Quaker Valley hockey out to start new winning streak

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, December 17, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Time to kick-start another winning streak.

Quaker Valley’s hockey team didn’t experience a loss in the first two months of the PIHL season, posting a 9-0 record through Nov. 30.

The Quakers outscored their opponents by a 44-10 margin, allowing 1.1 goals per game and logging three shutouts.

No team had scored more than two goals in any game against QV. That is, until Dec. 7 when the Quakers skated against Indiana in a key Varsity A Gold Division matchup.

Indiana edged the Quakers, 3-2, in overtime at S&T Bank Ice Arena when Gabe Nettleton netted the winning goal at the 2:54 mark.

The Indians improved to 8-1-1 while QV dropped to 9-0-1.

“We finished the first half (of the season) versus West Allegheny,” QV coach Kevin Quinn said, “but our week started at practice on Monday, intent on getting better each time we step on the ice. 9-0-1 is certainly a great start and we are intent on continuing our winning ways.”

QV sophomore forwards Jace Vasbinder and Max Modrovich did all the scoring against Indiana. Vasbinder, off a Modrovich assist, gave the Quakers a 1-0 lead at the 14:42 mark of the first period.

“I think we played a decent game, but we didn’t play our best,” Vasbinder said. “I know we can play much better. It was a tough loss, but we are trying not to ponder on it too long and get back to work for the next game.”

After a pair of second-period goals by Indiana, Modrovich tied it at 2-2 on a QV power play with 14:43 gone in the period. Vasbinder was credited with an assist.

“We definitely gave them too many chances in the second,” Quinn said. “In the third and overtime, we had trouble finishing our chances.”

There was no scoring in the third period as both teams tightened up their defensive effort. QV outshot the Indians 9-3 in the period and 29-19 overall.

The first period was the Quakers’ strongest in the game as they attained a 12-0 advantage in shots on goal.

“It was a great start for sure, shot-wise,” Quinn said. “We scored twice but they disallowed one of our goals. They then allowed a very much disputed goal for Indiana in the second.

“We were not pleased with the officiating, but we needed to overcome it and in the end we didn’t. Using it as an excuse is not an option at Quaker Valley. As I told the team after the game, we need to score more.”

QV goaltender Landon Buterbaugh made 16 saves on 19 shots. On the season, Buterbaugh, a junior, had a 7-1 record with a 1.49 goals-against average, .944 save percentage and two shutouts.

The Quakers’ leading scorers were Vasbinder with 15 goals and seven assists, Modrovich, with nine and nine, and senior defender Will Watson, the team leader in assists with 15.

“The first half of the season was mostly successful with the exception of one game,” Vasbinder said, “but that just means we are going to work even harder to maintain a good record.”

Other QV goal scorers this season include sophomore forward Ben McHenry (5), sophomore defenseman Jacob Keisel (4), freshman defenseman Sawyer Krotine (3), sophomore forward Luke Koehler (3), senior forward Noah Kenneweg (2), freshman forward Charlie Pyle (2), senior forward Coleman Carey, sophomore forward Hunter Kronk and junior defenseman Liam Welge.

The QV squad is dominated by young skaters with nine sophomores on the varsity roster: Vasbinder, Modrovich, McHenry, Keisel, Koehler, Kronk, forwards Charlie D’Antonio and Lance Shaner and defenseman Aidan Dillaman.

Pyle, forward Kieran Cain and defenseman Jack Watson are top freshmen.

The Quakers’ defensive corps is anchored by Watson and Keisel. Watson hopes the loss to Indiana serves as a wake-up call for QV for the second half of the season.

“We all know we have to play better as a team and only scoring two goals is simply not enough,” Watson said. “The team’s mindset doesn’t change. We need to move one game at a time and play our best hockey from here on out. We need to improve our scoring to make a deep playoff run.

“We have a solid team from top to bottom including two great goaltenders. We have been playing to these strengths. We have been playing well so far and will need to keep improving and working hard to achieve our goals. We have all the tools to make a deep run and should take advantage of this.”

Watson, the team captain and a fourth-year contributor on defense, and Keisel were selected as league all-stars in 2022-23.

“Our defense is a strength,” Quinn said. “We also rely on Liam Welge, Sawyer Krotine and Jack Watson on defense.”

QV’s only other game before the holidays was slated for Dec. 14 against West Allegheny at the Baierl Ice Complex in Warrendale.

The Quakers will play four games next month — at Shaler (Jan. 4), Kiski (Jan. 18), at Montour (Jan. 22) and at McDowell (Jan. 30).

Tags: Quaker Valley