PIHL Notebook – 2014-2015 Class AA Preview

By: Bruce Markey
Monday, October 13, 2014 | 4:22 PM

Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook” as we continue our full team-by-team preview. Last week we took you inside every team in Class AAA. This week it’s time for Class AA to take center stage.

Just like Class AAA, there are no divisions. Unlike AAA, there are two conferences. The West appears to be the more stacked of the two, with defending champion Bishop Canevin, last year’s runner-up Erie Cathedral Prep and 2014 Open Cup winner Baldwin headlining things. In the East, last year’s semifinalists, Armstrong and Hampton, will look to reload and take the final step to Consol Energy Center. They will be joined, among others, by three former Class AAA teams in Fox Chapel, Norwin and Shaler. Which team will be the last one standing in March? The next 20-plus games will provide the answer.

(Teams listed in order of 2013-14 winning percentage)

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

Bishop Canevin Crusaders

2013-14 Record: 20-2-0, 40 PTS

2013-14 Team Stats: 145 GF, 45 GA, 314 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Won Penguins Cup; Lost Pennsylvania Cup

2013-14 Three Stars: Randy Unger (27 G, 48 A); Alec Bosnic (18 G, 23 A); Nikita Meskin (20-2-0, 2.03 GAA, 0.915 SV%, 4 SO)

Baldwin Highlanders

2013-14 Record: 18-1-1, 37 PTS

2013-14 Team Stats: 196 GF, 42 GA, 256 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Won Chiefs Cup & Open Cup

2013-14 Three Stars: Anthony Alaimo (25 G, 34 A); Brian Dee (36 G, 18 A); Matt Yauch (16-1-1, 2.22 GAA, 0.856 SV%, 3 SO)

Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers

2013-14 Record: 16-4-2, 34 PTS

2013-14 Team Stats: 144 GF, 65 GA, 477 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Lost in Final

2013-14 Three Stars: Ben Eliason (23 G, 39 A); Trevor Faulkner (18 G, 32 A); Grant Kennedy (16-4-2, 2.84 GAA, 0.883 SV%, 1 SO)

Chartiers Valley Colts

2013-14 Record: 11-11-0, 22 PTS

2013-14 Team Stats: 115 GF, 99 GA, 369 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals

2013-14 Three Stars: Anthony Franks (33 G, 36 A); Cullen McMahon (31 G, 28 A); Tyler Stevenson (9 G, 16 A)

North Hills Indians

2013-14 Record: 10-12-0, 20 PTS

2013-14 Team Stats: 88 GF, 100 GA, 276 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Lost In Quarterfinals

2013-14 Three Stars: Brett Berner (23 G, 22 A); Tyler Volz (24 G, 9 A); Tyler Heisel (13 G, 9 A)

West Allegheny Indians

2013-14 Record: 7-15-0, 14 PTS

2013-14 Team Stats: 85 GF, 93 GA, 404 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Did not qualify

2013-14 Three Stars: Jess Ligas (17 G, 26 A); Sean Weber (14 G, 21 A); Paul Hughes (12 G, 9 A)

Moon Tigers

2013-14 Record: 5-16-1, 11 PTS

2013-14 Team Stats: 72 GF, 112 GA, 326 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Did not qualify

2013-14 Three Stars: Dustin Egenlauf (15 G, 13 A); Brendan Walkom (15 G, 7 A); Alexander Ottaviani (7 G, 15 A)
 

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

Armstrong River Hawks

2013-14 Record: 16-5-1, 33 PTS

2013-14 Team Stats: 130 GF, 83 GA, 358 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Lost in Semifinals

2013-14 Three Stars: Hunter Grafton (21 G, 41 A); Christian Miller (46 G, 15 A); Cody Toy (4 G, 22 A)

Hampton Talbots

2013-14 Record: 13-8-1, 27 PTS

2013-14 Team Stats: 106 GF, 71 GA, 333 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Lost in Semifinals

2013-14 Three Stars: Zach Kosick (25 G, 16 A); Ethan Homitz (18 G, 18 A); Cameron Raidna (13-7-1, 3.02 GAA, 0.892 SV%, 4 SO)

Plum Mustangs

2013-14 Record: 12-7-3, 27 PTS

2013-14 Team Stats: 93 GF, 77 GA, 226 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals

2013-14 Three Stars: Joe Randazzo (36 G, 25 A); David Stonebraker (27 G, 21 A); James Borriello (11-5-1, 2.92 GAA, 0.900 SV%, 2 SO)

Latrobe Wildcats

2013-14 Record: 11-8-3, 25 PTS

2013-14 Team Stats: 103 GF, 93 GA, 395 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals

2013-14 Three Stars: Chris Johnson (24 G, 25 A); Adam Ferguson (19 G, 19 A); Brendan Johns (17 G, 12 A)

Shaler Titans

2013-14 Record: 6-14-0, 12 PTS (Class AAA_)

2013-14 Team Stats: 85 GF, 143 GA, 379 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Did not qualify

2013-14 Three Stars: Luke Grossman (15 G, 18 A); Austin Martz (13 G, 12 A); Steven Stayduhar (13 G, 8 A)

Fox Chapel Foxes

2013-14 Record: 4-16-0, 8 PTS (Class AAA)

2013-14 Team Stats: 58 GF, 149 GA, 200 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Did not qualify

2013-14 Three Stars: Anthony Veltri (23 G, 14 A); Benjamin Friedland (14 G, 21 A); Jasper Uricchio (6 G, 10 A)

Norwin Knights

2013-14 Record: 2-18-0, 4 PTS (Class AAA)

2013-14 Team Stats: 50 GF, 160 GA, 150 PIM

2013-14 Playoffs: Did not qualify

2013-14 Three Stars: Dante Youhon (13 G, 11 A); Timothy Palmer (11 G, 9 A); Jon Shirley (11 G, 4 A)

And with that, we are halfway through our 2014-15 PIHL season preview. Check back next Monday for a look at the landscape in Class A. Your home for the 2015 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!

Tags: Armstrong, Baldwin, Bishop Canevin, Chartiers Valley, Erie Cathedral Prep, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Latrobe, West Allegheny