PIHL Notebook: 2011-12 CLASS AAA High School Hockey Preview
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Monday, October 3, 2011 | 3:49 PM
Welcome to the first ever installment of “PIHL Notebook” (formerly dubbed “PIHL News & Notes”) and our annual season preview. Over the next four Monday’s, we will provide thumbnail sketches of all 64 PIHL teams to make sure local high school hockey fans are ready when the puck drops on October 24.
First up is a look inside Class AAA, and there have been some intriguing developments in the offseason. Welcome last year’s Class AA Penguins Cup silver medalist Peters Township to the fray, joining the always stacked Section 1. Unfortunately, Mount Lebanon had to move into Section 2 to make room, so we might see some new hockey rivalries form in 2011-12. Meanwhile, Fox Chapel looks primed to continue its winning ways, but certainly won’t be the only squad looking to unseat the defending state champs in Upper St. Clair. So, read on to see if your favorite team has what it takes.
(Teams listed in order of 2010-11 winning percentage)
SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE
SECTION 1:
Canon-McMillan Big Macs
2010-11 record: 15-4-1; 1st Section 1
2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Finals
Key departures: Brett Oldaker (20 G, 34 A); Ryan Palonis (13-4-1, 2.59 GAA, 0.896 SV %, 2 SO)
Key projected returns: Zach McKown (16 G, 19 A); Alexander Baskakov (14 G, 16 A)
The skinny: Canon-McMillan answered the bell last year as the defending champions, scoring 100 regular season goals while allowing only 50. The Big Macs should feel no shame in their Penguins Cup Final loss, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be great motivation for a return trip to Consol Energy Center. The graduation of leading scorer Oldaker aside, offense should not be a concern for this bunch. Rather, the key question will be finding a worthy successor to goaltender Palonis.
Bethel Park Black Hawks
2010-11 record: 14-4-2; 2nd Section 1
2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Semifinals
Key departures: Mike Seifert (9 G, 17 A); Mike Shipley (7 G, 16 A)
Key projected returns: Dan Kucerovy (23 G, 18 A); Austin McGinty (9-2-1, 2.14 GAA, 0.896 SV %, 4 SO)
The skinny: Bethel Park found itself in pretty familiar territory last March, competing in the “Frozen Four” inside the Penguins’ building. Perhaps the most exciting thing for Black Hawks’ fans, though, is much of that group was young. With leading scorer Kucerovy leading a triple-digit offense back onto the ice and McGinty helming a second-ranked defense, this group has to be an early favorite for an extended playoff run.
Upper St. Clair Panthers
2010-11 record: 13-6-1; 3rd Section 1
2010-11 playoffs: Won Penguins Cup & Pennsylvania Cup
Key departures: C.J. Murray (30 G, 29 A); Justin Selep (16 G, 19 A)
Key projected returns: Stephen Gielarowski (14 G, 22 A); Luke Stork (17 G, 14 A)
The skinny: With the dust (or ice chips, if you prefer) now fully settled on the Panthers’ epic overtime victory to capture the first Penguins Cup in Consol history – and tacking a state title on top of that – do they have what it takes to repeat? Conventional hockey wisdom would answer in the affirmative. After all, the departure of scoring leader Murray aside, Upper St. Clair did pace Class AAA with 119 goals, so depth abounds. Between the pipes, Michael Stein and Michael Amborse are both back, with the latter having put together an impressive postseason run. Their regular season numbers may not have impressed, but they stepped up when it mattered most.
Peters Township Indians
2010-11 record: 17-2-1; 1st Section 1-AA
2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Finals
Key departures: Mike Glicksman (8 G, 21 A); Woody Shell (12-0-0, 2.39 GAA, 0.899 SV %, 3 SO)
Key projected returns: Taylor Cox (25 G, 19 A); Brian Baker (7-1-0, 1.01 GAA, 0.946 SV %, 3 SO)
The skinny: So, after leading Class AA with 140 goals, ranking second with 42 allowed and falling in the playoffs only to the eventual state champion, what is a program to do? In the case of Peters Township, a change of scenery was called for, and why not? This club has depth coming out its ears, and always has. Scoring stud Cox returns to lead a talented offense while Baker actually posted a better GAA and save percentage than the graduated starter Shell last year. If you thought Section 1 was good before, adding the Indians makes it that much better in our view.
