PIHL Notebook – 02/29/2016

By: Bruce Markey
Monday, February 29, 2016 | 2:57 PM

Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. Beginning this week we break the regular format, and with good reason as the 2016 Penguins Cup 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 Quarterfinals:

#1 North Allegheny Tigers (13-5-2) vs #8 Bethel Park Black Hawks (8-10-2) AT Baierl Ice Complex in Warrendale on Tuesday, March 1st at 7:00pm

Leading Scorers – NA: Erik Chidester (11 G, 3 GW, 23 A); BP: Tyler Kruszewski (12 G, 3 PP, 2 GW, 16 A)

Probable Goaltenders – NA: Joe Hubert (8-4-0, 2.85 GAA, 0.899 SV%); BP: William Lowe (7-4-1, 2.38 GAA, 0.881 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 11/23/15: NA 4, BP 1; 2/11/16: NA 5, BP 3

#4 Peters Township Indians (10-5-5) vs #5 Butler Golden Tornado (12-7-1) AT Ice-O-Plex at Southpointe on Tuesday, March 1st at 7:00pm

Leading Scorers – PT: Will Barnes (15 G, 3 PP, 2 SH, 8 A); BU: Connor Scott (18 G, 6 PP, 3 SH, 2 GW, 25 A)

Probable Goaltenders – PT: Caden Shell (10-4-4, 2.16 GAA, 0.917 SV%, 1 SO); BU: Zach Schnur (11-6-1, 2.92 GAA, 0.881 SV, 2 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 10/26/15: PT 2, BU 2; 1/19/16: PT 5, BU 1

#2 Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (12-5-3) vs #7 Canon-McMillan Big Macs (8-9-3) AT Alpha Ice Complex in Harmarville on Monday, February 29th at 7:30pm

Leading Scorers – PCC: Jake Tepe (17 G, 1 PP, 1 GW, 15 A); CM: Luke Lavella (17 G, 4 PP, 3 GW, 14 A)

Probable Goaltenders – PCC: Nathan Cava (12-5-3, 3.32 GAA, 0.910 SV%); CM: Conor Hartnett (8-9-3, 3.28 GAA, 0.895 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 11/25/15: CM 4, PCC 0; 2/9/16: PCC 5, CM 2

#3 Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers (12-5-3) vs #6 Seneca Valley Raiders (11-9-0) AT Mercyhurst Ice Center in Erie on Thursday, March 3rd at 8:30pm

Leading Scorers – ECP: Jack Becker (13 G, 2 PP, 2 GW, 13 A); SV: Alex Crilley (16 G, 4 PP, 1 SH, 5 GW, 17 A)

Probable Goaltenders – ECP: Trent Faulkner (8-2-1, 2.47 GAA, 0.909 SV%); SV: Dylan Sloat (7-3-0, 2.45 GAA, 0.912 SV%)

Previous Meeting(s) – 10/12/15: ECP 4, SV 3; 12/17/15: ECP 5, SV 4

Class AA First Round:

#8 Hampton Talbots (12-9-1) vs #9 Baldwin Highlanders (10-11-1) AT Baierl Ice Complex in Warrendale on Monday, February 29th at 7:00pm

Leading Scorers – HA: Justin Weinbrenner (23 G, 7 PP, 1 SH, 2 GW, 17 A); BA: Paul Knerr (29 G, 5 PP, 2 SH, 4 GW, 14 A)

Probable Goaltenders – HA: Connor Andrews (6-7-1, 3.80 GAA, 0.860 SV%); BA: Cole Shannon (6-7-1, 4.29 GAA, 0.838 SV%)

Previous Meeting(s) – 12/8/15: HA 5, BA 3

#7 Quaker Valley Quakers (15-7-0) vs #10 Fox Chapel Foxes (12-10-0) AT Baierl Ice Complex in Warrendale on Monday, February 29th at 9:00pm

Leading Scorers – QV: Connor Quinn (39 G, 7 PP, 4 SH, 4 GW, 38 A); FC: Ben Friedland (26 G, 3 PP, 3 SH, 6 GW, 28 A)

