Pine-Richland hockey heads into season with soaring confidence after tournament win

By: Jerin Steele
Sunday, October 8, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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Coach Jordan Yoklic enters his team in the St. Margaret’s tournament every year because it gives Pine-Richland an opportunity to play some good competition in the preseason.

It can also provide a confidence boost, and that’s exactly what happened this year.

The Rams won the annual preseason event and will look to take that momentum into the regular season.

“We won our bracket and went into an overtime shootout against Seneca Valley to win the championship,” Yoklic said. “We have 16 teams in that tournament, and it’s a good blend of 3A, 2A and A teams. It was nice to play North Allegheny, Seneca Valley, Franklin Regional and Armstrong early. You get your skating legs underneath you to get ready for the regular season.”

It’s the fifth time the Rams have won St. Margaret’s, which is played at Alpha Ice Complex.

The Rams are coming off a season in which they made the PIHL Class 3A semifinals after rebounding from a 2-7-1 start.

They were scheduled to open their season Oct. 5 against defending 3A champ Peters Township.

Forwards Zachary Howard, Benjamin Baileys and Jeremy Casper return. Howard was named captain and Baileys and Casper alternate captains in a team-wide vote.

“Those guys are critical components to our team,” Yoklic said. “They’ve done everything right in recent years. For them to be named captains is a testament of their worth ethic and their leadership skills. It speaks highly of their character.”

Other returners include Cullen Campbell, Douglas Van Meter and Josh Lanyard, who are a part of what Yoklic described as a strong core group of players who mix in well with some new faces.

Brett Sudac, a junior, was the backup goalie to the now-graduated Dan Mooney last year and is in line to take over the starting spot. The Rams also added senior Nathan Dembowski, a transfer from Hampton, to their goalie stable.

“Brett stepped in last year against a very tough Cathedral Prep team and made all necessary saves to give the team confidence and we ended up getting the win that night,” Yoklic said. “He’s a guy that has done everything right to this point. He’s a super athletic, skilled goalie that does anything he can for the team. I’m excited to see his continued development, being a guy that we’re going to rely on heavily this season.

“Adding in Nate Dembowski is big as well. I think they both can be reliable guys that contribute to our success this year.”

Pine-Richland has made the semifinals each of the last six years, with four of those in Class 3A. They won the Penguins Cup and state championship in Class 2A in 2019.

It’s been an excellent run and the plan is for it to continue.

“Seeing the DNA of this group we have, they have all the tools and work ethic to have a good start of the season,” Yoklic said. “Falling short in the semifinals against Upper St. Clair and applying those lessons this year, I hope we can hit the ground running and go out and prove ourselves. Hopefully we put ourselves in a good position to earn and achieve the results we’re looking for.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Pine-Richland