PIHL High School Hockey All-Star Recaps 2011

By: Bruce Markey
Sunday, January 23, 2011 | 12:00 AM

The stars were not only out at Heinz Field on Sunday, but also at the Rostraver Ice Gardens as the PIHL held its four high school hockey all-star games. Here are recaps from the four battles between the Northeast Conference all-stars and the Southwest Conference all-stars.

Thanks to Greg Kuntz, Bob Orkwis, Jonathan Whaley and Matt Vandriak for their help on these recaps.

PIHL CLASS AAA ALL-STAR GAME:

Southwest All-Stars 6 – Northeast All-Stars 3

The Southwest Conference All-Stars wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard against the Northeast All-Stars Sunday night in the Class AAA showcase. Just 38 seconds into the game, Canon-McMillan’s Brett Oldaker put a shot in past Fox Chapel netminder Tyler Fannie for the 1-0 lead. Exactly 7 minutes later, it was Upper St. Clair’s C-J Murray beating Fannie to put the Southwest up by 2. They would tally twice more before the end of the 1st period on goals by Seneca Valley’s Cody Siegfried and Canon Mac’s Zack McKown. The big story in the 2nd period, however, was the outstanding goaltending of Pittsburgh’s Central Catholic’s Brandon Savka, who stopped 22 of 23 shots. The lone goal he allowed to Baldwin’s Neil Isler gave the Southwest a 5-0 lead. The Northeasterners would finally crack the scoreboard twice late in the 2nd period on goals by Fox Chapel’s Will Lorenz and Penn-Trafford’s Chris Corrales. The Northeast would narrow the gap to 5-3 with a goal Kyle Rosendale of Hempfield, the PIHL Class AAA’s leading scorer. The Southwesterners, however, would put the game away at the 10:22 mark of the 3rd as Bethel Park’s Dan Kucerovny beat Penn-Trafford’s Mike Cheswick to make it 6-3. The Southwest outshot the Northeast 43-25, and Savka’s effort earned him the MSA #1-star of the game. #2 went to Rosendale, who had a goal and an assist, and the #3-star went to Oldaker, who opened up the scoring.

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PIHL CLASS AA ALL-STAR GAME:

Northeast All-Stars 8 – Southwest All-Stars 4

The Southwest Conference All Stars skated to a 2-0 lead after the first period and held a 3-1 lead 4 and 1/2 minutes into the second period. But that’s when the Northeast Conference line of Zach LaDuke, Josh Singley and Justin Sabilla took over. When that trio shifted into gear, the Northeast Conference took control of the contest, scoring 7 of the games next 8 goals and coasting to an 8-4 victory in the PIHL Class AA All Star Game. Singley, the sophomore from Latrobe, netted a hat trick and added an assist. LaDuke, the outstanding senior from Latrobe dominated puck possession and finished with 2 goals and 3 assists. Sabilla, the junior forward from Chartiers Valley fit right in with the pair of Icecats and scored a beautiful goal to go with a pair of assists. The only other player with multiple points was Ryan Hanahan from the Southwest Conference All Stars. The senior forward from Pine-Richland had a goal and beautiful assist on the game first goal.

Northeast: 0 – 5 – 3 = 8
Southwest: 2 – 2 – 0 = 4

1st Period:

SW: Nigel Crighton (Moon) – Ryan Hanahan (Pine-Richland) 5:25

SW: Zach Milnarcik (Montour) – Alec Zaphiris (Erie Prep) 9:25

2nd Period:

NE: Zach LaDuke (Latrobe) – Josh Singley (Latrobe) 2:49

SW: Kurt Kurelis (Montour) – Jacob Druga (West Allegheny), Mike Amelio
(Peters Township) 4:35

NE: Singley – LaDuke 7:56

NE: Dominic Antonucci (Greensburg Central Catholic) – Robert Tritschler
(Greensburg Central Catholic), Kendall King (Bishop Canevin) 11:03

SW: Hanahan – Scott McAliney (Pine-Richland) 11:36

NE: Matt Walsh (Bishop Canevin) – Frank Vance (Bishop Canevin), Mike Mansman
(Bishop Canevin) 12:41

NE: Singley (2) – LaDuke, Alec Koluder (Latrobe) 14:22

3rd Period:

NE: Singley (3) – Justin Sabilla (Chartiers Valley), LaDuke 3:07

NE: Sabilla – Unassisted 3:42

NE: LaDuke 2 – Robert Vasinko (Latrobe), Sabilla 8:33

Shots on Goal:

Northeast: 8 – 10 – 14 = 32

Southwest: 10 – 12 – 9 = 31

Power Play:

Northeast – 0/1

Southwest – 0/0

Goaltenders:

