1-1 record into the Penguins Cup Class A playoffs.

“Overall, we were pleased with our regular season,” QV coach Kevin Quinn said. “We came out of it healthy and hungry for a playoff run.

“It was a fun regular season. We are ready for the next challenge. We certainly would like to compete for the Cup. We will take it one game at a time. Getting ahead of yourself is never a good idea.”

QV, the Class A Gold Division runner-up drew West Allegheny on Feb. 25 in the first round of the PIHL playoffs. WA finished eighth in the Varsity Blue Division with a 6-12-1 record.

The Quakers breezed to a 10-0 triumph as junior forward Charles D’Antonio registered a hat trick, and Ben McHenry, also a junior forward, had two goals and two assists.

Other goal-scorers were junior forwards Jace Vasbinder (1 goal-3 assists) and Max Modrovich (1-1) and Hunter Kronk (1-1), junior defender Jacob Keisel (1-1) and sophomore defender Jack Watson (goal).

Sophomore forwards Kieran Cain and Charlie Pyle, along with junior defender Luke Koehler, were credited with two assists apiece.

QV’s senior goaltender Landon Buterbaugh picked up his first shutout of the season, turning back 17 shots on goal.

Quaker Valley ended up second in the Gold Division behind Chartiers Valley (19-1), which suffered its only defeat of the regular season Dec. 2 to the Quakers by a 6-2 score.

QV outscored its regular-season opposition by a 109-28 margin, led by Modrovich’s 21 goals and team-best 27 assists.

Three other leading scorers were Vasbinder, with a team-high 22 goals and 13 assists, freshman forward Mathias Lezama (17-14) and McHenry (12-17).

“We had a balanced attack,” Quinn said, “with many more contributions than last year. Max Modrovich and Jace Vasbinder led us offensively, and we received scoring and solid play from Matthias Lezama, Charlie Pyle, Ben McHenry, (junior forward) Colin York, Hunter Kronk, Charlie D’Antonio and Kieran Cain.”

The Quakers received stellar goaltending from Buterbaugh and junior Ian Lorang.

Buterbaugh was 11-1 in the regular season with a 1.75 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. He accounted for 280 saves on 301 shots, allowing 21 goals.

Lorang surrendered just seven goals in seven games to post a 6-1 record, 1.00 GAA and .944 save percentage. He made 118 saves on 125 shots and recorded four shutouts.

“Obviously, our biggest asset has been Landon Buterbaugh and Ian Lorang,” Quinn said. “They had a great year for us and are instrumental to our success.”

The QV netminders were supported substantially by a skilled and athletic defensive corps.

“Jacob Keisel and Luke Koehler paired up and provided solid defense as well as producing on offense,” Quinn said. “Jack Watson and (senior) Liam Welge were so solid all year on both ends of the ice.”

The Quakers’ veteran coach was quick to point out that several other players contributed to the team’s success in the regular season.

“Luca Kurumfashe, Tristan Bemis, Lance Shaner, Aidan Dillaman and Michael Minnock have all been solid when called upon to step up,” Quinn said.

QV (19-1-1) will face Avonworth, a 6-1 play-in winner against Blackhawk, in the PIHL quarterfinals.

The Antelopes were the third-place team in the Blue Division. They were led against Blackhawk by senior forward Conner Ralston (2g, 1a), and junior forwards Linus Jesionowski (1-2) and Austin Dzadovsky (1-2).

Ralston and junior forward Cooper Powell, with 26 goals apiece, sparked Avonworth offensively in the regular season. Jesionowski connected for 20 goals, and Dzadovsky added 18.

The Antelopes were the most explosive team in Class A in the regular season, outscoring the opposition by a 132-65 margin.

“Avonworth is a high-scoring, very skilled team,” Quinn said. “We will have our hands full with their very good team.”

The top seven teams in each division in Class A qualified for the Penguins Cup tournament.

Tags: Quaker Valley