SECTION 2:
North Allegheny Tigers
2010-11 record: 12-6-2; 1st Section 2
2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals
Key departures: Ryan Worsena (12 G, 12 A)
Key projected returns: Joe Griffin (10 G, 10 A); Matt Goda (10-5-2, 2.36 GAA, 0.905 SV %, 4 SO)
The skinny: Offense was not North Allegheny’s strong suit a year ago, and really hasn’t been in recent memory. No, head coach Jim Black has been getting it done with defense and goaltending, and it brought the Tigers another section title last season. Backstop Goda will be the key piece for a group which allowed just 47 goals, matching Bethel Park’s performance. Now, let’s not call the offense inept – 75 goals is a respectable number, and Griffin will look to help increase that output.
McDowell Trojans
2010-11 record: 11-8-1; 2nd Section 2
2010-11 playoffs: Lost in First Round
Key departures: Erick Butler (5 G, 13 A); Andrew Greaves (6-5-0, 2.79 GAA, 0.883 SV %)
Key projected returns: Ryan Guzek (18 G, 14 A); Alexander Margraf (17 G, 12 A)
The skinny: The bad news – McDowell has some reloading to do with 11 seniors gone. The good news – the Trojans did retain their two most potent offensive weapons in Guzek and Margraf. The defense wasn’t bad last year, either, with 62 goals allowed ranking them fifth. Unfortunately, backup goaltender Nick Mankosa got his diploma along with Greaves, so Erie will be trotting our some unproven successors.
Mount Lebanon Blue Devils
2010-11 record: 7-11-2; 4th Section 1
2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Qualifying Round
Key departures: Chris Ford (14 G, 12 A); William Hoeft (4 G, 11 A)
Key projected returns: Trevor Nelson (10 G, 16 A); Clay Wyda (2-5-0, 2.37 GAA, 0.895 SV %, 2 SO)
The skinny: This would be the down side to Peters moving up – somebody had to go down, and it wound up being Mount Lebanon. Still, it’s an intriguing shift for the Blue Devils into what really looks like a wide open section. Nelson will be looked at to lead the offense with Ford moving on, but all eyes should really be on Wyda. Everyone knows this program is built on defense and goaltending. As they learn the new landscape, that bread and butter needs to be there.
Seneca Valley Raiders
2010-11 record: 3-16-1; 4th Section 2
2010-11 playoffs: Did not qualify
Key departures: Cody Siegfried (11 G, 6 A); Sean Burger (5 G, 7 A)
Key projected returns: Luke Reed (6 G, 7 A); Chris Marziotto (6 G, 3 A)
The skinny: After two straight appearances in the Penguins Cup Final, graduation finally caught up with Seneca Valley last year. Not that losing another 10 seniors heading into this season goes unnoticed, but in fairness, the classes before them were more productive. Whether Reed and Marziotto are fully prepared to bring this club back to its winning ways remains to be seen, but of larger concern should be improving a defense which let in 108 goals.
NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
SECTION 3:
Fox Chapel Foxes
2010-11 record: 18-2-0; 1st Section 3
2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Semifinals
Key departures: Dan Humes (27 G, 29 A); Jacob Friedland (18 G, 27 A)
Key projected returns: Christian Wirginis (14 G, 6 A); Tyler Fannie (18-1-0, 1.93 GAA, 0.906 SV %, 3 SO)
The skinny: Fox Chapel was the best story in the PIHL last season without question. Going from one of the worst teams in ’09-’10 following the tragic loss of Jim Damp to the top seed in the 2011 Penguins Cup Playoffs is something few will forget any time soon. However, sentimentality aside, can they do it again? It will be interesting to find out. Losing two great scorers in Humes and Friedland definitely hurts, but having Fannie back to lead a top-ranked defense which let in just 42 goals should ease the pain. The Foxes just need to take care of their own end first while the offense finds some new leaders.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings
2010-11 record: 10-7-3; 2nd Section 3
2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals
Key departures: Scott Brown (3-2-2, 2.63 GAA, 0.908 SV %)
Key projected returns: James Pozycki (16 G, 7 A); Brandon Savka (7-5-1, 3.20 GAA, 0.885 SV %, 1 SO)
The skinny: Pittsburgh Central is an intriguing team. Like McDowell, the Vikings are solid if not spectacular. In fact, they allowed one goal less than the Trojans, tying Mount Lebanon as the number four defense in Class AAA. Another biggie on Central’s side is youth, with only three seniors gone. So, one would expect a few more red lights turning on this season with the offense a year older and wiser. Same goes for Savka, who will no longer have a veteran backup to rely on for support.
