Playoff loss stings Quaker Valley hockey after brilliant regular season

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, March 17, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Quaker Valley captured first place in the PIHL Class A Gold Division during the regular season.

The Quakers skated to a 16-3-1 record, good for 33 points, and outscored the opposition 94-37. QV led all Class A teams in goals allowed, giving up less than two per game, and limited nine teams to one goal or less with five shutouts.

“We had a great regular season, winning our 14th division title,” QV coach Kevin Quinn said, “and it probably was one of the toughest we have won with all the teams in our division. We were happy with that given how young our team was.”

Quaker Valley finished slightly ahead of Shaler and Indiana, both with 15-3-2 records and 32 points, in the final regular season standings.

The Quakers then were stunned by Greensburg Salem, 2-0, on March 4 in the quarterfinals of the PIHL playoffs.

The fifth-place team in the division with a 13-5-2 record (28 points), Greensburg Salem took a five-game winning streak into the postseason, which included a 5-2 victory Feb. 19 over the Quakers.

QV had defeated the Lions by the same 5-2 score back in October.

After a 9-0 start and 15 wins in 16 games, QV lost three of its last four regular-season contests to Indiana, Shaler and GS.

“We set goals to win our division, win the Penguin Cup and compete for the state championship each year,” Quinn said, “so the first-round loss was a disappointment but one in which we expect to bounce back strong from next year.

“The manner in which we lost was tough. We were playing well, scored an unfortunate disallowed goal, but just did not finish our chances. It’s left a sour taste in our mouths, and we will be hungry for a strong offseason.”

Quaker Valley landed five players on the Varsity A Gold all-star team this season. The showcase took place Jan. 28 at the RMU Neville Island ice arena.

QV sophomore forwards Jace Vasbinder and Max Modrovich, senior defenseman Will Watson, sophomore defenseman Jacob Keisel and junior goaltender Landon Buterbaugh were voted to participate in the event.

Quinn was tabbed as an assistant coach to Indiana’s Steve Rebovich.

Modrovich and Vasbinder ended up leading the Quakers in scoring in 2023-24 with 40 and 38 points. Modrovich netted 19 goals and 21 assists while Vasbinder led the team in goals with 23 to go along with 15 assists.

“I thought we could have definitely finished the season better,” Vasbinder said. “I thought we played pretty well in the last game. We just needed to find some scoring.

“We’re already working to get better, so I expect us to bring the same energy we did during the start of the season. I would like us to finish next season either tying our record this year or better. I think we can be very good if we find more scoring and play to our full potential.”

Watson was the team leader in assists with 24. He scored twice from his position on defense.

Keisel added six goals and 10 assists to the Quakers’ cause while sophomore forward Ben McHenry chipped in with nine goals and eight assists.

“I’m very proud of our team for stepping up this season knowing we would be one of the younger teams in the league,” Keisel said. “My teammates fought as hard as they could all season, and we just came up short. It’s part of the game; you win some, you lose some.

“Luckily, our guys are persistent, and this adversity just makes us want to win even more badly next year. I’m very excited.”

Buterbaugh posted a record of 11-3 with a 1.85 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and three shutouts.

Buterbaugh also was selected as a goaltender on the 18U Blue team for the NAPHL T1ER Top Prospects tournament Feb. 5-6 at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry. He represented the Esmark Stars 18U AAA club team.

“I thought it was a season to be proud about,” Buterbaugh said, “but unfortunate that we weren’t able to accomplish our goal of winning the Pens Cup.

“I have high hopes for next year as we are keeping most of our team and have some huge additions with the freshmen coming in; that will lead to more scoring for us.”

QV’s sophomore goaltender Ian Lorang logged a 5-1 record, 1.85 GAA, .898 save percentage and two shutouts this season.

“We return a very strong group including both goalies, our leading scorers and a majority of the team,” Quinn said. “We have a couple of strong freshmen coming up as well. We will be young again but experienced, competitive and hungry to win.”

Other goal scorers for the Quakers included senior forward Coleman Carey (7 goals), sophomore forwards Luke Koehler (5) and Colin York (4), freshman forward Charlie Pyle (4), senior forward Noah Kenneweg (4) and freshman defensemen Sawyer Krotine (4) and Jack Watson (2).

Quinn made a point to acknowledge the leadership skills and overall contributions of the team’s three seniors, Watson, Carey and Kenneweg.

“They were with us in tough times and helped us win the division title this year,” Quinn said. “I know their leadership will help our returning group win a lot of games next year.”

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