PIHL Notebook – 03/02/2015

By: Bruce Markey
Monday, March 2, 2015 | 1:24 PM

Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. This week we break the regular format, and with good reason with the 2015 Penguins Cup and PIHL Division II Playoffs beginning tonight. Where, when and against whom is your favorite team playing? Which players should you keep an eye on in each game? Fear not, we have your questions answered below in encapsulated form. So, let’s light the lamp on this special playoff preview edition of “PIHL Notebook.”

Class AAA Penguins Cup Playoffs

QUARTERFINALS:

3/2/15 – #1 North Allegheny Tigers (16-2-4) vs. #8 Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (8-12-2) @ BladeRunners Warrendale at 6:30 PM

Leading Scorers – NA: Erik Chidester (15 G, 16 A); PCC: Jake Tepe (14 G, 13 A)

Probable Goaltenders – NA: Joe Hubert (9-2-4, 1.88 GAA, 0.920 SV%, 2 SO); PCC: Kevin Dziubek (6-8-0, 5.03 GAA, 0.856 SV%)

Previous Meeting(s) – 11/10/14: NA 1, PCC 0; 2/3/15: NA 6, PCC 3

3/3/15 – #4 Canon-McMillan Big Macs (14-7-1) vs. #5 Seneca Valley Raiders (13-9-0) @ Iceoplex at Southpointe at 5:45 PM

Leading Scorers – CM: Austin Tonkovich (21 G, 14 A); SV: Alexander Crilley (16 G, 15 A)

Probable Goaltenders – CM: Conor Hartnett (11-5-1, 2.37 GAA, 0.901 SV%, 3 SO); SV: Alyssa Peterson (9-9-0, 2.41 GAA, 0.910 SV%)

Previous Meeting(s) – 10/6/14: CM 6, SV 2; 12/18/14: SV 4, CM 1

3/3/15 – #2 Peters Township Indians (16-4-2) vs. #7 Upper St. Clair Panthers (10-11-1) @ Iceoplex at Southpointe at 7:45 PM

Leading Scorers – PT: Zach Gielarowski (13 G, 18 A); USC: Austin Cassidy (30 G, 18 A)

Probable Goaltenders – PT: Tony Lejeune (8-3-2, 2.41 GAA, 0.905 SV%); USC: Adam Seeton (9-9-1, 3.01 GAA, 0.863 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 10/14/14: PT 4, USC 1; 12/15/14: PT 6, USC 3

3/3/15 – #3 Bethel Park Black Hawks (14-6-2) vs. #6 Butler Golden Tornado (11-8-3) @ Bethel Park YMCA at 7:00 PM

Leading Scorers – BP: Louie McLinden (14 G, 14 A); BU: Dustin Davis (21 G, 11 A)

Probable Goaltenders – BP: William Lowe (14-6-2, 2.01 GAA, 0.905 SV%); BU: Clay Bachman (10-6-2, 2.79 GAA, 0.909 SV%, 2 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 11/3/14: BU 4, BP 3; 1/23/15: BP 5, BU 2

Class AA Penguins Cup Playoffs

FIRST ROUND:

3/2/15 – E4 Latrobe Wildcats (10-8-1) vs. W5 West Allegheny Indians (7-10-2) @ BladeRunners Harmarville at 7:30 PM

Leading Scorers – LA: Brendan Johns (26 G, 17 A); WA: Ryan Rohm (11 G, 13 A)

Probable Goaltenders – LA: Timothy Ruppen (10-7-1, 3.84 GAA, 0.869 SV%, 1 SO); WA: Anthony Dominick (7-9-2, 3.47 GAA, 0.885 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 12/4/14: LA 2, WA 1

*Winner plays W1 Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers (17-2-0) @ Erie Insurance Arena on 3/3/15 at 8:15 PM*

3/2/15 – W4 North Hills Indians (9-10-0) vs. E5 Fox Chapel Foxes (8-9-2) @ BladeRunners Warrendale at 8:30 PM

