PIHL Notebook – 02/23/2015

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, February 23, 2015 | 10:05 AM

Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. First up, “Melting the Ice” provides your weekly thermometer of streaking teams around the league. Meanwhile, this week’s “Scoreboard Watch” includes a playoff clinching in Class A and a setback for a bubble team in Class AAA. Last but not least, we round things out with a four-pack preview of upcoming MSA broadcasts, our final regular season set, all of which feature playoff-bound teams. So, let’s light the lamp on this edition of “PIHL Notebook.”

MELTING THE ICE (Records listed indicate current unbeaten streak):

Class AAA: North Allegheny (7-0-2); Seneca Valley (5-0-0); Peters Township (3-0-1)

Class AA: Erie Cathedral Prep (11-0-0); Shaler (5-0-0); Hampton (3-0-0)

Class A: Quaker Valley (17-0-1); Hempfield (4-0-1); Franklin Regional (4-0-0); Serra Catholic (4-0-0); Thomas Jefferson (3-0-0)

Class B: Meadville (4-0-0)

Class C: Carrick (19-0-0); Wheeling Park (8-0-1)

SCOREBOARD WATCH:

Class AAA

2/19/15 – Seneca Valley 3-3-0=6, Pine-Richland 0-1-2=3 … The Raiders (13-8-0) had this game won courtesy of Parker Faix at 3:58 of the second period, leaving the Rams (8-12-1) needing a win and some help to jump up and grab the eighth playoff spot in their final regular season game tonight. Although it was 6-1 Seneca Valley after two periods, Pine-Richland scored twice before the midway point of the third, but got no closer. Faix finished with three points (2 G, 1 A), Christopher Lipnicky (2 G) and Alexander Crilley (2 A) each had two, and Alyssa Peterson made 23 saves in the win. On the other side, Matt Cole (1 G, 1 A) and Nate Carnovale (2 A) contributed two points apiece.

Class AA

2/16/15 – Bishop Canevin 0-3-3-1=7, Baldwin 1-3-2-0=6 (OT) … The Highlanders (3-13-2) led by a goal after 17 minutes and matched the Crusaders (9-8-0) goal for goal in the second period to hold that lead at intermission. Two power play markers and a penalty shot conversion (believe it or not, the second of the game) put Bishop Canevin up 6-5 with four minutes to play in regulation, but Kenny Dee sent the game into overtime at the 15:00 mark. With a mere 21 seconds left in the extra frame, Blaine Adams netted the winner to complete a four-point performance (3 G, 2 PP, 1 A). Thomas Krivak buried both of those penalty shots along with one assist in the win while Alec Hnat added two helpers. Baldwin got two goals from Brian Dee along with multi-point nights from Kenny Dee (1 G, 2 A), Paul Knerr (3 A) and Max Milan (1 G, 1 A).

Class A

2/19/15 – South Fayette 1-4-3=8, South Park 1-2-1=4 … With this upset victory in dominant fashion over the Eagles (15-6-0), the Lions (7-14-0) officially clinched the second available playoff spot in the Western Conference of Tier 2. The winner came from Jordan Timmons at 14:14 of South Fayette’s four-goal second period. Timmons himself finished with five goals and one assist, John Lipovich (2 G, 1 A) and Spencer Barber (1 G, 2 A) each contributed three points, and Luke Shubert made 26 saves. South Park got two goals from Tyler Gerhold and three helpers from Jakob Hickey

Class B

2/16/15 – Harbor Creek 1-1-1=3, Blackhawk 1-0-0=1 … After 12:37 of scoreless hockey, the Huskies (17-2-0) drew first blood in this marquee match-up courtesy of Tyler Carr. Grant Rombold would tie it for the Cougars (11-7-0) just 2:27 later, though, and we had ourselves a game. Carr would set up Anthony DeDionisio for the eventual winner at 14:22 of the second period, and Carr himself would add insurance on the power play just 1:52 into the third. DeDionisio added two assists while Hunter Meyette stopped 25 shots to earn the victory. Credit Corey Steinle with 40 saves despite the loss.

Class C

2/19/15 – Wheeling Central Catholic 2-2-2=6, Central Valley 1-0-4=5 … The Maroon Knights (11-6-2) figured they had their insurance goal when Kyle Weissel completed the hat trick with a shorthanded goal at 14:58 of the third period. Turns out that would be the winner as the Warriors (7-10-2) scored twice in the final two minutes of regulation. Benjamin Duplaga added one goal and one assist for Wheeling Central. Central Valley would get the same production from Walter Scott, Cameron Drake, Nicholas Mulford and Spencer Dhondt.