Probable Goaltenders – QV: Connor Gatesman (13-6-0, 3.32 GAA, 0.857 SV%); FC: Chad Veltri (12-7-0, 3.19 GAA, 0.924 SV%, 3 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 11/17/15: FC 6, QV 5

Class AA Quarterfinals:

#1 Moon Tigers (15-5-2) vs Hampton/Baldwin winner AT Airport Ice Arena on Thursday, March 3rd at 9:00pm

#4 Latrobe Wildcats (16-6-0) vs #5 Bishop Canevin Crusaders (15-6-1) AT Kirk Nevin Arena in Greensburg on Monday, February 29th at 7:15pm

Leading Scorers – LA: Brendan Johns (37 G, 7 PP, 1 SH, 5 GW, 31 A); BC: Thomas Krivak (24 G, 5 PP, 2 SH, 4 GW, 15 A)

Probable Goaltenders – LA: Ryan Pal (15-6-0, 3.14 GAA, 0.889 SV%, 3 SO); BC: Neko Borghini (9-2-1, 3.44 GAA, 0.867 SV%)

Previous Meeting(s) – 12/7/15: LA 8, BC 3

#2 Armstrong River Hawks (16-5-1) vs Quaker Valley/Fox Chapel winner AT Belmont Ice Complex in Kittanning on Thursday, March 3rd at 7:00pm

#3 Mars Fighting Planets (15-5-2) vs #6 Plum Mustangs (14-6-2) AT Baierl Ice Complex in Warrendale on Thursday, March 3rd at 8:00pm

Leading Scorers – MA: Beau Heakins (17 G, 5 PP, 1 SH, 16 A); PL: Anthony Borriello (9 G, 35 A)

Probable Goaltenders – MA: Tyler Spreng (15-5-2, 2.04 GAA, 0.899 SV%, 3 SO); PL: Nathan Puhala (11-5-1, 2.81 GAA, 0.898 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 11/30/15: PL 4, MA 1

Class A First Round:

#8 Serra Catholic Eagles (10-11-1) vs #9 South Park Eagles (9-12-1) AT Alpha Ice Complex in Harmarville on Tuesday, March 1st at 9:00pm

Leading Scorers – SC: Roman Kraemer (57 G, 8 PP, 3 SH, 5 GW, 33 A); SP: Jakob Hickey (23 G, 4 PP, 1 SH, 2 GW, 16 A)

Probable Goaltenders – SC: Tyrik Barkley (7-9-1, 4.80 GAA, 0.878 SV%, 2 SO); SP: Shane Walker (7-12-1, 5.03 GAA, 0.856 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 11/30/15: SC 7, SP 0

#7 Thomas Jefferson Jaguars (10-11-1) vs #10 Kiski Area Cavaliers (8-14-0) AT Alpha Ice Complex in Harmarville on Tuesday, March 1st at 7:00pm

Leading Scorers – TJ: Daniel Harrold (30 G, 4 PP, 3 GW, 26 A); KA: James Ayres (20 G, 2 PP, 3 SH, 3 GW, 14 A)

Probable Goaltenders – TJ: Jordan Blosl (10-11-1, 4.38 GAA, 0.854 SV%, 3 SO); KA: Alex Ferraro (8-14-0, 4.77 GAA, 0.878 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 11/30/15: TJ 6, KA 0

Class A Quarterfinals:

#1 West Allegheny Indians (20-2-0) vs Serra Catholic/South Park winner AT Airport Ice Arena on Thursday, March 3rd at 7:00pm

#4 Freeport Yellow Jackets (16-5-1) vs #5 South Fayette Lions (15-5-2) AT Belmont Ice Complex on Thursday, March 3rd at 9:00pm

Leading Scorers – FR: Robert Reichenbaugh (29 G, 6 PP, 4 SH, 1 GW, 42 A); SF: Jordan Timmons (34 G, 5 PP, 5 GW, 23 A)

