PIHL Notebook – 12/22/2014

By: Bruce Markey
Monday, December 22, 2014 | 1:21 PM

Welcome to the Christmas week 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 an impressive upset in Class AAA plus offensive fireworks in Class AA and Class A. Last but not least, we round things out with a preview of the lone MSA broadcast this week in what should be a tight Class A showdown. So, let’s light the lamp on this edition of “PIHL Notebook.”

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

Class AAA: Peters Township (5-0-1); Butler (3-0-2); Pine-Richland (2-0-1)

Class AA: Shaler (10-0-0): Shaler (5-0-0)

Class A: Quaker Valley (10-0-0); Deer Lakes (8-0-0); Mars (3-0-0); South Park (3-0-0)

Class B: Harbor Creek (9-0-0); Indiana (6-0-1); Blackhawk (5-0-0); Morgantown (3-0-0)

Class C: Carrick (13-0-0); OLSH (4-0-0)

SCOREBOARD WATCH:

Class AAA

12/15/14 – Pine-Richland 0-2-2=4, North Allegheny 0-2-1=3 … The Rams (3-8-1) broke a 2-2 tie just 90 seconds into the third period, setting the stage for some late drama. The Tigers (8-2-2) tied it on a power play goal from team captain William Rahenkamp, his second tally of the night, at 12:39. Pine-Richland drew a late penalty themselves, though, and Jack Drury buried the winner at 15:58. Matt Cole scored twice in the victory, including once shorthanded, while Dominick Zangaro and Erik Chidester each picked up two assists for North Allegheny. The Tigers also took a 31-23 edge in shots, but the Rams’ Isaac Stephen was brilliant with 28 saves.

Class AA

12/16/14 – Shaler 5-0-1=6, West Allegheny 1-2-2=5 … The Titans (10-1-0) parlayed an explosive first period into a win, but not without a late surge from the Indians (4-6-0). Part of that big first period was two even-strength goals for Austin Martz along with two on the power play from Stephen Stayduhar. Josh Brantner netted the deciding goal at 3:01 of the third. Good thing, too, as Ryan Rohal would cash in at 11:31, Ryan Rohm added a shorthanded goal at 13:51, but West A would get no closer. Martz finished with four points (2 G, 2 A) for Shaler while Alex Ficorilli chipped in three points (1 G, 2 A). Rohm posted three points in the loss (2 G, 1 A), Rohal scored twice and Anthony Dominick was busy with 40 saves. The Titans dominated the shots column 46-19.

Class A

12/18/14 – Deer Lakes 2-4-1=7, Freeport 2-1-1=4 … The Lancers’ (11-1-0) four-goal second period was enough to hold off the Yellowjackets (8-4-0). Vincent Casale scored the winner for Deer Lakes at 14:39 of the second, part of a four-goal night for him, including one with the man advantage. Not to be outdone, teammate Mitch Rupprecht put up five points (3 G, 1 PP, 1 SH, 2 A) while Zach Luniewski and Jonathan Merlo each contributed two helpers. For Freeport, multiple points came from Hunter Kepple (1 G, 2 A), Stone Haberstroh (1 G, 1 A), Robert Reichenbaugh (1 G, 1 A) and Michael Frazetta (2 A). The Lancers outshot the Jackets 31-23.

Class B

12/15/14 – Harbor Creek 1-3-1=5, Meadville 0-1-2=3 … The Huskies (9-1-0) led 4-1 through two periods, but still had to hold off a late rally by the Bulldogs (5-5-0). Chase Leech scored for Meadville at 4:26 of the third, followed by Jeffrey Millin at 14:15, but Nick Rocco completed the hat trick into an empty net for Harbor Creek moments later to seal the victory.  Rocco’s four-point effort included a shorthanded goal and one assist while Tyler Miller (1 G, 1 A) and Anthony Dedionisio (2 A) put up two points apiece. For Meadville, two points each came from Trevor Johnson (1 G, 1 A), Leech (1 G, 1 A) and Bryan Ray (2 A).

Class C

12/18/14 – OLSH 2-0-1=3, Trinity 1-0-1=2 … The Chargers (9-3-0) achieved a rarity in this one, with the winner coming into an empty net from Tyler Ceranowski at 16:03 of the third period. The Hillers (2-8-1) made it 3-2 just 20 seconds later, but failed to force overtime. Paul Heflin netted two points (1 G, 1 A) for OLSH while Nathan Hilzendeger did the same for Trinity (1 G, 1 A). The Hillers ruled the shots column 34-21, but the Chargers’ Jesse Broniszewski made 32 saves to Zach Kagle’s 18.

UPCOMING MSA BROADCASTS

12/22/14 – Class A – Thomas Jefferson Jaguars vs. Montour Spartans @ Robert Morris Sports Complex on Neville Island … Both teams are 3-2-0 in their last five, but the Jaguars (8-4-0) lost twice to Mars last week, the second one coming in overtime. The Spartans (6-5-0) on the other hand, are feeling their offense after trouncing McDowell last Monday. Both teams have similar goal differentials, but Montour boasts the sixth-best defense in the league with 40 goals allowed. Goaltender Jake Muzik has been a big part of that, playing all but 29 minutes while posting a 3.64 GAA and 0.863 save percentage. Offensively, the Spartans have gotten double-digit points from Matthew (5 G, 9 A) and Michael (5 G, 9 A) Tracy along with Brandon Eisel (7 G, 5 A). Tommy Kimmick leads Thomas Jefferson with 15 goals and 21 points, including six power play tallies and four game-winners. Five other 10-point getters include Dominic Tamburi (8 G, 7 A) and Mathew Krieger (7 G, 8 A). The pucks drops at 7:15 PM with Sam Hall and some guy named Adam Hoerner 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, join Adam Hoerner and a top secret guest host for another episode of “The PIHL Power Play” on a special night, this Friday at 8:00. Joining us to discuss their holiday plans and their team’s performance will be Butler head coach Patrick Hammonds and Moon goaltender Ryan Durkin. Your home for the 2015 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!