PIHL Notebook – Class AA Preview
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Monday, October 12, 2015 | 12:22 PM
Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook” as we continue our full team-by-team preview. Last week we took you inside every team in Class AAA. This week it’s time for Class AA to take center stage.
One thing was assured before the puck dropped last week. There will be a new champion here with defending state champion Erie Cathedral Prep moving up to Class AAA as you read last week. Another thing which seems equally assured is plenty of interesting storylines. After combining to win nine of the past 10 Class A Penguins Cups, Quaker Valley and Mars made the inevitable move up based on that success under the alignment rules instituted last season. Can they continue that success in their new digs? Moving with them is Hempfield while Mount Lebanon and Penn-Trafford come down from Class AAA. With those programs joining the likes of Bishop Canevin, Moon, Hampton and Armstrong, finding out who will don the gold medals at Consol Energy Center in March will be a fun ride.
(Teams listed in order of 2014-15 point percentages)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Quaker Valley Quakers
2014-15 Regular Season: 19-1-1, 39 PTS, 162 GF, 45 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Final
2014-15 Three Stars: Adam Pilewicz (46 G, 6 PP, 2 SH, 8 G, 53 A); Connor Quinn (46 G, 3 PP, 7 SH, 5 GW, 50 A); Parker Sherry (12-1-0, 1.58 GAA, 0.930 SV%, 4 SO)
Mars Fighting Planets
2014-15 Regular Season: 17-4-1, 35 PTS, 138 GF, 58 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Won Class A Penguins Cup; Lost Pennsylvania Cup
2014-15 Three Stars: Paul Maust (29 G, 9 PP, 2 SH, 1 GW, 22 A); Kyle Thomas (13 G, 2 PP, 3 GW, 24 A); Tyler Spreng (16-3-1, 2.48 GAA, 0.871 SV%, 3 SO)
Moon Tigers
2014-15 Regular Season: 13-6-0, 26 PTS, 65 GF, 46 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals
2014-15 Three Stars: Nick Hart (7 G, 1 GW, 14 A); Luke James (9 G, 1 SH, 2 GW, 8 A); Ryan Durkin (13-6-0, 2.36 GAA, 0.916 SV%, 3 SO)
Bishop Canevin Crusaders
2014-15 Regular Season: 10-9-0, 20 PTS, 94 GF, 85 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Semifinals
2014-15 Three Stars: Blaine Adams (17 G, 6 PP, 3 GW, 25 A); Thomas Krivak (24 G, 4 PP, 4 SH, 1 GW, 14 A); Jason Bilski (7 G, 1 PP, 20 A)
North Hills Indians
2014-15 Regular Season: 9-10-0, 18 PTS, 94 GF, 76 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals
2014-15 Three Stars: Brett Berner (34 G, 6 PP, 5 SH, 4 SH, 22 A); Tyler Volz (16 G, 7 PP, 2 GW, 14 A); Gannon Warrick (14 G, 4 PP, 7 A)
Mount Lebanon Blue Devils
2014-15 Regular Season: 8-13-1, 17 PTS, 56 GF, 75 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Did not qualify
2014-15 Three Stars: Reed Farber (14 G, 3 PP, 2 SH, 3 GW, 14 A); George Farrell (12 G, 3 PP, 2 SH, 2 GW, 15 A); Walker Troy (6 G, 13 A)
Baldwin Highlanders
2014-15 Regular Season: 3-14-2, 8 PTS, 70 GF, 112 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Did not qualify
2014-15 Three Stars: Brian Dee (21 G, 4 PP, 2 A, 13 A); Max Milan (14 G, 1 PP, 2 SH, 2 GW, 20 A); Paul Knerr (10 G, 1 PP, 1 SH, 12 A)
Chartiers Valley Colts
2014-15 Regular Season: 2-17-0, 4 PTS, 48 GF, 116 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Did not qualify
2014-15 Three Stars: Derek Falcioni (11 G, 1 PP, 1 SH, 9 A); Raymond Lindow (8 G, 3 PP, 8 A); Robert Hilpert (10 G, 4 PP, 1 SH, 1 GW, 5 A)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Hempfield Spartans
2014-15 Regular Season: 15-6-1, 31 PTS, 129 GF, 62 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Semifinals
2014-15 Three Stars: Luke Rosendal (32 G, 1 PP, 5 SH, 1 GW, 20 A); Andrew Koziara (14 G, 2 PP, 2 GW, 20 A); Garet Ciaramella (11-5-1, 2.69 GAA, 0.95 SV%, 1 SO)
Hampton Talbots
2014-15 Regular Season: 14-3-1, 29 PTS, 91 GF, 41 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals
2014-15 Three Stars: Ethan Homitz (21 G, 1 PP, 1 GW, 10 A); William Maguire (15 G, 1 PP, 2 GW, 9 A); Salvatore Commendatore (11-4-0, 2.60 GAA, 0.899 SV%, 2 SO)
Armstrong
2014-15 Regular Season: 14-4-1, 29 PTS, 114 GF, 64 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Final
2014-15 Three Stars: Christian Miller (39 G, 8 PP, 3 SH, 4 GW, 23 A); Josh Oliver (22 G, 4 PP, 2 SH, 5 GW, 22 A); Taylor Smouse (14-3-1, 3.40 GAA, 0.861 SV%)
Latrobe Wildcats
2014-15 Regular Season: 10-8-1, 21 PTS, 86 GF, 76 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals
2014-15 Three Stars: Brendan Johns (26 G, 1 PP, 2 GW, 17 A); Alexander Singley (12 G, 2 PP, 1 SH, 1 GW, 11 A); Timothy Ruppen (10-7-1, 3.84 GAA, 0.869 SV%, 1 SO)
Fox Chapel Foxes
2014-15 Regular Season: 8-9-1, 18 PTS, 77 GF, 85 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in First Round
2014-15 Three Stars: Jonathan Rice (17 G, 5 PP, 2 GW, 16 A); Ben Friedland (17 G, 1 PP, 2 SH, 3 GW, 16 A); Brian Beal (5 G, 1 PP, 18 A)
Plum Mustangs
2014-15 Regular Season: 4-14-1, 9 PTS, 71 GF, 91 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Did not qualify
2014-15 Three Stars: David Stonebraker (20 G, 4 PP, 1 SH, 1 GW, 12 A); Nolan Puhala (13 G, 2 PP, 1 SH, 15 A); Dillon Joyce (13 G, 2 PP, 1 SH, 13 A)
Penn-Trafford Warriors
2014-15 Regular Season: 3-18-1, 7 PTS, 58 GF, 124 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Did not qualify
2014-15 Three Stars: Nathan Mickey (9 G, 2 PP, 1 SH, 3 GW, 14 A); Jordan Eisenstat (9 G, 2 PP, 10 A); James Gojkovich (10 G, 1 PP, 6 A)
Norwin Knights
2014-15 Regular Season: 1-18-0, 2 PTS, 32 GF, 170 GA
2014-15 Playoffs: Did not qualify
2014-15 Three Stars: Daniel Kiester (12 G, 1 PP, 1 GW, 7 A); Michael D’Andrea (3 G, 1 PP, 6 A); Donovan Orlosky (3 G, 1 SH, 5 A)
And with that, we are halfway through our 2015-16 PIHL season preview. Check back next Monday for a look at the landscape in Class A. Your home for the 2016 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!