Probable Goaltenders – FR: Matt Huston (6-2-0, 3.31 GAA, 0.895 SV%, 1 SO); SF: Kyle Sharp (14-5-2, 3.50 GAA, 0.855 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 12/18/15: FR 2, SF 2

#2 Bishop McCort Crimson Crushers (17-4-1) vs Thomas Jefferson/Kiski Area winner AT Planet Ice in Johnstown on Wednesday, March 2nd at 6:30pm

#3 Montour Spartans (19-2-1) vs #6 Franklin Regional Panthers (16-6-0) AT RMU Sports Complex on Neville Island on Monday, February 29th at 7:10pm

Leading Scorers – MO: Brandon Eisel (25 G, 1 PP, 2 SH, 3 GW, 24 A); FR: James Mauro (17 G, 1 SH, 3 GW, 24 A)

Probable Goaltenders – MO: Arn Criswell (12-0-1, 2.14 GAA, 0.888 SV%, 1 SO); FR: Nicholas Paone (11-2-0, 2.63 GAA, 0.861 SV%)

Previous Meeting(s) – 12/4/15: MO 5, FR 2

Division 2 Quarterfinals:

#1 Beaver Bobcats (18-2-0) vs #8 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers (9-9-1) AT Beaver County Ice Arena on Tuesday, March 1st at 8:10pm

Leading Scorers – BE: Evan Komlenic (22 G, 6 PP, 2 GW, 24 A); OLSH: Mark Richardson (12 G, 1 SH, 2 GW, 15 A)

Probable Goaltenders – BE: James Soisson (11-1-0, 1.69 GAA, 0.894 SV%, 1 SO); OLSH: Jesse Broniszewski (9-9-1, 3.72 GAA, 0.869 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 1/25/16: BE 9, OLSH 2

#4 Indiana Little Indians (12-8-0) vs #5 Blackhawk Cougars (10-10-0) AT S&T Bank Arena in Indiana on Thursday, March 3rd at 7:30pm

Leading Scorers – IN: Patrick O’Neal (37 G, 7 PP, 6 SH, 5 GW, 17 A); BL: Robert Swinderman (17 G, 5 PP, 1 GW, 20 A)

Probable Goaltenders – IN: Zane McElhenny (8-3-0, 3.06 GAA, 0.889 SV%); BL: Cory Steinle (8-10-0, 3.10 GAA, 0.907 SV%, 2 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 10/8/15: IN 5, BL 2; 12/7/15: BL 5, IN 1; 1/28/16: IN 7, BL 3

#2 Meadville Bulldogs (15-4-1) vs #7 Central Valley Warriors (10-9-0) AT Meadville Area Rec Complex on Monday, February 29th at 7:00pm

Leading Scorers – ME: Nicholas Frantz (28 G, 2 PP, 3 SH, 3 GW, 18 A); CV: Cameron Drake (34 G, 2 PP, 6 SH 2 GW, 24 A)

Probable Goaltenders – ME: Edward Kaufman (10-2-0, 2.26 GAA, 0.900 SV%, 3 SO); CV: Casey Fairley (7-4-0, 4.76 GAA, 0.833 SV%, 2 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 1/18/16: ME 10, CV 3

#3 Carrick Cougars (13-6-1) vs #6 Elizabeth Forward Warriors (14-5-0) AT Ice Castle in Castle Shannon on Monday, February 29th at 7:00pm

Leading Scorers – CA: Jacob Speicher (28 G, 6 PP, 2 SH, 5 GW, 14 A); EF: Wesley Scott (44 G, 10 PP, 2 SH, 4 GW, 29 A)

Probable Goaltenders – CA: Nathan Norkevicus (8-4-1, 1.80 GAA, 0.938 SV%, 4 SO); EF: Noah Santo (11-2-0, 4.00 GAA, 0.888 SV%, 1 SO)

Previous Meeting(s) – 1/14/16: CA 9, EF 0

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 Armstrong forward Luke Gross and West Allegheny head coach Jake Luthi. Your home for the 2016 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!