Morgantown beats Burrell in Division 2 finals, becomes 1st PIHL champ from West Virginia since 2011
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Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 12:27 AM
Morgantown’s Dom Petrucci celebrates with Justin Daffner after Daffner’s goal against Burrell during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday.
Morgantown’s Nico Kourtsis celebrates his first-period goal against Burrell during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday.
Burrell’s Mike Morazcyzk gets past Morgantown’s Geno Valenti during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday.
Morgantown’s Justin Daffner beats Burrell goaltender Kooper Price during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday.
Morgantown’s John DiBartolomeo celebrates his goal against Burrell during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday.
Morgantown’s Jacob Hollander beats Burrell goaltender Kooper Price during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday.
Burrell’s Jared Wall and Adam Scheftic celebrate with Julian Kemp after Kemp’s goal against Morgantown during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday.
Morgantown’s Geno Valenti and Jacob Hollander celebrate with Nico Kourtsis after Koutsis scored a goal against Burrell during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday.
Morgantown goaltender Ben Wilson makes a save against Burrell during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday.
Morgantown goaltender Ben Wilson makes a save on Burrell’s Dom Rosa during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday.
Burrell’s Brayden Snyder defends on Morgantown’s Geno Valenti during the PIHL Division 2 championship game Monday.
Chantz Watkins can relate to the Burrell hockey team’s feelings following a 5-1 loss to Morgantown in the Penguins Cup Tuesday night at the UPMC Lemieux Complex. Watkins, a Buccaneers assistant coach, was on the ice for Burrell’s Division 2 Pens Cup loss to Neshannock the year before.
Losing to Morgantown wasn’t ideal, but Watkins was excited Burrell still had a chance to play in the Pennsylvania Cup on Saturday. The Mohigans became the first Pens Cup winner from West Virginia since John Marshall won in 2011 and aren’t allowed to play in the Pennsylvania Cup due to being from out of state.
Burrell head coach Drew Burkett declined to comment.
“We are going to nationals on Tuesday,” Watkins said. “That’s what we were just talking about. This one stings. A lot of guys on the team lost last year, and they wanted it badly. They didn’t leave anything out there tonight. We’re looking forward to that game on Saturday.”
The Buccaneers were dealing with a much different Morgantown team than the one they beat 6-5 in October. The Mohigans showed up with their full complement of players.
John DiBartolomeo, who scored in the third period to put the Mohawks up 3-0, and Cooper Cox, who assisted on two goals, were major contributors in the Pens Cup final.
“I didn’t have half my second line,” Morgantown coach Rob Rockis said. “Those top four scorers in the PIHL, I didn’t have them the first time we played Burrell.”
The Buccaneers still played high-pressure, offensively minded hockey. Burrell just didn’t have luck finding the back of the net.
The Buccaneers finished with a 41-32 edge in shots on goal. Ben Wilson made 40 net saves for the Mohawks.
Watkins thought Burrell was prepared to play and was confident from its performance from the first meeting.
“We had some confidence from that game even though they were down a few players, and we were playing our backup goalie,” Watkins said. “We watched film about them and everything like that. We knew what they did good and what they did bad. They get guys in front of the spot. If you leave them open, they have guys that can shoot.”
The Mohigans took the lead 9 minutes, 40 seconds in when Nico Kourtsis scored on the power play. Jacob Hollander doubled the lead in the second period with another power-play goal.
Morgantown was aggressive in moving the puck to try to create odd-man breaks.
“They play a long game,” Rockis said. “We were trying to pick that off and get instant offense.”
Julian Kemp scored Burrell’s lone goal in the third period. Hollander responded with his second goal 90 seconds later to stretch the lead back to 4-1.
Justin Daffnerr scored Morgantown’s other goal.
The Buccaneers still have plenty left to play for. Watkins hopes the opportunities in the future will go a different way.
Watkins believed Burrell created enough opportunities to be competitive.
“I thought we did, but puck luck wasn’t with us today,” Watkins said.
Tags: Burrell
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