UPCOMING MSA BROADCASTS

2/23/15 – Class AA – Bishop Canevin Crusaders vs. Moon Tigers AT Airport Ice Arena … The Crusaders (9-8-0) are coming off a win and are 3-2-0 in their last five, ranking pretty much middle of the pack statistically as their record would suggest. The Tigers (12-5-0) are also coming off a win as part of a 3-2-0 stretch, ranking first in the class with 40 goals allowed. Bishop Canevin is led up front by Blaine Adams (16 G, 24 A) and Thomas Krivak (24 G, 12 A). Moon’s defense continues to be keyed by the brilliant goaltending of Ryan Durkin (2.28 GAA, 0.920 SV%, 3 SO). The Tigers took the previous meeting in convincing fashion 6-3 back on November 3 with Brayden Lange recording the hat trick and Durkin stopping 28 shots. The Crusaders got one goal and one assist each from Adams and Jason Bilski. The puck drops at 7:30 PM with Josh Rowntree and Adam Hoerner on the call while Jess Levo mans the camera.

2/23/15 – Class A – Deer Lakes Lancers vs. Hempfield Spartans AT Kirk Nevin Arena in Greensburg … The Lancers are unbeaten in two straight and have gone 2-2-1 in their last five. The Spartans come in a bit hotter, going 4-0-1 over the same stretch. Deer Lakes boasts the number two offense in the class with 154 goals, led by Mitch Rupprecht (60 G, 38 A) and Zach Luniewski (34 G, 57 A). Hempfield has also been productive up front with 126 goals, but its 57 allowed are perhaps more impressive, ranked second in the class. Luke Rosendal (31 G, 20 A) leads the attack while Garet Ciaramella (11-4-1, 2.61 GAA, 0.906 SV%, 1 SO) continues to impress between the pipes. The previous meeting went to the Spartans 3-2 on January 5 with Anthony Koziara netting the winner while Ciaramella stopped 27 shots. The Lancers got two assists from Rupprecht and 23 stops from Jonathan Lang. The puck drops at 7:15 PM with Adam Gusky and Sean Meyers on the call.

2/24/15 – Class AA – Armstrong River Hawks vs. Shaler Titans AT Bladerunners in Harmarville … The Titans (15-2-0) have won five straight, including the front half of this home-and-home against the River Hawks (13-4-1), unbeaten in nine straight prior to that loss. More on that in a moment, but we first have to mention the rankings of these two impressive programs. Shaler has the number two offense (107 GF) and fourth-best defense (54 GA) with Armstrong right behind them in both categories (106 GF, 59 GA). Alexander Ficorilli (29 G, 19 A) continues to lead the Shaler attack while Theodore Vincent Evans (14-2-0, 2.93 GAA, 0.892 SV%, 1 SO) anchors the back end. For Armstrong, it is still Christian Miller (38 G, 21 A) grabbing the headlines up front while Taylor Smouse (13-3-1, 3.31 GAA, 0.,860 SV%) continues to improve in net. Back to this past Thursday’s game, the Titans edged the Hawks 3-2 with Ficorilli’s two goals including the winner while Miller put up two points (1 G, 1 A) in the loss. Evans was the first star, though, turning aside 34 shots. The puck drops at 9:00 PM with Bob Orkwis and Greg Kuntz on the call while Jess Levo mans the camera.

2/24/15 – Class B – Beaver Bobcats vs. Blackhawk Cougars AT Beaver County Ice Arena … This should be a good battle between two evenly matched teams, both going 3-2-0 in their last five with the Bobcats (11-8-0) coming off a win while the Cougars (11-7-0) are coming off a loss. Beaver has scored nine more goals to this point in the campaign, but Blackhawk has allowed 10 fewer, so something has to give. Ryan Hartman (12 G, 19 A) and Anthony Chirgott (17 G, 13 A) lead the Bobcats up front while Robbie Halvin (7-5-0, 2.41 GAA, 0.922 SV%, 1 SO) has been the top goalie. For Blackhawk, it continues to be Grant Rombold (22 G, 14 A) and Corey Steinle (2.50 GAA, 0.928 SV%, 2 SO) keying things at either end. This will be the fourth chapter in the rivalry this season with the Cougars taking the first two by 4-3 and 4-2 margins, but the Bobcats took the most recent outing 4-2 on January 27. The puck drops at 8:20 with Matt Vandriak and Mike Azadian on the call.

That wraps up this edition of “PIHL Notebook,” but check back every Monday through March for more news from around the league. In the meantime, Adam Hoerner and Josh Rowntree host another episode of “The PIHL Power Play” this Wednesday night at 8:00. Joining us this week will be South Fayette forward Jordan Timmons and Seneca Valley head coach Anthony Raco. Your home for the 2015 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!