PIHL Notebook – 01/19/2015

By: Bruce Markey
Monday, January 19, 2015 | 6:02 PM

Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. First up, “Melting the Ice” provides your weekly thermometer of streaking teams around the league. Meanwhile, this week’s “Scoreboard Watch” includes some offense-heavy overtime battles in Class AAA and Class A. Last but not least, we round things out with a preview four-pack of upcoming MSA broadcasts, including a key matchup for Hometown Broadcast member school Blackhawk in Class B. So, let’s light the lamp on this edition of “PIHL Notebook.”

MELTING THE ICE (Records listed indicate current unbeaten streak):

Class AAA: Peters Township (6-0-1); Butler (5-0-2); Mount Lebanon (3-0-0); North Allegheny (3-0-0)

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

Class A: Quaker Valley (14-0-1); Mars (6-0-0); Bishop McCort (3-0-0); Franklin Regional (3-0-0)

Class B: Harbor Creek (12-0-0)

Class C: Carrick Carrick (14-0-0); OLSH (5-0-0)

SCOREBOARD WATCH:

Class AAA

1/15/15 – Mount Lebanon 2-2-0=4, Pittsburgh Central Catholic 2-1-0=3 … In a game heard on these airwaves, the Blue Devils (8-7-1) defeated the Vikings (4-9-2) on a shorthanded goal from Reed Farber at 14:55 of the second period, Farber also scored at even strength in the first and set up a George Farrell power play goal early in the second. Ryan Kingerski contributed one power play goal and one assist to the losing effort. Both Joel Kirshner of Lebo and Nate Cava of Central made 28 saves, but the winning team mustered one extra shot (32-31) that made the difference in the game.

Class AA

1/15/15 – Armstrong 1-3-1-1=6, North Hills 3-1-1-0=5 (OT) … The River Hawks (8-3-0) lost the first period to the Indians (6-7-0) 3-1 then took the second by the same margin. North Hills got a goal from Brett Berner at 11:42 of the third, but Joshua Oliver tied it back up in dramatic fashion with three seconds left in regulation. That set the stage for Christian Miller to win it for Armstrong at 4:04 of overtime. It was part of a four-point night (2 G, 2 A) for Miller. The Hawks also got two points apiece from Luke Gross (2 G), Oliver (1 G, 1 A) and Jacob Snyder (2 A). Berner ended the night with two points (1 G, 1 A), but Gannon Warrick led the Indians with three (1 G, 2 A).

Class A

1/15/15 – South Fayette 2-2-4-1=9, Greensburg Salem 4-1-3-0=-8 (OT) … The Lions (4-10-0) survived a four-goal surge by the Golden Lions (4-10-0) in the first period, outscored them 4-3 in the third before winning it in overtime in what was surely a memorable night for all involved. Jake Stack’s hat trick included two power play goals, the last one being the winner just 41 seconds into the extra period. South Fayette also got two goals plus two assists from Spencer Barber and John Lipovich. Meanwhile, Greensburg Salem got a hat trick from Vincent DeFazio along with two goals and one helper from Garrett King.

Class B

1/12/15 – Harbor Creek 2-3-0-5, Meadville 0-1-0=1 … The Huskies (12-1-0) got all the offense they would need in the first period, but tacked on three insurance goals anyway in the second to defeat the Bulldogs (6-6-1). Nick Rocco got the deciding goal at 14:30 of the first while Trevor Johnson had the lone goal for Meadville at 15:25 of the second. Zack Morris scored twice for Harbor Creek while Logan Conboy and Tyler Carr each contributed a goal and an assist. The Bulldogs took a sizeable edge in shots 41-26, but Hunter Meyette stopped 40 pucks to earn the victory.

Class C

1/15/15 – Ringgold 0-3-1=4, Elizabeth Forward 1-1-0=2 … The Rams (6-7-0) overcame a 2-0 hole by scoring four unanswered, including three in the second period, to defeat the Warriors (6-6-1) in a mild upset. Six different players scored, with the winner going to Jared Harbaugh at 15:04 of the second. Emery Anden was the only multi-point scorer, notching a goal and an assist for Ringgold, which also got 37 saves from Chris Dumond. Elizabeth Forward got lamp-lighters from Devon Quiggle and Tanner DeRosa.