Leading Scorers – NH: Brett Berner (34 G, 22 A); FC: Jonathan Rice & Ben Friedland (17 G, 16 A each)

Probable Goaltenders – NH: Kaden Mahsoob (5-8-0, 3.67 GAA, 0.886 SV%); FC: Chad Veltri (5-6-2, 3.78 GAA, 0.884 SV%)

Previous Meeting(s) – 11/18/14: FC 6, NH 4

*Winner plays E1 Shaler Titans (15-3-0) @ BladeRunners Harmarville on 3/3/15 at 7:00 PM*

QUARTERFINALS:

3/3/15 – E2 Hampton Talbots (14-3-1) vs. W3 Bishop Canevin Crusaders (10-9-0) @ BladeRunners Harmarville at 9:00 PM

Leading Scorers – HA: Ethan Homitz (21 G, 10 A); BC: Blaine Adams (17 G, 25 A)

Probable Goaltenders – HA: Salvatore Commendatore (11-3-0, 2.58 GAA, 0.901 SV%, 2 SO); BC: Neko Borghini (10-9-0, 4.32 GAA, 0.816 SV%, 2 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 1/5/15: BC 4, HA 2

3/4/15 – W2 Moon Tigers (13-6-0) vs. E3 Armstrong River Hawks (14-4-1) @ Airport Ice Arena at 8:30 PM

Leading Scorers – MN: Nick Hart (7 G, 14 A); AR: Christian Miller (39 G, 23 A)

Probable Goaltenders – MN: Ryan Durkin (13-6-0, 2.36 GAA, 0.916 SV%, 3 SO); AR: Taylor Smouse (14-3-1, 3.40 GAA, 0.861 SV%)

Previous Meeting(s) – 12/4/14: MN 4, AR 2

Class A Penguins Cup Playoffs

FIRST ROUND:

3/2/15 – T1E4 Westmont Hilltop Hilltoppers (8-13-0) vs. T2E1 Franklin Regional Panthers (16-6-0) @ Kirk S. Nevin Arena at 9:15 PM

Leading Scorers – WH: Stephen DeMarco (22 G, 26 A); FR: Zach Bearley (21 G, 18 A)

Probable Goaltenders – WH: David Cavrak (8-9-0, 5.35 GAA, 0.782 SV%); FR: Nicholas Paone (11-3-0, 3.99 GAA, 0.851 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 12/16/15: WH 6, FR 5

*Winner plays T1W1 Quaker Valley Quakers (19-1-1) @ Airport Ice Arena on 3/4/15 at 6:30 PM*

3/2/15 – T1W3 Thomas Jefferson Jaguars (13-9-0) vs. T2W2 South Fayette Lions (8-14-0) @ Mt. Lebanon Ice Center at 7:10 PM

Leading Scorers – TJ: Tommy Kimmick (34 G, 11 A); SF: Jordan Timmons (31 G, 12 A)

Probable Goaltenders – TJ: Jordan Blosl (13-9-0, 4.66 GAA, 0.849 SV%, 1 SO); SF: Kyle Sharp (5-13-0, 6.81 GAA, 0.792 SV%)

Previous Meeting(s) – 11/20/14: TJ 5, SF 0

*Winner plays T1E2 Hempfield Spartans (15-6-1) @ Kirk S. Nevin Arena on 3/4/15 at 7:15 PM*

3/2/15 – T1W4 Montour Spartans (13-9-0) vs. T2W1 South Park Eagles (16-6-0) @ Mt. Lebanon Ice Center at 9:10 PM

Leading Scorers – MR: Brandon Eisel (15 G, 9 A); SP: Kirk Zandier (25 G, 29 A)

Probable Goaltenders – MR: Jake Muzik (13-9-0, 3.18 GAA, 0.884 SV%, 1 SO); SP: Shane Walker (11-5-0, 4.18 GAA, 0.812 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 11/20/14: SP 7, MR 3

