Penn-Trafford hockey looking for strong finish

By: Paul Schofield
Sunday, February 16, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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After Hempfield spoiled the Penn-Trafford hockey team’s senior night Feb. 3, the Warriors needed a bounce back game, especially with the start of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League Penguins Cup playoffs starting in a few weeks.

And what better way to get ready for the playoffs than play the two teams — Latrobe and Fox Chapel — who the Warriors were battling for first place in Class 2A. Not to mention two teams Penn-Trafford lost to back in November.

Well, the Warriors took care of Latrobe on Feb. 10, and then faced Fox Chapel on Feb. 17.

Sophomore forward Brock Bienemann scored two goals and sophomore goaltender Tyler Funk made 33 saves, and Penn-Trafford defeated Latrobe, 3-1, at Palmer Imaging Arena in Delmont.

The victory gave the Warriors (14-3-1-1-0) a total of 45 points, while the Wildcats (14-3) stayed in third with 39 points. Fox Chapel led Class 2A with 46 points.

Leading the way for the Warriors have been sophomore forward Aiden Drotos and senior defenseman Cam Kiste. Drotos has 21 goals and 18 assists, and Kiste has 15 goals and 33 assists. Bienemann now has 15 goals and 19 assists.

“I’m not worried too much about my statistics,” Drotos said. “I’m more concerned about wins and losses.”

Penn-Trafford started the season with six consecutive victories before Latrobe handed the Warriors a 3-1 defeat on Nov. 14.

But they avenged that loss Feb. 10.

“We concentrated on back checking, staying patient and playing defense,” Penn-Trafford coach Brian Zagorac said. “We knew we had to score some dirty goals, and we got three. It was a nice bounce back win.”

Penn-Trafford was coming off a disappointing loss to Hempfield on Feb. 3.

“That was a tough loss against Hempfield,” Zagorac said. “We lost in the final five seconds.”

Penn-Trafford took a 1-0 lead against Latrobe when Drotos scored midway through the first period.

Latrobe tied the score early in the second period when Adam Pellis found the back of the net.

The Warriors reclaimed the lead, 2-1, on a power play goal by Bienemann.

“We needed that win,” Kiste said. “We are playing a lot better than we did last year. Hopefully, we’ll play a little better in the playoffs and win it this time.

“We have a talented group of seniors that work together, and we bought into the new system. We are able to roll out three lines, and we’re able to play tough defense. Latrobe was a tough team, and we needed to play well.”

Penn-Trafford was an eighth seed in the 2024 playoffs and upset South Fayette and Norwin before falling to Thomas Jefferson, 8-4, in the Penguins Cup final.

The Wildcats outshot the Warriors, 24-13, over the final two periods.

Bienemann scored his 15th goal of the season when he knocked in his own rebound with 3:46 left to clinch the win.

“The biggest change this season is Coach Zagorac,” Drotos said. “He is our driving force. He has been on us all season. He knows how to push our buttons.

“The team has bonded together, and we have a lot of depth. We are a confident group, and we trust each other.”

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