New coach hopes last year’s playoff run provides spark for Penn-Trafford hockey
By:
Sunday, October 6, 2024 | 11:01 AM
Norwin’s Dom Constantino (16) is stopped by Penn-Trafford goalie Tyler Funk with some help from Chase Bonson (68) during PIHL Class 2A Penguins Cup semifinal March 12.
Penn-Trafford players crash the net during a PIHL Class 2A Penguins Cup semifinal March 12. Surrounding Norwin goalie Owen Burnmeister are Drew Hall (55), Cam Kiste (22) and Kyler Doran (10). For Norwin are Parker Toth (77) and Aaron Varrati (58).
Penn-Trafford may have a new hockey coach, but the goals remain the same – winning a PIHL title.
Brian Zagorac replaced Chris Cerutti as coach after the last season. The Warriors went 7-9-2.
But the Warriors didn’t go quietly in the Class 2A Penguins Cup playoffs. They stunned No. 1 seed South Fayette, 4-3, in the first round and then took out Norwin, 6-3, in the semifinals before falling to Thomas Jefferson, 8-4, in the finals.
The Warriors struggled down the stretch in the regular season, losing seven of eight games. Zagorac hopes the successful playoff run will show the team what could happen once they put things together.
The Warriors return numerous starters from the 2023-24 team and should be hungry for success.
Penn-Trafford graduated leading scorer Bryce Kropczynski (18 goals, 17 assists), Jack Blank and Chase Bonson.
Zagorac will be counting on senior captain Cam Kiste, senior Robert Thatcher and senior Gavin Patterson to lead the way.
All three are defensemen, but Thatcher will play forward until senior forward Drew Hall returns from injury.
“I believe we have good depth, and we’ll compete in a wide-open Class 2A,” Zagorac said. “I like where we are at.”
Because of conference realignment, Thomas Jefferson, South Fayette and Franklin Regional moved to Class 3A.
That leaves the Warriors to battle Hempfield, Latrobe, Norwin, Armstrong, Erie Cathedral Prep, Canon-McMillan, Baldwin, Fox Chapel and Bishop McCort.
The Warriors opened the season by defeating Hempfield, 6-0.
Sophomore goaltender Tyler Funk stopped 30 shots and sophomore Brock Bienemann scored three goals and added an assist. Bienemann was a late call-up last year and had three assists.
Sophomore forward Aiden Drotos, senior forward Kyler Doran and Thatcher also scored goals. Doran and Drotos each had three assists.
Other returning players include junior defenseman Mason Driskill, senior forward T.J. Ferguson, senior forward Marco Ferraccio and junior defenseman Jake Lenart.
Penn-Trafford played in the St. Margaret preseason tournament and defeated returning Class A champion Chartiers Valley and Class 3A Bethel Park before falling to Class 3A power North Allegheny.
“We rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Chartiers Valley,” Zagorac said. “We got humbled, but that was OK. It showed us where we need some work.
“I believe we have high expectations for the season. Anyone is capable of winning. A lot depends on how fast you come together and if you have the desire to sacrifice for a goal. There is an opportunity for us, but it’s a long season and anything can happen.”
The Warriors were scheduled to play at Erie Cathedral Prep on Oct. 8 and then are off until Oct. 21 when they travel to Bishop McCort.
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
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