Northeast

Zack Daley (Bishop Canevin) – 10 shots, 8 saves

Noah Stevenson (Chartiers Valley) – 12 shots, 10 saves

Shane Brudnok (Latrobe) – 9 shots, 9 saves

Southwest

Jason Kumpfmiller (West Allegheny) – 8 shots, 8 saves

Woody Shell (Peters Township) – 10 shots, 5 saves

Matt Penz (Montour) – 14 shots, 11 saves

Management Science Associates Three Stars

#3 Ryan Hanahan – F (Pine-Richland) – Southwest – Goal, Assist

#2 Josh Singley – F (Latrobe) – Northeast – Hat Trick, Assist

#1 Zach LaDuke – F (Latrobe) – Northeast – 2 Goals, 3 Assists

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PIHL CLASS A ALL-STAR GAME:

Southwest All-Stars 5 – Northeast All-Stars 4

The closest of the four PIHL All-Star games that were played on Sunday at the Rostraver Ice Gardens was the Class A contest as the Southwest All-Stars got off to a quick 2-0 lead against the Northeast All-Stars and after seeing the Northeast All-Stars tie the game at 4, went on to win the matchup 5-4. The scoring began in the first period when Deer Lakes, Senior, forward, Joe Smith tallied on a breakaway off a feed from Senior, forward, Nathaniel Medic (Knoch) with 11:35 remaining in the opening frame. The Soutwest increased their margin to 2-0 at the 8:10 mark of the first period when Junior, forward, Nick Raught (Beaver) put one behind Northeast netminder, Junior, Cody Lee (Freeport). He was assisted on the play by Senior, forward Luke Pankowski (Hampton). The Northeast got their initial lamp lighter of the game at the 3:53 point of the opening stanza when Junior, forward, Jarrett Ruchka (Serra Catholic) beat Southwest goaltender, Senior, Tyler Stepke (Mars) for his first of two goals in the game. Assists went to Senior, forward, Jordan Ford (Kittanning) and Junior, forward, Corey Schafer (Westmont Hilltop). It was the only goal that the “Fightin Planets” outstanding goalie Tyler Stepke would allow as he denied (18) other Northeast shots in period number one. His fellow Mars teammate, Junior, forward Elliot Tisdale (the leading Class A scorer at this juncture of the season) lite the lamp on a two-on-one odd man rush with another Mars standout, Junior, forward, Nick Blaney with :25 seconds left in the first period to restore the Southwest All-Stars advantage back to two goals, 3-1 at the close of the first period. The Southwest All-Stars increased their lead to 4-1 when Senior, forward, Max Bodrie (Beaver) off the first of two assists in the game by Senior, forward, Matt Theys (Deer Lakes) at the 9:02 mark of period two. However, the Northeast All-Stars showed their mettle when they rang up the contest’s next three goals to tie the game at 4-all. First, Senior, forward, John Hill (Freeport) scored off assists by Senior, Kittanning, forward, Jordan Hill (who would finish with a pair of helpers in the game) and Junior, defensemen, R.J. Kendi (Serra Catholic) at 8:04. Then with 5:01 to go in the second frame Serra Catholic’s Jarrett Ruchka came in all alone on Southwest All-Star goaltender, Senior, Nate Wormald (Central Valley) and snapped a shot past him to move the Northeast within one at 4-3. He was assisted on the play by Junior, forward, Garner Kraemer (Serra Catholic) and Corey Schafer (Westmont Hilltop), who got his second assist of the game. Just under two minutes later, the second leading Class A point producer this season, Kittanning, Senior, forward, Troy Schall evened the game for the first time for the Northeast All-Stars when he finished off a two-on-one odd man break with 3:02 left in the period. Assisting Troy on that marker was his Kittanning teammate, Junior, forward, Heinz Koster and South Fayette, Senior, forward, Dan Curtin. However, the player who got to wear the hero’s collar for the Southwest All-Stars was Deer Lakes, Joe Smith. He was “no ordinary Joe” in this game as he scored the game-winning goal while killing a penalty with only 4 seconds remaining in the second period. Ironically, it was his Lancers teammate, Senior, forward, Matt Theys who set him up for the deciding tally. Deer Lakes is one of only two Class A PIHL teams without a win at the All-Star break and the head coach of the Southwest All-Star team was the Lancers head coach Rich Smith. There was no additional scoring in the third period. For one night, at least, the Deer Lakes Lancers played a leading role and came out on the right side of the score.

