PIHL Notebook – 02/15/2015

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, February 2, 2015 | 3:29 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 playoff bracket shuffling in Class AAA and a scare for the top seed in Class AA. Last but not least, we round things out with a preview a five-pack of upcoming MSA broadcasts, including marquee matchups in Class AAA and Class A. So, let’s light the lamp on this edition of “PIHL Notebook.”

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

Class AAA: North Allegheny (5-0-1); Canon-McMillan (3-0-0); Bethel Park (2-0-1)

Class AA: Erie Cathedral Prep (7-0-0); Armstrong (5-0-1); Bishop Canevin (4-0-0); Latrobe (4-0-0)

Class A: Quaker Valley (14-0-1); Franklin Regional (5-0-0); Bishop McCort (4-0-0); Montour (4-0-0); Keystone Oaks (3-0-0)

Class B: Harbor Creek (15-0-0)

Class C: Carrick (15-0-0)

SCOREBOARD WATCH:

Class AAA

1/26/15 – Pittsburgh Central Catholic 3-1-2=6, Pine-Richland 0-4-0=4 … The Rams (6-10-1) exploded for four goals in the second period to force a tie at intermission, but the Vikings (6-10-2) took the third frame 2-0 to vault over Pine-Richland into the eighth spot in the playoff bracket, at least for now. The winner went to Jake Tepe, who also picked up two assists, on the power play at 10:45 of the third. Pittsburgh Central also got two-point efforts from Sam DeLucia (2 G), Ryan Haag (1 G, 1 A), Ryan Kingerski (1 G, 1 A) and Antonio Misiti (2 A). Nat Carnovale (2 G, 1 PP, 1 A) and Matt Cole (1 G, 2 A) each registered three points for the Rams while Ben Meyer chipped in two helpers. Winning goaltender Kevin Dziubek made 33 saves with his team being outshot 37-27.

Class AA

1/29/15 – Erie Cathedral Prep 0-1-3=4, Moon 1-1-0=3 … The Ramblers (13-2-0) erased 1-0 and 2-1 deficits while exploding for three third-period goals, avoiding an upset by the Tigers (10-4-0). Luke James scored at even strength and Josh Scott struck with the man advantage for Moon, which also got 37 saves from Ryan Durkin. Prep got the winner from Joe Sala at 3:30 of the final frame while two-point efforts came from Doran Okon (1 G, 1 A), Jacob Schlosser (2 A) and Steve Ziegler (2 A).

Class A

1/29/15 – Serra Catholic 2-3-2=7, Greensburg Salem 2-1-1=4 … After a 2-2 first period, the Eagles (6-11-0) took the second 3-1, which prove enough to hold off the Golden Lions (4-12-0). Thomas Werner’s four goals included a power play marker and the even strength winner at 12:55 of the second. Michael Ulishney also dished out three assists for Serra while Ian Ritchie stopped 35 shots. Cole Bier (1 G, 2 A) and Garrett King (2 A) keyed the Salem attack.

Class B

1/27/15 – Beaver 2-0-2=4, Blackhawk 2-0-0=2 … The Bobcats (8-7-0) saw Andrew Begley break open a 2-2 tie that stood for over 30 minutes of hockey time at the 9:17 mark of period three. John Cahill’s second of the night three minutes later sealed a mild upset victory over the Cougars (9-6-0). Also scoring for Beaver was Ryan Hartman while Devon Gabauer and Grant Rombold lit the lamp for Blackhawk. Hartman added two assists to his ledger while Begley and Cahill each set up a goal. Both goalies were busy with Corey Steinle stopping 35 shots despite the loss and Robbie Halvin making 29 saves to earn the win.

Class C

1/29/15 – Wheeling Central Catholic 1-0-1-0=2, Ringgold 0-1-1-0=2 (OT) … The Maroon Knights (3-6-2) led 1-0 after one period. The Rams (6-7-1) tied it before intermission and led midway through the third, but Benjamin Duplaga got the tying goal with just 2:31 to play in regulation. Alex Nageli scored both Ringgold goals, and Cole Crownover made 35 saves. Kyle Weissel set up both Wheeling Central goals, and Gus Heath stopped 30 pucks.

