MSA Sports 2017 All-Icers
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Friday, March 31, 2017 | 10:24 PM
With the Penguins Cup and Pennsylvania Cup championships concluded, it’s nearly time to put a bow on the 2016-17 PIHL campaign. The final piece of business, though, is unveiling the highly-anticipated MSA Sports All-Icers teams. As voted on by the MSA Sports Network staff, six players, regardless of position, were named to the first team, while six more were voted to the second team. Three of the four championship squads were represented, and both Plum and Franklin Regional featured a pair of standouts. Here’s a look at the very best the PIHL had to offer in 2016-17.
All-Icers First-Team:
Ryan Kingerski (Pittsburgh Central Catholic) – Central Catholic earned the top seed in the Class AAA postseason and also led the class in goals, and Kingerski was perhaps the biggest reason for that success. The forward netted 18 goals and 37 points, good for fourth and third in Class AAA, respectively. Although the Vikings ultimately fell to Peters Township in the Penguins Cup Championship, Kingerski shined in the playoffs, too, as he contributed three goals and three assists in three games. The most significant of those postseason goals was his double-overtime winner against Seneca Valley in the semifinals.
Ryan Heil (North Allegheny) – While Kingerski and Central Catholic shined offensively in Class AAA, it was North Allegheny and their primary goaltender, Heil, who were the cream of the crop defensively in the classification. In the regular campaign, Heil appeared in 16 contests, winning 10. His goals against average of 1.97 and save percentage of .919 were the best among regular netminders, as well. The first-year starter also came up big in the Tigers’ first-round playoff victory, a 3-2 overtime thriller against Bethel Park, as Heil made 28 stops.
Vincent Lavorgna (Canon-McMillan) – The Big Macs prolific forward paced all of Class AAA with 22 goals, and he also tied for the most points, with 39. Moreover, his four winning goals, and four shorthanded goals, were each tied for tops in AAA. Although third-seeded Canon-McMillan was upset by eventual champion Peters Township in the first round of the playoffs, the Big Macs would not have attained that spot if not for the scoring punch Lavorgna provided.
Nolan Puhala (Plum) – The Mustangs captured their first Penguins Cup Championship in almost 30 years, and Puhala was the player often leading the attack for Plum. Playing in 17 regular-season tilts, Puhala had a Class AA-leading 39 goals, six more than his closest challenger. Additionally, the Mustangs’ winger produced 62 points, 11 better than the second-place finisher. His nine power play tallies were also the most by a wide margin. Consequently, Plum was the top-scoring team in the classification in the regular campaign, and that offense carried over to the Penguins Cup playoffs. In the second season, Puhala compiled four goals and six assists in just four games. He was named the top star in Plum’s 6-1 win against Greater Latrobe to capture the Penguins Cup Championship, as Puhala notched two goals and three assists.
Pat O’Neal (Indiana) – Indiana achieved great success in recent years in Division 2, and this season, the Little Indians carried that momentum into Class A. Pat O’Neal was the catalyst for all of that success, as he cruised to the scoring crown in the classification. His 76 points (37 goals and 39 assists) were 16 better than the second-place finisher. His numbers were eye-popping, as he also led Class A in goals, assists, power play goals, shorthanded goals, and game-winning goals. In compiling all of these individual accolades, O’Neal also helped propel his team to a No. 2 seed in the East Division, and also to the Penguins Cup final, although his squad fell to top-seeded Franklin Regional.
Dan Soltesz (Franklin Regional) – The Panthers were in the discussion for one of the best defensive teams in PIHL history this season, and their backstop, Soltesz, was a key factor. After guiding his team to an unexpected championship run last year as a freshman, the Franklin Regional sophomore solidified himself as one of the regions best goaltenders this campaign. In 18 games, his goals against average was a minuscule 0.93, while he also boasted a sparking save percentage of .929, both top marks among qualifying goalies. He achieved an incredible eight shutouts during the season, and added another in the playoffs. Perhaps even more impressive, he lost just one game regular season game. In the playoffs, Soltesz was again at the forefront of a Panthers title run, as his goals against was 1.72 and save percentage .924 in four tilts.
