4 named PIHL players of the month for December
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Wednesday, January 7, 2026 | 8:15 PM
Seneca Valley goalie Chris Nichols makes a save on Fox Chapel’s Tucker Cullen on Nov. 17, 2025, at Baierl Ice Center in Marshall. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Three players who combined for 22 goals and another who only allowed three are the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League players of the month for December.
The award winners are senior goaltender Chris Nichols of Seneca Valley (Class 3A), Armstrong senior forward Jake Graff (Class 2A), senior forward Cooper Powell of Avonworth (Class A), and senior forward Seamus Coyle of Trinity (Division II).
• Nichols went 4-0 last month with three shutouts, a 0.75 goals-against average and a 96.0 save percentage. He faced 84 shots and allowed only three goals for the Raiders (10-0-0-0).
• In three games, Graff scored seven goals, two on the power play, and dished three assists. He had zero penalty minutes. The team captain has 15 goals and 10 assists for a team-leading 25 points.
• Powell scored six goals and added four assists across three games. He had a power play goal and assisted on the game-winner against Butler in a 6-5 win in overtime. The Antelopes (9-2-1-1) had a penalty kill percentage of 58 last month.
• In four games, Coyle scored nine goals and assisted on five more for 14 points. Two of the goals came on the power play. The Hillers’ captain has 20 goals and nine helpers for the season and does not have a penalty.
All four players made PIHL all-star rosters. All-star games are set for Jan. 25 at Robert Morris.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Armstrong, Avonworth, Seneca Valley, Trinity
