Peters Twp Holds On to Win Class AAA Pa Cup Title

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, March 22, 2014 | 8:29 PM

Peters Township killed off a pair of late penalties to capture a 2-1 victory over LaSalle College High School in winning the Class AAA Pennsylvania State Championship at Pegula Ice Arena on the campus of Penn State University. Indians captain Josef Kittelberger’s second period goal proved to be the game-winner, and Peters Township goalie Brian Baker made 31 saves, including several key stops in the waning moments. The triumph marks the fourth Pennsylvania Cup for Peters Township, and its first in AAA.

Adam Alavi put the Indians (20-4) on the board 7:18 into the opening period, when he skated into a drop pass from Samuel Barnes, and snapped the shot past LaSalle College netminder Harrison Feeney.

The Explorers scored the equalizer exactly three minutes later, though, when Kevin Charyszyn knifed through two defenders, and beat Baker to the stick side.

Carter Ekberg had a golden opportunity to restore the lead for the Indians on their second powerplay of the opening stanza, but his breakaway chance missed the net.

In the second period, Peters Township once again nearly found the back of the net on the powerplay, as Barnes fired a shot off a long rebound. Feeney showed quick lateral movement, however, and managed to make the save to keep the game tied.

Peters Township regained the advantage with less than 12 minutes left in the period when Kittelberger, a defenseman, made a move around an Explorer at the point, and tickled the twine with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle.

The teams exchanged chances for the remainder of the period, but neither side could light the lamp. Alavi ripped a shot from the slot, but his attempt went high. On the other end, Albert Washco nearly tallied a shorthanded marker for LaSalle (18-10-2), but his shot rung off the far post.

In the third period, Peters Township killed off three penalties in the final 10 minutes. The Indians nearly scored on the penalty kill, as Alavi generated a breakaway chance, but could not finish, as he was interfered with by Andrew Romano. As a result, Alavi was awarded a penalty shot, but Feeney stopped his subsequent backhand attempt.

With 3:41 left in the contest, Peters Township again went on the penalty kill, as Jonathan Dagnal was sent to the box for elbowing. The Indians kept LaSalle off the board, but when Dagnal exited the box, he immediately took another penalty, as he tripped an Explorers skater. Dagnal watched as his teammates killed off the remaining time, and cleared the zone with less than 10 seconds left, securing the victory.

Score By Period:
Peters Township : 1 – 1 – 0 = 2
LaSalle College : 1 – 0 – 0 = 1

Shots By Period:
Peters Township : 11 – 10 – 4 = 25
LaSalle College : 10 – 11 – 11 = 32

Bladerunners Scoring Summary:

First Period
7:18 PT Adam Alavi (Samuel Barnes, Jonathan Dagnal)
10:18 LS Kevin Charyszyn (Andrew Romano, Harrison Baker)

Second Period
5:02 PT Josef Kittelberger (Jonathan Dagnal, Zach Gielarowski)

Third Period
None

Power Plays:
Peters Township 0 – 4
LaSalle College 0 – 5

Management Science Associates Three Stars:
1. Brian Baker PT
2. Josef Kittelberger PT
3. Harrison Feeney LS

Mount Lebanon Rec Center Play of the Game:
Kittelberger’s game-winning goal 5:02 into the second period, as he eluded an Explorer who was closing out to the point, and then unleashed a wrister that beat Feeney.