Goaltender looks like brick wall for fast-starting Penn-Trafford hockey team

By: Paul Schofield
Sunday, November 10, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Penn-Trafford sophomore goaltender Tyler Funk idolizes former Penguins’ goalie Marc Andre-Fleury.

And through three games, he has been playing like the “Flower” when he was helping the Penguins win the Stanley Cup.

Funk is 3-0 — all shutouts — and has stopped all 71 shots he’s faced.

He recently blanked Canon-McMillan, 2-0.

“Canon-McMillan didn’t have too many clean chances and when they did, I was able to make the stop,” Funk said. “They were a solid team, and they did have a goal wiped off because the net was off the pegs. But my teammates — Cam Kiste, Gavin Paterson and Kyler Doran — did a good job clearing the zone in front of me. My mentality going into games is that I want to stop everything.”

Penn-Trafford is off to a good start to the season. The Warriors are 5-0 and sit atop of the PIHL Class 2A standings.

The Warriors showed the hockey fans of Western Pennsylvania how good they could be by making the Class 2A Pens Cup finals last spring, coming out of the eighth seed before falling to Thomas Jefferson.

Funk said to win the Pens Cup, he and his teammates must stay focused and follow the game plan.

“We had nothing to lose,” Funk said. “We just showed how good we were. It was a fun run.

“We want to make the playoffs and win the Pens Cup and go to states. We have the team to do that. We were young last season, and we have the experience this season.”

There are a lot of games left in the season, so the Warriors have time to improve on their start.

Funk started playing ball hockey when he was 6. He started ice hockey when he was 8.

“I like to pattern my style after Marc-Andre Fleury,” Funk said. “I feel we are similar in style. We’re very athletic and quick. I try to watch film about him and his games.”

Funk said he’d like to sit down and talk to Fleury about how he got so good and what scouts and coaches look for.

Before a game, Funk likes to work on his reaction time by throwing a racquetball off the wall.

When he is not in goal for the Warriors, he plays for the Pittsburgh Predators 15-U team. He also enjoys playing lacrosse, playing midfield long stick, so he gets to run the field.

With Funk in goal, the Warriors figure to be in the hunt for titles by the end of the season.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Penn-Trafford