PIHL Notebook – 01/11/2016

By: Bruce Markey
Monday, January 11, 2016 | 2:02 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 a rematch of last year’s Class AAA championship game, some offensive fireworks in Class AA and an upset in Class A. Last but not least, we round things out with a preview of upcoming MSA broadcasts, including a cross-conference showdown in Class AA and a cross-classification match-up in Division 2. So, let’s light the lamp on this edition of “PIHL Notebook.”

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

Class AAA: Butler (4-0-0), Pittsburgh Central Catholic (3-0-1); North Allegheny (3-0-0)

Class AA: Mars (5-0-0); Armstrong (3-0-0); Baldwin (3-0-0)

Class A: Montour (8-0-1); South Fayette (2-0-1)

Division 2: Beaver (9-0-0); Kennedy Catholic (4-0-0); Meadville (4-0-0)

SCOREBOARD WATCH:

Class AAA

1/5/16 – The Big Macs (6-4-3) bested the Golden Tornado (8-2-1) for the 2015 Penguins Cup, but the Butler has Canon- McMillan’s number this season, besting them for the second time thanks to an explosive third period. It was close through the first 34 minutes with the score tied 2-2 at intermission, but Sam Gross buried the winner just 2:55 into the final frame, and his mates added the insurance from there. Gross also struck on the power play early in the game while Conner Scott (1 G, 1 A) and Trevor Gilliland (3 A) also managed multiple points. Butler doubled up Canon McMillan in shots 41-21, and Zach Schnur’s 19 saves were enough to earn the win.

Class AA

1/7/16 – Armstrong 8, Quaker Valley 6 … The River Hawks (12-3-0) took the first period 3-1, and that deficit was enough to hold off the Quakers (9-6-0), who matched them goal for goal in the second and third. Credit Luke Gross (4 G, 1 PP, 2 A) with the winner with just 1:56 to play in the contest. Jace Rearic (2 G) and Nicholas Long (1 G, 2 A) also contributed multiple points for Armstrong. Connor Quinn paced Quaker Valley with four points (2 G, 2 A) while teammates Ryan Quinn, Peter Hall, Ricardo Fernandez, and Beau Tomczak each contributed one goal and one assist. The River Hawks took a 32-20 edge in shots and never trailed in the contest.

Class A

1/4/16 – Gateway 4, South Park 2 … A hat trick from Jordan Robbins, including the winner at 2:04 of period three, powered the Gators (2-12-0) past the Eagles (7-7-0). William McAllister helped set up two of those goals while Hunter Lanetz (1 G, 1 A) factored into both South Park goals. Shots were dead even at 38 apiece with Cameron Balistrieri stopping 36 pucks for Gateway.

Division 2

1/7/16 – Indiana 9, Central Valley 2 … The Indians (7-6-0) exploded for five goals in the first period, and by the time Cameron Drake got the Warriors (7-7-0) on the board at 4:41 of the third period with a power play goal, it was 7-1 at that point in the hockey game. Patrick O’Neal was the man for Indiana, netting six point (3 G, 3 A), including the winner at 14:41 of the first. Jacob Clark (4 A) and Ethan Boyer (2 G, 1 SH, 1 A) were also among eight multi-point scorers in the victory. Indiana controlled the shots column 31-23, and Megan Lydick made 21 saves to notch the victory.

UPCOMING MSA BROADCASTS

1/11/16 – Class AA – Moon Tigers vs. Hampton Talbots @ Ice Connection in Valencia … The Tigers (10-3-1) are coming off a win and have gone 3-1-1 in their last five. Meanwhile, The Talbots (9-5-0) are lost their last outing, part of a 3-2-0 string. Moon boasts the number two defense in the class (36 GA) led by Ryan Durkin (9-3-1, 2.48 GAA, 0.915 SV%, 2 SO). Nicholas Hart (7 G, 2 GW, 14 A) headlines an offense featuring four other players with at least 14 points. Hampton brings the fourth-best offense in the class (75 GF) with three players north of 20 points, paced by Justin Weinbrenner (16 G, 7 PP, 1 SH, 2 GW, 12 A). The puck drops at 7:30 PM with Matt Vandriak and Mike Azadian on the call.

1/14/16 – Division 2 – Carrick Cougars vs. Elizabeth Forward Warriors @ Rostraver Ice Garden … The Cougars (10-3-0) have struggled lately, riding a 2-3-0 string, but most recently put one in the win column. Meanwhile, the Warriors (10-3-0) just saw a five-game winning streak snapped. Carrick leads Division 2 with a mere 18 goals allowed so far with Nathan Norkevicus (7-2-0, 1.44 GAA, 0.950 SV%, 3 SO) playing most of the minutes in net. Jacob Speicher (17 G, 3 PP, 1 SH, 3 GW, 10 A) leads a balanced attack with seven other players at 10 points or greater. Elizabeth Forward is second in the class with 91 goals, and Wesley Scott (32 G, 7 PP, 1 SH, 3 GW, 19 A) has factored into more than half of them. Six other players are in double figures, including Matthew Hickey (20 G, 4 PP, 1 SH, 1 GW, 15 A), while Noah Santo (8-1-0, 3.73 GAA, 0.892 SV%, 1 SO) has been the main backstop. The puck drops at 7:30 PM with Sean Meyers and Lou Rood 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, Josh Rowntree, and Kevin Zielmanski co-host a special episode of “The PIHL Power Play” this Wednesday night at 8:00. It was a smash hit last season, so we are bringing back the “All Star Selection Show” as we exclusively announce the rosters for all four games taking place on Sunday, January 31 at Beaver County Ice Arena. Plus, joining us this week will be Quaker Valley forward Connor Quinn and Serra Catholic forward Roman Kraemer. Your home for the 2016 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!