UPCOMING MSA BROADCASTS

2/2/15 – Class AAA – Peters Township Indians vs. Butler Golden Tornado AT Ice Connection in Valencia … The Indians (13-3-1) are coming off a loss, but are 3-2-0 in their last five games. Zach Gielarowski (11 G, 13 A) and Adam Alavi (9 G, 11 A) have starred offensively for Peters while Tony Lejeune (6-3-1, 2.46 GAA, 0.901 SV%) has played most of the minutes in net. The Golden Tornado (9-5-3) come off back-to-back losses, but went unbeaten in seven straight before that. Dustin Davis (16 G, 8 A) and Connor Scott (13 G, 11 A) have helped lead the Butler attack while Clay Bachman (8-5-2, 2.56 GAA, 0.917 SV%, 2 SO). has been the top goaltender. The previous meeting went to the Indians 3-1 on November 11 thanks to a three-goal third period for Peters. Brady Cochrane (1 G, 1 A) and Carter Ekberg (2 A) each contributed two points to the victory. Both winning goalie Lejeune and Bachman made 30 saves. The puck drops at 7:10 PM with Steve Nagler and Lee Mohn on the call.

2/3/15 – Class AAA – Mount Lebanon Blue Devils vs. Canon-McMillan Big Macs AT Ice-O-Plex at Southpointe … The Blue Devils (8-8-1) are coming off a loss, but have gone 3-2-0 in their last five. George Farrell (12 G, 15 A) and Reed Farber (12 G, 14 A) have starred for Lebo up front while Joel Kirschner (5-7-0, 2.98 GAA, 0.892 SV%, 1 SO) has been the lead backstop. The Big Macs (10-6-1), as pointed out above, have recently enjoyed a hat trick of victories. Luc Lavella (11 G, 15 A) and Austin Tonkovich (16 G, 9 A) have headlined the offensive effort for Canon-Mac while Conor Hartnett (8-4-1, 2.38 GAA, 0.902 SV%, 2 SO) has played most the minutes between the pipes. The Big Macs dominated the first meeting 6-0 on November 10. Tonkovich buried four goals, including one on the power play, and added one assist while Hartnett made 16 saves to earn the shutout. The puck drops at 7:00 PM with Matt Vandriak and Brandon Showers on the call while Jess Levo mans the camera.

2/5/15 – Class AAA – Peters Township Indians vs. North Allegheny Tigers AT Bladerunners in Warrendale … We already brought you up to speed on the Indians above. As for the Tigers (13-2-3), also as noted above, they are enjoying a six-game unbeaten streak. Erik Chidester (9 G, 16 A) and Dawson Richard (7 G, 15 A) currently lead what has been a team effort offensively for North Allegheny while Joe Hubert (7-2-3, 1.79 GAA, 0.925 SV%, 1 SO) has played enough minutes you can call him the number one man in a very solid goalie tandem. The Tigers won the previous meeting 2-1 on November 18 with Joe Zappia getting the winner at 13:26 of the third period. Hubert managed to outdo Tony Lejeune 23 saves to 20. The puck drops at 8:00 PM with Bob Orkwis and Mark Schaas on the call while Scott Majesky mans the camera.

2/5/15 – Class A – Mars Fighting Planets vs. Quaker Valley Quakers AT Airport Ice Arena … The Planets (15-3-1) are enjoying a 3-1-1 stretch while the Quakers (15-1-1)…well, they have been nothing short of dominant this season. Paul Maust (24 G, 15 A) and Kyle Thomas (13 G, 22 A) have both topped 30 points for Mars while Tyler Spreng (2.56 GAA, 0.867 SV%, 3 SO) has been the iron man backstop. For Quaker Valley, Adam Pilewicz (32 G, 46 A) and Connor Quinn (35 G, 39 A) continue to lead the league in scoring while Parker Sherry (9-1-0, 1.52 GAA, 0.927 SV%, 4 SO) is still doing what he does best at the other end. The Quakers took the last meeting in this epic rivalry 6-3 on December 4, with Quinn setting up Pilewicz for the shorthanded winner at 16:08 of the second stanza. Those two combined for 10 points (5 G, 5 A) on the night while Sherry made 20 saves with his team actually outshot. The puck drops at 8:30 PM with Gero Von Dahn and Lee Mohn on the call.

2/5/15 – Class AAA – Butler Golden Tornado vs. Mount Lebanon Blue Devils AT Mount Lebanon Ice Arena … Since we already broke down both teams’ current events above, all we have left to do is mention the previous outing, which ended 1-0 in favor of Mount Lebanon on November 17 thanks to a power play goal for Garrett Garlick midway through the first period. Ryan Wessbecher was by far the busier goaltender, making 27 saves to earn the shutout, while Clay Bachman stopped 19 shots in the loss. The puck drops at 9:10 PM with Adam Hoerner and Josh Rowntree 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” this Wednesday night at 8:00. Joining us this week will be Shaler forward Alexander Ficorilli and Pittsburgh Central Catholic head coach William Connelly. Your home for the 2015 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!