UPCOMING MSA BROADCASTS

1/19/15 – Class A – Freeport Yellowjackets vs. Mars Fighting Planets AT Bladerunners in Warrendale … The Yellowjackets (10-4-1) are on a 2-0-1 run while the Planets (14-2-0) have won six straight. Mars boasts the gaudier numbers, ranking third in the class with 106 goals and second with 40 allowed. Paul Maust (21 G, 12 A) leads the attack, including five power play goals, but four other players have 21 points or more. Between the pipes, Tyler Spreng (2.43 GAA, 0.867 SV%, 3 SO) has played every minute. Freeport boasts three 30-point scorers, including Robert Reichenbaugh (9 G, 23 A) and Stone Haberstroh (18 G, 13 A). The goaltending has been a three-person rotation, with Matt Houston (4-1-0, 2.91 GAA, 0.920 SV%) posting the best stats. The Planets dominated the previous meeting 6-1 on October 16, outshooting the Jackets 44-9. Six different players scored in the win, and Charles Osborne set up half of them. The puck drops at 8:30 PM with Josh Rowntree and Mark Schaas on the call while Scott Majesky mans the camera.

1/20/15 – Class A – South Park Eagles vs. Franklin Regional Panthers AT Center Ice in Delmont … The Eagles (11-4-0), boasting the number four offense in the class with 104 goals, are coming off back-to-back wins and 4-1-0 in their last five. The Panthers (9-5-0) have the same five-game mark and are winners of three straight. Kirk Zandier (21 G, 18 A) and Tyler Gerhold (23 G, 10 A) lead a dynamic South Park attack and have combined for 11 power play tallies. Zach Bearley (16 G, 10 A) leads Franklin Regional, getting plenty of support from Dakota McIntyre (11 G, 9 A) and Ethan Bennett (9 G, 11 A), including four man-advantage markers for McIntyre. The Eagles won the last meeting 6-2 on October 23, getting three points each from Zandier (2 G, 1 A), Gerhold (2 G, 1 A) and Tanner Orr (1 G, 2 A). The Panthers got one goal and one assist from both McIntyre and Bearley, but were outshot 29-16. The puck drops at 7:30 PM with Adam Gusky and Sean Meyers on the call while Scott Majesky mans the camera.

1/22/15 – Class AAA – North Allegheny Tigers vs. Bethel Park Black Hawks AT Bethel Park Arena … The Tigers (11-2-2) have won three in a row while the Blackhawks (9-5-1) are coming off a loss, but are 3-2-0 in their last five contests. This will be a defensive battle, with North Allegheny tied for first in the class with 27 goals allowed while Bethel Park’s 32 ranks second. The one-two punch of Joe Hubert (5-2-2, 1.74 GAA, 0.929 SV%, 1 SO) and Douglas Wild (6-0-0, 1.82 GAA, 0.917 SV%, 2 SO) leads the NA defense while the combo of Erik Chidester (8 G, 14 A) and Dawson Richard (6 G, 15 A) paces the attack. For BP, William Lowe (2.11 GAA, 0.906 SV%) has been the only goaltender while Louie McLinden (9 G, 8 A) leads a quartet of double-digit scorers. The two teams forged a 1-1 tie on November 24. North Allegheny got its goal from Tyler Wilson and Hubert stopped 21 shots while Bethel Park’s Anthony Esposito got the tying goal and Lowe made 33 saves. The puck drops at 7:00 PM with Scott Majesky and Lou Rood on the call while Jess Levo mans the camera.

1/22/15 – Class B – Indiana Little Indians vs. Blackhawk Cougars AT Beaver County Ice … The Little Indians (9-3-2) are 2-2-1 in their last five games, but have lost two in a row. Meanwhile, the Cougars (7-5-0) are 5-1-0 in their last six outings. Indiana has gotten it done mostly with offense, placing second in the class with 63 goals, led by Luke Lewansowski (17 G, 12 A) and Thomas Petro (4 G, 18 A). Defensively, Zane McElheny (2.61 GAA, 0.896 SV%, 1 SO) has been the iron man in net. For Blackhawk, its second-ranked defense remains the story, thanks in large part to Corey Steinle (2.82 GAA, 0.917 SV%, 1 SO). Up front, Grant Rombold (11 G, 9 A) continues to lead the way. The Cougars won the previous meeting 3-2 back on October 22, getting the winner plus one assist from Rombold and 37 saves from Steinle while the Little Indians saw Patrick O’Neal score twice and McElheny stop 28 shots. The puck drops at 6:45 PM with Adam Hoerner and Mike Azadian 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 guest host Sean Meyers host another episode of “The PIHL Power Play” this Wednesday night at 8:00. Joining us this week will be Peters Township head coach Rick Tingle along with a member of the PIHL brass to discuss this year’s All-Star event at RMU Island Sports Center on Sunday, February 8. Your home for the 2015 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!