All-Icers Second-Team:
Sergio Benitez (Plum) – The second Mustang to make the list, Benitez was rock solid in the crease all season. In 15 games during the regular slate, he compiled a mark of 12-1-1 for Plum, which ranked as the best defensive squad in Class AA. His goals against average of 1.86 was tops in the classification, as was his .921 save percentage. As a result, the Mustangs claimed the top seed in the East Division, and ultimately took the Penguins Cup Championship against Greater Latrobe. In four playoff affairs, Benitez posted a GAA of 2.00 and a save percentage of .927.
JT Schimizzi (Latrobe) – The IceCats made an improbable run to the championship game in Class AA, and Schimizzi played an integral part. Schimizzi ranked fourth in Class AA in scoring during the regular campaign, as he netted 25 goals and 21 helpers. His points per game average of 2.71 ranked third in the classification, behind only a pair of Plum Mustangs. In the playoffs, Schimizzi produced three goals and three assists, as Greater Latrobe won its play-in game, and then upset title favorites Moon and Quaker Valley.
Wyatt George (Mount Lebanon) – George was not noted as a playmaker for the Blue Devils, but he certainly proved to be an elite goal scorer. He netted 26 goals, which ranked fourth in Class AA, and his four game-winning goals tied for tops in the classification. Perhaps the most impressive part of George’s success was that Mount Lebanon depended so heavily on his production. Aside from George’s 26 markers, no other Blue Devil scored more than eight goals. Thanks primarily to his efforts, the Blue Devils earned the No. 2 seed in the West Division.
Jamie Mauro (Franklin Regional) – The Panthers were noted for their defense in 2016-17, but the squad boasted potent scoring, as well. Mauro ranked second in Class A in both goals and scoring, as he contributed 34 goals and 60 points. He was dynamic on the man advantage, too, as his six power play markers tied for first. Perhaps most impressively, Mauro’s significant playing time resulted in just four penalty minutes. In four playoff games, Mauro continued his torrid scoring pace, as he recorded five goals and six assists. In Franklin Regional’s 6-1 Penguins Cup triumph, he showed his passing touch, with four assists.
Nicholas Frantz (Meadville) – Perhaps the greatest attribute of the Bulldogs this season was their scoring depth. Because nearly every skater chipped in offensively, it was hard for any Meadville player to really stand out statistically. Frantz, though, was the top producer for the Division 2 champs. His 33 goals tied for third in the class, and his 59 points ranked fourth. Frantz made an impact on special teams, as well, as he notched four power play goals, and well as four shorthanded tallies. Meadville was unbeaten in the regular season, and then cruised through the first two rounds of the playoffs, with Frantz enjoying a four-goal outburst in the semifinals. The Bulldogs were pushed to the limit by Carrick in the title game, but Frantz and his teammates ultimately claimed gold in an overtime thriller.
Nathan Norkevicus (Carrick) – Although the Cougars’ netminder split time between the pipes in the regular season, he certainly shined during his opportunities. Norkevicus boasted a .933 save percentage in the regular season, which was the best mark of any qualifying goaltender in the PIHL. Additionally, his microscopic 1.59 goals against average topped Division 2 goalies, while his four shutouts ranked second. It was during the three postseason games where Norkevicus really proved his value, though, as he guided Carrick to the Division 2 championship game for the third-consecutive campaign. Norkevicus made 32 saves in a 5-2 win against a very talented Kennedy Catholic squad in the first round, and followed that up with 20 stops in Carrick’s 3-1 triumph against Central Valley. In the title game, though, Norkevicus put on a performance for the ages, as he made 41 saves against undefeated Meadville. Although the Cougars eventually lost 2-1 in overtime, Norkevicus almost single-handedly carried his team to the title.
Tags: Canon-McMillan, Carrick, Franklin Regional, Indiana, Latrobe, Meadville Boys Hockey