NORTHEAST ALL-STARS 1 – 3 – 0 = 4
SOUTHWEST ALL-STARS 3 – 2 – 0 = 5

Scoring Summary:

Southwest 11:35 First Period Joe Smith (Deer Lakes) (1), Assist
Nathaniel Medic (Knoch) (1)

Southwest 8:10 First Period Nick Raught (Beaver) (1) Power Play Goal,
Assist Luke Pankowski (Hampton) (1)

Northeast 3:53 First Period Jarrett Ruchka (Serra Catholic) (1),
Assists Jordan Ford (Kittanning) (1), Corey Schafer (Westmont Hilltop) (1)

Southwest :25 First Period Elliot Tisdale (Mars) (1), Assist Nick
Blaney (Mars) (1)

Score after first period Southwest All-Stars – 3 Northeast All-Stars -1

Shots on goal after first period Northeast -19 Southwest – 10
Northeast goaltender: Cody Lee (Freeport) 7 saves
Southwest goaltender: Tyler Stepke (Mars) 18 saves
Power Play: Northeast 0-1 Southwest 1-1

Southwest 9:02 Second Period Max Bodrie (Beaver) (1), Assist Matt Theys
(Deer Lakes) (1)

Northeast 8:04 Second Period John Hill (Freeport) (1), Assists Jordan
Ford (Kittanning) (2), R.J. Kendi (Serra Catholic) (1)

Northeast 5:01 Second Period Jarrett Ruchka (Serra Catholic) (2),
Assists Garner Kraemer (Serra Catholic) (1), Corey Schafer
(Westmont Hilltop) (2)

Northeast 3:02 Second Period Troy Schall (Kittanning) (1), Assists
Heinz Koster (Kittanning) (1), Dan Curtin (South Fayette) (1)

Southwest :04 Second Period Joe Smith (Deer Lakes) (2), Assist Matt
Theys ( Deer Lakes) (2)

Score after two periods Southwest All-Stars – 5 Northeast All-Stars – 4
Shots on goal after two periods Northeast – 37 Southwest – 21
Second period shots Northeast -18 Southwest -11
Northeast Goaltender: Garrett Hudson (Serra Catholic) 9 saves
Southwest Goaltender: Nate Wormald (Central Valley) 15 saves
Power Play: Northeast 0-0 Southwest 0-2

There was no scoring in the third period.

Final Score Southwest 5 – Northeast 4
Shots on goal after three periods Northeast 40 – Southwest 33
Third period shots Northeast – 3 Southwest -12
Northeast Goaltender: Cameron Langhan (Kittanning) 12 saves
Southwest Goaltender: Sam Wilson (Hampton) 3 saves
Power Play: Northeast 0-1 (0-2) for the game Southwest 0-2 (1-5) for the
game
Shorthanded goals Southwest (1) Joe Smith (Deer Lakes)

Three Stars:
First Star – Joe Smith (Deer Lakes) 2 goals
Second Star – Jarrett Ruchka (Serra Catholic) 2 goals
Third Star – Tyler Stepke (Mars) 18 saves

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PIHL OPEN CLASS ALL-STAR GAME:

Northeast All-Stars 7 – Southwest All-Stars 2

A five-goal third period led the Northeast Conference All-Stars to a 7-2 win over the Southwest Conference. The Northeast scored the games first goal, as Hollidaysburg’s Sam Lafferty struck at the 7:49 mark of the opening frame. The Blue team would make it hold up behind the goaltending of Ford City’s Tyler Skerkavich, who stopped all 12 shots he faced in the period, and after 15-minutes the Northeast led 1-0. The Southwest team would draw even early into the 2nd period, as Blackhawk’s Chris Levato scored short-handed just 1:06 into the 2nd. The Southwest would take it’s only lead of the day at the 7:22 mark, as Wheeling Park’s Nicco Catalano tallied to make it 2-1. The Northeast would get the equalizer with just 1:12 left in the period, as Ford City’s Alex Gladysiewski found the net. The teams would head to the locker rooms tied 2-2 after two periods.
The third period belonged to the Northeast, who scored the first of their 5 goals just :23 seconds in. Ringgold’s Nick Scaballoni scored the prettiest goal of the night off of a great feed from Lafferty, making the score 3-2. Lafferty would than set up Kiski’s Brandon Donnelly at the 4:40 mark to make it 4-2 Northeast. The boys in blue added another just :26 seconds later, as Ford City’s Jesse Valasek scored on the power play to make it 5-2. Kevin Valasek of Ford City found the net at 8:12 of the 3rd to make it 6-2 Northeast, and Ringgold’s Kevin Claybaugh rounded out the scoring :17 seconds later to push the score to 7-2. Lafferty’s 4 point night (1 goal, 3 assists) earned him the #1 star of the game. Donnelly added 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) for the 2nd star. Skerkavich’s strong play between the pipes in the 1st period got him the games 3rd star.

Tags: Canon-McMillan, Chartiers Valley, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Kittanning, Latrobe, Upper St. Clair, Westmont Hilltop