PIHL Playoff Recaps for Tuesday, March 10th

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 | 3:21 AM

Another defending champion has bit the dust in the PIHL Penguins Cup high school hockey playoffs. It was not a good day for high-seeds as top-seed North Allegheny lost by seven and defending champion Peters Township was knocked out by the lowest seed still alive in #6 Butler. Here are recaps from the two Class AAA Semifinals in the Penguins Cup playoffs along with another Quarterfinals game in the PIHL Division II postseason.

A special thanks to Sean Meyers, Sam Hall and Mike Azadian for their help on these recaps.

PIHL PENGUINS CUP CLASS AAA Semifinals:

Canon-McMillan Big Macs 7 – North Allegheny Tigers 0 
In a surprising outcome, No. 4 Canon-McMillan not only upset the top-seed North Allegheny, but the Big Macs dominated from start to finish en route to a 7-0 victory in the Class AAA semifinals at the RMU Island Sports Complex. With the triumph, the Big Macs (16-7-1) advance to the PIHL Penguins Cup Championship at Consol Energy Center on Saturday, while the Tigers (17-3-4) season comes to an end in disappointing fashion. Canon-McMillan wasted little time gaining the upper hand, as prolific forward Austin Tonkovich threw a shot on net that trickled past North Allegheny netminder Joseph Hubert less than two minutes into the contest. The Big Macs extended that lead later in the period, as Shane Morgan lit the lamp to stake his team to a 2-0 edge through the opening frame. Although both sides turned up the physicality as the contest progressed, the Big Macs continue to extend their advantage on the scoreboard with a flurry of offense in the second period. First, Jacob McClelland found the back of the net just more than three minutes into the stanza, and Colman Slain followed that up with a precise wrist shot from the left circle that eluded Hubert. The Tigers used their timeout in an attempt to slow the Canon-McMillan momentum, but to no avail, as Luc Lavella staked his team to a 5-0 lead just two minutes later. North Allegheny then called upon backup goalie Douglas Wild, but he didn’t fare much better, as Tonkovich again tickled the twine shortly after Wild entered the contest. With the outcome no longer in question, the Big Macs maintained their strong play in the third period, particularly netminder Conor Hartnett, who make several spectacular stops in the final frame to preserve the shutout. Tonkovich capped up the incredible team performance by netting the hat trick on the power play with less than four minutes left in the game. With a thrilling overtime victory and a lopsided triumph over the top seed on their resume this postseason, the Big Macs will carry considerable momentum into the finals against No. 6 seed Butler at 7:15 p.m. Saturday.
Scoring:
Period 1
Canon-McMillan – Austin Tonkovich (unassisted) , 1:43
Canon-McMillan – Shane Morgan (Austin Czartorsky) , 9:37
Period 2
Canon-McMillan – Jacob Mcclelland (Zachary Mansmann, Colman Slain) , 3:02
Canon-McMillan – Colman Slain (Shane Morgan) , 6:31
Canon-McMillan – Luc Lavella (Jack Clendaniel, Austin Tonkovich) , 8:37
Canon-McMillan – Austin Tonkovich (unassisted) , 11:43
Period 3
Canon-McMillan – Austin Tonkovich (power play) (Luc Lavella) , 12:46
Shots on Goal:
North Allegheny 23
Canon-McMillan 23
MANAGEMENT SCIENCE ASSOCIATES THREE STARS OF THE GAME
#3 STAR – CONOR HARTNETT CANON-MAC
#2 STAR – LUC LAVELLA CANON-MAC
#1 STAR – AUSTIN TONKOVICH CANON-MAC

Goal Recaps:  https://youtu.be/TQnfNHjg3ho

Canon-McMillan Celebration:  http://youtu.be/2ztsmyLP7m8

Butler Golden Tornado 3 – Peters Township Indians 1
At the RMU Island Sportscenter in a PIHL AAA semi final game the 6th seeded
Butler Golden Tornado defeat the number two seeded, Peters Township Indians 3-1. They will head to the AAA Finals on Saturday night at Consol Energy Center at 7:15 PM and face the Canon McMillan Big Macs, the 4th seed who upset top seeded North Allegheny. An early defensive battle ensued and neither team had any quality chances. As the period went on it was evident that Peters was getting better chances. They would cycle the puck,control the zone, and get 3 or 4 shots on goal. It seemed they were taking the game over. One problem, Butler goalie Clay Bachman was on top of his game. He made glove saves, kick saves, blocker saves, chest pad saves and shoulder saves. His play kept Butler alive and finally at 15:16 of the first Connor Scott would make it 1-0 Tornado. There was no scoring in the second period but Peters continued their onslaught. Again nothing would get by Bachman. Into the 3rd frame Peters kept coming and Bachman stood tall. At 9:34 of the 3rd Butler would score again. In the Mount Lebanon Ice Arena play of the game Benjamin Rodgers scored on a partial break away. He put a backhander in top shelf and Butler led 2-0. It was short lived as the Indians Adam Alavi split two defenders deep in Tornado territory, then faked out Bachman and scored to cut the lead to 2-1. Peters kept on pressing and nearly scored to tie it but Bachman made an incredible glove save in which he reached behind him to take the puck out of mid air before it crossed the goal line. In the last two minutes of the period Butler was called for interference, the Indians would pull the goalie and have a 6 on 4 advantage. But somehow Bachman and his teammates held on to win. Scott would score into an empty net to make the final 3-1 Butler.
Score by period
Butler Golden Tornado 1-0-2 = 3
Peters Township Indians 0-0-1 = 1
Shots
Butler- 23
Peters Township – 47
Bladerunners scoring summary:
First Period:
BUT: Connor Scott (Dustin Davis, Jonathan Fair) 15:16
Second Period:
No scoring
Third Period:
BUT: Benjamin Rodgers (Seth Queen, Marcus McCall), 9:34
P TWP: Adam Alavi (Sam Barnes) 11:34
BUT: Connor Scott (short handed)(empty net) (Jonathan Fair) 16:25
Goaltenders:
Butler: Clay Bachman:47 shots 46 saves
Peters Twp: Kyle Madure: 23 shots 20 saves
Power Plays
Butler (0-4)
Peters Twp (0-5)
Management Science Associates Three Stars:
1. Clay Bachman Butler 46 saves
2. Connor Scott Butler 2 goals
3. Adam Alavi Peters Twp 1 goal

Goal Recap:  http://youtu.be/jIcpEDeSRnc

Butler Celebration: http://youtu.be/W_CmSLbGlAQ

PIHL DIVISION II Quarterfinals:

Carrick Cougars 6 – Harbor Creek Huskies 5