PIHL Notebook – 01/24/2017

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, January 24, 2017 | 3:09 PM

With less than one month remaining in the regular season, the PIHL playoff picture is now in full focus. Subsequently, every game seems to carry extra importance with the postseason looming. However, this weekend will provide the players and fans alike a chance to enjoy a skillful exhibition, as four PIHL All-Star Games will be held. Take a quick glimpse at how the past week unfolded, and what’s on the horizon this week, as well.

Melting the Ice (the longest unbeaten streak in each classification)

AAA: Erie Cathedral Prep (6-0-1) – The Ramblers have been red hot, winning six straight games following a 3-3 deadlock with Upper St. Clair in late November. Most recently, ECP edged Armstrong 5-4 last week to extend its streak. As a result, the Ramblers have ascended the standings, and are now tied for fourth place with Seneca Valley.

AA: Moon (9-0-1) – The Tigers’ surge has allowed Moon to create some separation for the top spot not only in the West Division, but in all of Class AA. The Tigers’ 25 points is two better than Mount Lebanon, and Moon has played in one fewer contest, too. Moon’s streak was extended last night, courtesy of a 5-0 triumph against North Hills. Mount Lebanon, the team that handed Moon its last defeat, is next on the schedule for the Tigers. That contest will be played on Jan. 30.

A: Franklin Regional (14-0-0) – The Panthers were idle since last week, and thus maintain the top streak in the classification. Franklin Regional could have a test later this week, though, as the Panthers will host Bishop McCort on Thursday. Following that tilt, just three games will remain on the FR schedule, and the last two will be highly anticipated clashes against Kiski Area and Indiana.

D2: Meadville (15-0-0) – On the heels of a dominant five-game stretch dating back to December, the Bulldogs have enjoyed a 15-day break in the schedule. Meadville returns to action tonight, though, in perhaps the biggest game of the season in D2. Kennedy Catholic, the unbeaten and frontrunning team in Class C, hosts Meadville in a possible championship preview. The Bulldogs mettle could also be tested in upcoming bouts against Burrell and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

Under review (weekly team spotlight)

Carrick – The Cougars have been the proverbial bridesmaids each of the past two seasons , as the team came up just short of winning a title. After falling to Indiana in the 2015 Open Division title game, last year Carrick was ousted by Beaver in the D2 Championship.

The Cougars appear poised to make another deep playoff run, though, as they currently are tied for second place in Division 2. Carrick is 13-4-0, with setbacks coming against Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Kennedy Catholic, and twice to first-place Meadville. The Cougars are streaking now, however, as they’ve won seven straight affairs, including a rematch against OLSH last night.

Forward Tyler Wolf has paced the Cougars’ attack, as he’s compiled 22 goals and 15 assists, with no penalty minutes. The next two leading scorers for the team are blueliners, however, as Jacob Sakulsky and Darren Wrzesinski have 32 and 21 points, respectively. Jason Garchak, Isaac Eubanks, Aiden Barker and Gavin McKain are other skaters who have reached or surpassed the 10-point plateau.

In the net, veteran Nathan Norkevicus again has been stellar, but he’s been challenged by Peter Kopko. Norkevicus boasts a microscopic 1.64 goals against average, combined with a .935 save percentage in nine contests. Kopko has also appeared in nine games, though, and has a 3.10 GAA and an .882 save percentage. The tandem has also combined to post five shutouts this campaign.

Under head coach Matt Maurice, the Cougars have a chance to finish the regular slate with significant momentum, as the three remaining February tilts include Trinity, followed by John Marshall and Grensburg Central Catholic, two teams near the bottom of the standings.

Quotable (excerpt from a recent center stage)

“Our coach, he believes in us. He’s always there for us … Last year, the confidence level wasn’t there, but this year, we’re all confident in ourselves and we’re not afraid of anybody.”

Noah Fodor of Chartiers Valley, discussing the team’s improvements from last season, after the Colts 5-3 victory against Montour on Jan. 16. The full interview can be seen here:

Top-Shelf Trivia

Which was the last PIHL team to have a perfect regular season?

Last week’s trivia answer: Pine-Richland

Slapshots on Slate (upcoming MSA Sports broadcasts)

Tuesday, Jan. 24: Bethel Park vs Canon-McMillan at Ice-O-Plex at Southpointe at 7 with Matt Vandriak and Rennie Detore – While the Black Hawks sit in sixth place, the Big Macs are on the outside looking in at the playoffs currently. Canon-McMillan, which has lost its past three contests, is in ninth, two points behind Pine-Richland and Butler, so this could be a must-win for the Big Macs. The first matchup between the squads went to overtime, with Bethel Park’s Will Douds netting the winner in a 3-2 outcome.

Sunday, Jan. 29: PIHL All-Star Games at Alpha Arena in Harmarville: Division 2 at 11 a.m. with Josh Rowntree and Rob Longo, Class A at 1 with Steve Nagler and Chris Lackner, Class AA at 3 with Sean Meyers and Kevin Zielmanski, and Class AAA at 5 with Matt Vandriak and Kevin Zielmanski – The top players in the PIHL will display their skills in four contests, divided by classification. The rosters for the games were exclusively revealed on last week’s Chatham University PIHL Power Play Show. All games will be video and audio broadcasts.

Monday Jan. 30: North Hills vs Mars at 7, and Mount Lebanon vs Moon at 9, both at the Baierl Ice Complex in Warrendale with Josh Rowntree and Kevin Zielmanski – It’s a Class AA West doubleheader, as the first matchup pits the fourth and fifth-place squads against each other. Because sixth-place Bishop Canevin is just four and six points behind Mars and North Hills, respectively, with two games in hand, both teams want to solidify their playoff standing. The teams previously met on Nov. 21, with the Fighting Planets notching a 5-3 road win. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the nightcap, as two of the Penguins Cup frontrunners will collide. Moon has been by far the hottest team in the classification, as the Tigers are unbeaten in their last 10 tilts. Mount Lebanon had a lengthy unbeaten streak of its own earlier this season, and the Blue Devils are just two points behind Moon for the top spot in all of Class AA. Fittingly, Moon’s last setback came to Mount Lebanon, a 4-3 Blue Devils triumph at home on Halloween. In that game, Mount Lebanon scored the first four goals, and held off a late charge by Moon.

Fan choice (Elizabeth Forward vs Ringgold, North Allegheny vs Butler, Sewickley Academy vs Montour or Thomas Jefferson vs Baldwin) with Josh Rowntree and Kevin Zielmanski – Voting for the spotlight game is open until Friday, Jan. 27 at noon.

That’s it for this installment of the PIHL Notebook, but check back every Tuesday for the latest edition. Also, the Chatham University PIHL Power Play Show tomorrow will feature interviews with Canon-McMillan defenseman Jay Oravetz and Thomas Jefferson head coach Bill Crousey. Josh Rowntree and Kevin Zielmanski host the show, which airs at 8 p.m.