Norwin hockey turns page after taking lumps last season

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Coming off a 1-19 season, second-year Norwin hockey coach Denny Zeravica wants to take what he and his players learned from bouts of adversity and apply it to present times.

Last year was last year. That ice has melted.

“Even though we had a down year in regard to winning, it definitely provided some good playing experience for some of our young and inexperienced players at the varsity level,” Zeravica said. “A lot of the returning players logged a significant amount of playing time last, which should play big dividends for us this season. The team’s attitude, preparation, and effort have been outstanding so far, which makes us feel that we are going to be a tough team to play against this season.”

Norwin won a Class A Penguins Cup title in 2022 before moving to 2A. It was the program’s first title. But that, too, is in the past. The banner hangs proudly, but the focus is on this year’s team.

“We are focused on getting things turned back around this year,” Zeravica said.

The Knights return 11 starters who will form a battle-tested foundation to combat a tough PIHL Class 2A schedule.

They are Zayn Zeravica (Senior, forward), Parker Toth (Sr., F), Mason Hohman (Jr., F), Brody Boban (So., F), Josh Toth (Sr., F) , Jonah Andrykovich (Sr., F), Joe Lovinfosse (Jr., F), Zack Katona (Sr., D), Cal Costantino (Jr., F), Connor Lovinfosse (Jr., G) and Damien Flore (Jr., G).

Norwin was outscored 137-46, including 52-19 in the third period.

Zayn Zeravica is the top returning goal scorer after he found the net four times. He finished with 12 points.

Boban had nine points and Hohman added eight.

Lovinfosse was 1-16 in 17 games with a 6.48 goals-against average. Flore played in 17 games and went 0-2.

Key backups for the Knights will be Baylor Zeravica (So., D), Dom Duffey (So., D), Nikolai Powanda (Jr., D), Joe Zajicek (Sr., D) and Nolan Toth (So., F).

Denny Zeravica said his first year as coach was made smoother by his connection to his players.

“I’ve been coaching most of these players since developmental and/or middle school,” he said, “so, I know what a lot of them bring to the organization. It is our job as coaches to continue to help them develop into better players and a better team overall. We strive to put everyone in the best position to help our team succeed.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.