In another tight game, Ringgold beats Burrell in OT for PIHL Division 2 title
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Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 12:18 AM
Ringgold celebrates with the Penguins Cup after beating Burrell in the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Ringgold’s Bruce Santina celebrates his game-tying goal against Burrell during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Burrell’s Jared Wall and Jacob Rose celebrate with Alyx Hatajik after his goal in the second period against Ringgold during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Burrell celebrates with Dom Rosa after his first-period goal against Ringgold during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Burrell’s Dom Rosa beats Ringgold goaltender Mason Ribnicky during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Ringgold celebrates after beating Burrell in overtime in the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Ringgold’s Anthony Bonari (who scored the game winner in overtime) celebrates with goaltender Mason Ribicky during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Ringgold’s Anthony Bonari beats Burrell goaltender Seth Munda for the game-winner in overtime to beat Burrell in the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Ringgold celebrates with the Penguins Cup after beating Burrell in the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
It took overtime to decide the PIHL Division 2 championship.
Burrell and Ringgold played the championship game like they did two meetings during the regular season: tight, one-goal games.
Ringgold won both regular season meetings in overtime by the identical scores of 4-3.
It was not an identical score, but Ringgold, on an overtime goal by Anthony Bonari with 2:53 left in the first extra period, defeated Burrell for the third time, 3-2, on Monday night.
It was Ringgold’s third PIHL title.
Ringgold was a Class A winner in 1990 and a D2 winner in 2019.
Burrell had never won the title. It is the third consecutive season that the Bucs lost in the finals.
Both goalies – Burrell’s Seth Munda and Ringgold’s Mason Ribnicky – made huge saves in the final minutes of regulation to keep the score tied.
Both teams played exciting, fast-paced hockey, generating numerous offensive chances.
“Both teams made plays,” Burrell coach Drew Burkett said. “It you look at the past three games, I do not think effort was never ever the question. We gave it all we had.”
Highlights courtesy of Tenband.TV
In overtime, Burrell’s Dom Rosa hit the post during a power play.
Burrell’s Dante Taliano almost ended it when he intercepted a clearing pass and fired a shot, but Ribnicky made a glove save.
Bonari stormed down the left side, got past the Burrell defense and beat Munda.
Burrell grabbed a 1-0 lead when Rosa scored 3:06 into the game. Cooper Suman had the assist.
Ringgold tied the score 1-1 on a goal by Carl Singer. Vaughn Shannon had the assist.
Burrell reclaimed the lead 2-1 in the second period when Alyx Hatajik scored unassisted.
But late in the second period, Ringgold tied the score 2-2 when Bruce Santina scored from Bonari.
The Rans finished first in the Blue Division and Burrell finished third.
“We always expect to be here,” Burkett said. “We have a big group of 11 seniors, and we picked up players from Kiski, and they got introduced to how we play at Kiski.”
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.
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