*Winner plays T1E1 Deer Lakes Lancers (15-5-1) @ Ice Connection on 3/4/15 at 6:10 PM*

3/2/15 – T1E3 Freeport Yellowjackets (12-8-2) vs. T2E2 Bishop McCort Crimson Crushers (13-9-0) @ Kirk S. Nevin Arena at 7:15 PM

Leading Scorers – FR: Hunter Kepple (23 G, 20 A); BM: Connor Bunn (31 G, 15 A)

Probable Goaltenders – FR: Matt Houston (5-3-2, 3.22 GAA, 0.908 SV%); BM: John Bradley (13-9-0, 3.37 GAA, 0.892 SV%, 3 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 11/6/14: FR 4, BM 3

*Winner plays T1W2 Mars Planets (17-4-1) @ BladeRunners Warrendale on 3/4/15 at 8:00 PM*

PIHL Division II Playoffs

FIRST ROUND:

3/5/15 – C1 Carrick Cougars (20-0-0) vs. C2 Wheeling Central Catholic Maroon Knights (12-6-2) @ Airport Ice Arena at 6:30 PM

Leading Scorers – CA: Anthony Manuel (34 G, 31 A); WCC: Benjamin Duplaga (22 G, 25 A)

Probable Goaltenders – CA: Nathan Norkevicus (10-0-0, 0.50 GAA, 0.962 SV%, 6 SO); WCC: Gus Heath (10-4-2, 4.43 GAA, 0.815 SV%)

Previous Meeting(s) – 10/30/14: CA 14, WCC 0; 12/16/14: CA 12, WCC 1

*Winner plays B1 Harbor Creek Huskies (18-2-0) @ Erie Insurance Arena on 3/10/15 at 8:15 PM*

3/5/15 – B7 Peters Township Indians (9-11-0) vs. C3 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers (10-10-0) @ Airport Ice Arena at 8:30 PM

Leading Scorers – PT: Conner Gielarowski (9 G, 14 A); OLSH: Tyler Cerankowski (9 G, 10 A)

Probable Goaltenders – PT: Wesley Kaylor (8-9-0, 2.99 GAA, 0.873 SV%, 1 SO); OLSH Jesse Broniszewski (8-9-0, 5.12 GAA, 0.862 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – N/A

*Winner plays B2 Indians Little Indians (13-5-2) @ S&T Bank Arena on 3/11/15 at 7:00 PM

QUARTERFINALS:

3/9/15 – B4 Meadville Bulldogs (11-8-1) vs. B5 Blackhawk Cougars (11-9-0) @ Meadville Area Rec Center at 7:15 PM

Leading Scorers – ME: Bryan Ray (17 G, 12 A); BL: Grant Rombold (23 G, 15 A)

Probable Goaltenders – Sam Kineston (6-6-1, 3.15 GAA, 0.808 SV%, 2 SO); BL: Corey Steinle (11-9-0, 2.70 GAA, 0.922 SV%, 2 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 12/11/14: BL 6, ME 3; 1/19/15: BL 6, ME 3; 2/23/15: ME 5, BL 1

3/9/15 – B3 Beaver Bobcats (12-8-0) vs. B6 Morgantown Mohigans (9-10-1) @ Brady’s Run Ice Arena at 8:00 PM

Leading Scorers – BE: Ryan Hartman (12 G, 20 A); MO: Kienan Battin (23 G, 12 A)

Probable Goaltenders – BE: Robbie Halvin (8-5-0, 2.45 GAA, 0.930 SV%, 1 SO); MO: Jacob Hough (7-9-1, 2.86 GAA, 0.912 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 10/16/14: BE 5, MO 1; 1/8/15: BE 4, MO 1

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 a special night this Thursday night at 8:00. Guests this week to be determined based on opening round playoff results, but rest assured we will have you covered in recapping all the action and previewing what lies ahead. Your home for the 2015 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!