PIHL High School Hockey Notebook – 01/21/2013

By: Bruce Markey
Monday, January 21, 2013 | 12:40 PM

Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. As usual, have your weekly thermometer of streaking teams in “Melting the Ice.” Plus, the “Scoreboard Watch” includes an upset in the Open Class and the first victory of the season for a former Class A powerhouse. Finally, our preview of upcoming MSA broadcasts includes what could be a preview of the Class AA Penguins Cup Final. So, let’s light the lamp on this edition of “PIHL Notebook.”

MELTING THE ICE:

Class AAA: North Allegheny (6-0-0), Peters Township (5-0-0), Pittsburgh Central Catholic (3-0-1), Bethel Park (3-0-0), State College (3-0-0)

Class AA: Erie Cathedral Prep (5-0-0), Latrobe (5-0-0), Bishop Canevin (3-0-0)

Class A: Quaker Valley (13-0-0), Mars (9-0-1), Thomas Jefferson (4-0-0), Freeport (3-0-0)

Open Class: Blackhawk (15-0-0), Hollidaysburg (4-0-1), Indiana (3-0-0)

SCOREBOARD WATCH:

1/14/13 – Open Class – Non-Section – Ringgold 5, Connellsville 3 … The Rams (2-12-0) controlled the first two periods by a 4-0 count, but the Falcons (0-11-0) scored the next three goals and had almost half the third period tie it, but Jared Harbaugh closed things out with an insurance marker at the 10:30 mark. Michael Hazel scored twice for Ringgold, including the winner on the power play, while Dustin Zimmerman and Jared Kramer each picked up two assists. Sam Wiatrak starred for Connellsville with all three goals. Ian Tomasiak stopped 22 shots to pick up the victory while Thomas Clark was the busier backstop with 31 saves.

1/15/13 – Class A – Non-Section – Freeport 5, Westmont Hilltop 4 … The Yellowjackets (11-2-1) led 3-1 after 17 minutes and held a 5-2 lead 5:17 into period three. Good thing, too, because the Hilltoppers (8-4-1) cut the deficit to a single goal with 1:46 left to play, but could not convert an equalizer. Michael Frazetta scored the winner, Devin Christy notched two assists, and three others finished with one goal and one assist, including Cole Hepler. On the Westmont Hilltop side, Brandon Leech registered a power play goal and set up another. In the end, though, Matt Huston’s 29 saves proved enough to earn the win.

1/16/13 – Open Class – Section 4 – Keystone Oaks 7, Greensburg Salem 5 … The Golden Lions (8-4-1) drew first blood just 1:20 into the contest, but the Golden Eagles (7-4-1) scored the next six goals, including four in the first period, to pull off a mild upset. Ryan Rosato led the Keystone Oaks attack with three points (2 G, 1 SH, 1 A), Bryton Tomko (1 G, 1 A) netted the winner and Jonathan Mead turned aside 31 shots. For Greensburg Salem, Cody Austad (2 G, 1 A) and Logan Davis (1 G, 2 A) put up three points apiece.

1/17/13 – Class A – Non-Section – Bishop McCort 6, South Fayette 4 … The score was tied 2-2 after one and 4-4 when the Zamboni made its appearance, but the Crimson Crushers (1-13-0) got the only two goals of the third to pick up their first victory of the season over the Lions (3-11-1). Nathan James (3 G, 1 A) scored the final two for the win and the hat trick, Conner Hagins lit the lamp twice and Noah Sakmar picked up three assists. Meanwhile, Joe Testa led the South Fayette attack with three points (2 G, 1 SH, 1 A) while Nicholas Blocher was by far the busier goaltender with 33 saves in the losing effort.

UPCOMING MSA BROADCASTS:

1/21/13 – Class AA – Section 4 – Pine-Richland (8-3-1) @ Hampton (8-3-1) … Perhaps Don Rebel was clairvoyant when scheduling this one for air, because you simply can’t ask for a better match-up than two teams tied for first place in their section and among the championship favorites. The Rams have gone 3-1-1 in their last five, but do not have a win in two straight, while the Talbots are 3-2-0 recently and are coming off back-to-back victories. Zach Richey continues to lead the Pine-Richland offense in most categories (22 G, 38 PTS, 9 PPG, 2 SHG) while Brendan Bagnato (7-3-1, 2.55 GAA, 0.870 SV %, 1 SO) has been steady in net. Hampton has its own “Zach Attack” in Mr. Kosick (25 G, 40 PTS, 8 PPG) while Cam Raidna (8-3-1, 2.39 GAA, 0.890 SV %, 3 SO) has registered every decision between the pipes. The puck drops at 9:10 PM with Matt Vandriak and Josh Rowntree on the call.

1/24/13 – Open Class – Section 2 – Harbor Creek (11-2-0) @ Blackhawk (15-1-0) … This will be a true offense versus defense battle as the Cougars lead the PIHL with 129 goals and the Huskies tied for first in the Open Class with just 20 allowed. We all know what Blackhawk has done since dropping its opener, but Harbor Creek has been no slouch of late, going 4-1-0 in its last five, including back-to-back wins. Daren Braudis continues to lead the class with 41 goals and 10 power play markers while also pacing the Cougars with 64 points and four shorthanded tallies. At the other end, Grant Rombold (10-1-0, 2.81 GAA, 0.857 SV %) has been solid if not spectacular. As for the Huskies’ offense, Hunter Emerson (15 G, 5 PPG) and Nick Rocco (13 A, 25 PTS, 4 SHG) have set the tone. However, the X-factor here could be goaltender Tyler Manna (11-2-0, 1.45 GAA, 0.938 SV %, 1 SO). Blackhawk did win the previous meeting 5-3 on January 7 with Kyle Schaefer scoring all five goals, four of them with the man advantage, despite Manna stopping 35 shots. The puck drops at on the rematch at 8:45 PM with Mike Azadian and Brandon Showers on the call.

That wraps up this edition of “PIHL Notebook,” but check back every Monday through March for more news from around the league. In the meantime, Adam Hoerner and Josh Rowntree host another episode of “The PIHL Power Play” on Wednesday night at 8:00. Joining us this week will be Harbor Creek goaltender Tyler Manna, Pittsburgh Central Catholic head coach William Connelly and Serra Catholic head coach Brian Boehm. Your home for the 2013 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!