Penn-Trafford notebook: P-T hockey gets split in return to ice

By: Paul Schofield
Sunday, February 9, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The Penn-Trafford hockey team returned to action after a two-week break and picked up an 8-1 victory at Armstrong on Jan. 30.

But things did not go as well Feb. 3 against Hempfield. The Spartans rallied to stun the Warriors, 6-5.

Against Armstrong, the Warriors broke a tie in the second period after goals from Drew Hall and Cam Kiste to grab a 3-1 lead heading into the third period. Aiden Drotos gave Penn-Trafford a 1-0 lead in the first period.

Drotos scored the first three goals of the third period to push the lead to 6-1. Ben Zierski and Brody Parson also added goals in the five-goal third period.

Brock Bienemann and Robert Thatcher had three assists and Kiste had two.

Goaltender Jackson Narchus stopped 25 of 26 shots on goal.

Against Hempfield, the Warriors (13-3-1-1-0, 42 points) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Hall and Kiste, but the Spartans, fighting for the final playoff spot, rallied to score four goals in the second period to tie the score, 4-4.

Drotos scored both goals for the Warriors.

Kiste gave the Warriors a 5-4 lead early in the third period, but Guerin Gardner tied the score midway through the third period. Nino DiPietro scored the winning goal with five seconds left for the Spartans (4-9-1-0-1, 15 points).

The Warriors are in second place, one point behind Fox Chapel (43 points) in Class 2A. Latrobe is third with 39 points and Cathedral Prep is fourth with 37 points.

Penn-Trafford played host to Latrobe on Feb. 10 and will play Fox Chapel on Feb. 17.

Drotos now has 20 goals and 18 assists. Bienemann had 13 goals and 19 assists, and Kiste had 15 goals and 16 assists.

Barrett ready for individuals

The Class 3A individual wrestling championships begin Saturday (Feb. 15) at Norwin High School.

Action begins at 9:30 a.m.

The top six in each weight class advance to the WPIAL championship Feb. 21 and 22 at Canon-McMillan High School.

Penn-Trafford junior Dylan Barrett (26-2) finished second in the WPIAL at 114 pounds in 2024. He lost to Peters Township’s Nicholas McGarrity, 6-2, in overtime.

He is a two-time PIAA qualifier but has yet to earn a medal.

His losses came at the Powerade Tournament. He lost 3-2 (tiebreaker) to Wyoming Seminary’s Wyatt Spencer and 7-1 to St. Francis’ (N.Y.) Cullen Edwards.

Barrett is ranked No. 2 by Trib HSSN. He is six wins from reaching 100 in his career.

Other Warriors looking to shine in the postseason are sophomore Luke DeSantis (23-7) at 121 pounds, sophomore Sidney Hand (17-7) at 145, junior Jake Lang (15-12) at 127, junior Logan Matrisch (17-10) at 172, senior Tasso Whipple (20-8) at 189 and sophomore Ben Grabowki (16-15) at 215.

Whipple (90-43) has an injury to his foot and may not be able to participate in the individual tournament.

Whipple did sign a letter of intent to attend IUP to play football last week.

The Warriors were scheduled to wrestle Feb. 7 at Ringgold, Feb. 11 at Central Catholic and Feb. 12 against Kiski Area.

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