PIHL High School Hockey Notebook – 01/28/2013

By: Bruce Markey
Monday, January 28, 2013 | 3:40 PM

Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. As usual, have your weekly thermometer of streaking teams in “Melting the Ice.” Plus, the “Scoreboard Watch” includes a trio of thrillers in the Open Class. Finally, our upcoming broadcast preview spotlights a clash between playoff-bound teams in Class AA. So, let’s light the lamp on this edition of “PIHL Notebook.”

MELTING THE ICE:

Class AAA: North Allegheny (7-0-0), Peters Township (6-0-0), State College (5-0-0), Bethel Park (4-0-0), Pittsburgh Central Catholic (3-0-1)

Class AA: Erie Cathedral Prep (6-0-0), Latrobe (6-0-0), Bishop Canevin (3-0-0)

Class A: Quaker Valley (14-0-0), Mars (11-0-1)

Open Class: Blackhawk (15-0-1), Indiana (4-0-0), Morgantown (3-0-0), Keystone Oaks (3-0-0), Harbor Creek (2-0-1)

SCOREBOARD WATCH:

1/21/13 – Open Class – Section 1 – Canon-McMillan 2, Trinity 1 … After a scoreless first period, the Big Macs (5-8-2) opened the scoring 3:18 into the second. Evan Hares would net the winner at 13:01 of the third, and it’s a good thing because the Hillers (1-11-2) spoiled the shutout at 15:03 courtesy of Elijah Dzurino, but could not get the equalizer. Nate Kavakich stopped 19 shots to pick up the win, but Zach Kagle posted the more impressive number with 34 saves.

1/22/13 – Class A – Non-Section – Westmont Hilltop 5, Thomas Jefferson 3 … The Jaguars (10-7-0) led 2-1 after 17 minutes of action, but the Hilltoppers (9-4-1) made it 3-3 before the Zamboni hit the ice and scored twice in the third to complete the comeback victory. Brian Yost (2 G, 1 PP, 1 A) factored into three Westmont goals, including the winner at 14:16 of the final period, while Lewis Buchkovich (1 G, 2 A) matched his point total. Nick Ripepi was the busier goaltender with 33 saves in the losing effort while Sebastian Ragno turned aside 25 pieces of vulcanized rubber.

1/24/13 – Open Class – Section 2 – Harbor Creek 3, Blackhawk 3 (OT) … As heard on the MSA airwaves, the Huskies (11-2-1) finally halted the Cougars’ (15-1-1) impressive winning streak. Blackhawk led 2-1 after one and 3-2 heading into the third, but Nick Rocco tied it with 3:19 left in regulation. Logan Conboy and Hunter Emerson each added one goal and one assist for Harbor Creek while Daren Braudis matched that performance on the other side. The goaltenders had a relatively uneventful night with Grant Rombold racking up 18 saves for the Cougars while Tyler Manna only had to make 12 as his defense turned in a stellar performance.

1/25/13 – Open Class – Section 4 – Keystone Oaks 3, Baldwin 2 … The Golden Eagles (8-4-1) took an early 2-0 lead, but the Highlanders (9-5-1) tied the score before the first period ended. Keystone Oaks would get the winner at 12:17 of the second off the stick of Nicolas Jaras on the power play and hold off the rally from there. Ryan Rosato scored first two goals on the winning side, both unassisted, while Baldwin’s effort was highlighted by a shorthanded marker from Dakota Becker. Between the pipes, Jonathan Mead’s 30 saves were enough to win it while Ryan Beerman was not bad at all with 28 stops.

UPCOMING MSA BROADCASTS:

1/28/13 – Class AA – Non-Section – Latrobe (10-1-0) @ North Hills (7-5-0) … The Wildcats have been far and away the top defense in the class with a mere 17 goals allowed so far, a performance which has been as just as key to their six-game winning streak as their top-ranked offense with 85 goals. Josh Singley leads the team in several offensive categories (15 G, 21 A, 36 PTS, 4 SHG) while Shane Brudnok (9-1-0, 1.72 GAA, 0.902 SV %, 1 SO) is turning in an equally impressive senior campaign. As for the Indians, they have gone 2-3-0 in their last five, but are coming off a 5-1 defeat of Montour two weeks ago. We will find out if the long break has prepared them to pull off an upset here, but Brett Berner (19 G, 28 PTS, 4 SHG) and Tyler Heisel (16 A, 5 PPG) always come ready to play. The real challenge will be in front of goaltender Alexander Washy (5-4-0, 5.09 GAA, 0.820 SV %) and his defense, which has allowed as many goals as the offense has scored (61). The puck drops at 9:15 PM with Steve Nagler and Lee Mohn 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 Bob Orkwis host another episode of “The PIHL Power Play” on Wednesday night at 8:00. Joining us this week will be Peters Township head coach Rick Tingle and Upper St. Clair head coach Denis Kirstein. Your home for the 2013 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!