Deer Lakes hockey ready for stretch run in PIHL Class A

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, December 21, 2017 | 5:06 PM

The Deer Lakes hockey team got back in the win column in a big way Monday as it routed Blackhawk, 8-2.

The Lancers, now 6-5 and in the hunt for a playoff spot in PIHL Class A, had dropped their previous two contests to Bishop McCort and Indiana.

McCort is 11-0 and in first place in the Class A standings, and Indiana is in fifth at 8-2.

Deer Lakes scored early and often Monday against Blackhawk. Ryan Murdock tallied a natural hat trick — one on the power play and two at even strength — in the first seven minutes of the game to give the Lancers a 3-0 lead.

Deer Lakes led 5-0 after the first period.

Murdock, who has four hat tricks this season, scored again in the second period, and he leads the Lancers with 19 goals on the season. He is fifth in goals in all of Class A and seventh in total points (24).

Three other Deer Lakes players have produced double-digit point totals so far. Michael Mlinarcik has 15 points (nine goals, six assists), Shane Miller has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) and Luke Norkus has 11 points (six goals and five assists).

Mlinarcik, Camden Smith, Dylan George and Dominick Detman also scored goals against Blackhawk.

Deer Lakes is off until Jan. 8 when it hosts Sewickley Academy at Ice Connection.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Deer Lakes