Third Time Still Golden For Mars in Winning Class A Penguins Cup Championship Again

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, March 20, 2011 | 12:00 AM

The Mars Planets won their third straight Class A Penguins Cup with a convincing 5-0 victory over the Hampton Talbots Sunday at the Consol Energy Center. Austin Heakins notched a four point performance with two goals and two assists. Goalie Tyler Stepke was fantastic once again, stopping all 23 shots he faced.

Both teams went thru a feeling out process in the opening period. Hampton had the first opportunity on the power play when Colt Berneberg took a tripping minor four minutes in. Mars got their first chance when Luke Laya went off for cross-checking midway thru the period. Mars killed another penalty as Kevin Leslie was called for interference, just fifteen seconds after killing that penalty, the Planets were given another opportunity as Zack Kosick went off for high sticking. Mars capitalized on their second chance as Elliot Tisdale blasted on off of goalie Sam Wilson and trickled over the goal line to give Mars a 1-0 lead with just 43 seconds remaining in the period.

Heakins got into the act in the second on a pretty play as Joseph Bender set up Nick Blaney, Heakins cashed in the rebound for his second goal of the playoffs and a 2-0 lead with 10:30 remaining in the second. Hampton had a golden chance but Brian Swain was tied up on the doorstep and couldn't get a shot off. Mars had several chances to add to the lead, Bender, Tisdale and Miller all with good opportunities but Wilson allowed his team to stay in the game with several key saves.

The Planets finally converted one of those opportunities, Blaney scored his second goal of the playoffs with 2:44 remaining in the period. Hampton took a late penalty when Laya went off for roughing with 18 seconds left in the period. Mars out shot Hampton 17-8 over the first two periods.

Mars took advantage of that late penalty, getting two goals in the first 2:25 of the third to salt the game away. Hunter Sacchini with the power play goal, set up by Heakins and Heakins added his third of the post-season 56 seconds later. Heakins said he never pictured a four point day in the title game, coming back from an injury in the semifinal as he did not figure in the scoring in a 4-1 win over Westmont Hilltop.

Hampton had one chance in the third period when Luke Pankowski came in on a short handed break away with 3:30 remaining but Stepke shut the door.

Mars went 2 for 5 on the power play. The Planets are now 23-1 overall. Coach Steve Myers delivered a message to his team, that it's not over yet, that they have one more game to go to win their second consecutive Pennsylvania Cup when they meet Springfield in the championship game on Saturday at Ice Line in West Chester, game time is 11 am. Myers said the winning feeling never gets old and that he was proud the way the team responded after losing at Kittanning during the regular season. Mars ended with 37 shots, 20 coming in the final period.

Hampton was scoreless in four chances on the power play, the Talbots finish at 17-7 overall.

Scoring Summary:
Mars 1 2 2 – 5
Hampton 0 0 0 – 0

3rd Period:
Mars: Hunter Sacchini(1) PPG (Heakins) 1:29
Mars: Heakins(3) (Blake Friday) 2:25

Tags: Hampton