Shaler Titans
2010-11 record: 10-8-2; 3rd Section 3
2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals
Key departures: Brian Stein (15 G, 12 A); Josh Hetz (5 G, 19 A)
Key projected returns: Jacob Hetz (29 G, 16 A); Dillon Burkharth (15 G, 16 A)
The skinny: You wouldn’t think a team which scored 103 goals would have trouble finishing above a team which scored 70 in the section standings, but it happened to Shaler last season. Of course, part of that is due to the Titans having allowed 73. Not the worst mark in the class, though, and it’s hard to replace a goalie like Oscar Prom. In fact, Ian Zacharias and Steve Defibaugh did a respectable job. Now they just need to find the next level because the offense should be fine with leading scorer Jacob Hetz at the helm.
Butler Golden Tornado
2010-11 record: 4-16-0; 3rd Section 2
2010-11 playoffs: Did not qualify
Key departures: None
Key projected returns: Cody Bachman (17 G, 11 A); Jacob Tomasovic (9 G, 15 A)
The skinny: It’s no secret Butler struggled mightily in returning to varsity PIHL competition, but the good news is the five departed seniors were not significant contributors statistically speaking at either end of the ice. Bachman actually scored or set up 55% of the Golden Tornado’s goals, so having him back is an obvious luxury. Now they just need to do something about a defense which allowed a second-worst 126 goals. Having Michael Arturo or Logan Rothbauer seize the starting goaltender slot would be a start.
SECTION 4:
State College Little Lions
2010-11 record: 11-7-2; 1st Section 4
2010-11 playoffs: Lost in First Round
Key departures: Ryan Pate (15 G, 22 A); Joe Abruzzo (9-7-2, 2.93 GAA, 0.885 SV %)
Key projected returns: Dan Moscone (19 G, 16 A); Stefan Horgas (20 G, 9 A)
The skinny: Eight seniors have moved on, many of them familiar names atop the stat sheet for State College in recent years. The offense should be okay with plenty of firepower returning after slipping 96 pucks across the red line in ’10-’11. The real question will be who takes over for Abruzzo between the pipes. MacKenley Ross was last year’s backup, but he saw very limited action, so hard to say at this writing whether he is the guy or the Little Lions have somebody new waiting in the wings.
Norwin Knights
2010-11 record: 8-11-1; T-2nd Section 4
2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals
Key departures: Neil Stewart (14 G, 21 A)
Key projected returns: Dan Merz (23 G, 17 A); Marc Swankler (16 G, 9 A)
The skinny: 77 goals scored and 78 allowed – this is how a team finishes below .500, and really, it’s impressive the Knights won a playoff round considering those numbers. Still, Norwin has plenty coming back this year to make improving all of those marks a realistic endeavor. Stewart will be missed, but Merz and Swankler should be more than capable of filling the void. The real question mark is the defense, not to mention the goaltending of Ryan Boccabella and Scott Cromling. Having watched them play, the talent of both conflicts with their numbers from a year ago. If both play to their full potential, though, look out for this bunch.
Hempfield Spartans
2010-11 record: 8-11-1; T-2nd Section 4
2010-11 playoffs: Lost in First Round
Key departures: Kyle Rosendale (45 G, 24 A); Nate Gerger (13 G, 26 A)
Key projected returns: Clay Plyler (23 G, 16 A); Austin Williams (4 G, 17 A)
The skinny: You have to love Hempfield hockey – always dynamic offensively, but yet to find an elite goaltender to push them over the top. Tightening up the defense will probably be on everyone’s minds more than usual, though, without Rosendale around to distract everyone with his world class talent. Plyler should be able to keep the Spartans scoring, even if not into triple digits. No, the focus needs to be on letting in far less than 118 to win in this section.
Penn-Trafford Warriors
2010-11 record: 7-12-1; 4th Section 4
2010-11 playoffs: Did not qualify
Key departures: Anthony Swanstrom (6 G, 7 A); Chris Corrales (6 G, 6 A)
Key projected returns: Dan Maier (24 G, 17 A); Conlan Sodrosky (13 G, 16 A)
The skinny: Offensively, this team should be able to win hockey games. Maier and Sodrosky form quite a duo, and Penn-Trafford lost nobody to graduation who made a significant offensive contribution. As with many of the teams below .500, defense is where the Warriors need to improve as 100 goals allowed will attest. Michael Cheswick has the skill set to improve on his numbers from last year, and he may have no choice if his squad wants to flip its position in the standings. Teams in this section can score, so defense and goaltending will make the difference.
That wraps up our Class AAA preview, but we still have three more to go, so check back next Monday as we delve into Class AA. The exclusive home for the 2012 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!
Tags: Bethel Park, Butler, Canon-McMillan, Erie McDowell, Fox Chapel, Hempfield, Upper St. Clair
