PIHL Notebook – Class AA Preview

By: Bruce Markey
Monday, October 12, 2015 | 12:22 PM

Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook” as we continue our full team-by-team preview. Last week we took you inside every team in Class AAA. This week it’s time for Class AA to take center stage.

One thing was assured before the puck dropped last week. There will be a new champion here with defending state champion Erie Cathedral Prep moving up to Class AAA as you read last week. Another thing which seems equally assured is plenty of interesting storylines. After combining to win nine of the past 10 Class A Penguins Cups, Quaker Valley and Mars made the inevitable move up based on that success under the alignment rules instituted last season. Can they continue that success in their new digs? Moving with them is Hempfield while Mount Lebanon and Penn-Trafford come down from Class AAA. With those programs joining the likes of Bishop Canevin, Moon, Hampton and Armstrong, finding out who will don the gold medals at Consol Energy Center in March will be a fun ride.

(Teams listed in order of 2014-15 point percentages)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Quaker Valley Quakers

2014-15 Regular Season: 19-1-1, 39 PTS, 162 GF, 45 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Final

2014-15 Three Stars: Adam Pilewicz (46 G, 6 PP, 2 SH, 8 G, 53 A); Connor Quinn (46 G, 3 PP, 7 SH, 5 GW, 50 A); Parker Sherry (12-1-0, 1.58 GAA, 0.930 SV%, 4 SO)

Mars Fighting Planets

2014-15 Regular Season: 17-4-1, 35 PTS, 138 GF, 58 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Won Class A Penguins Cup; Lost Pennsylvania Cup

2014-15 Three Stars: Paul Maust (29 G, 9 PP, 2 SH, 1 GW, 22 A); Kyle Thomas (13 G, 2 PP, 3 GW, 24 A); Tyler Spreng (16-3-1, 2.48 GAA, 0.871 SV%, 3 SO)

Moon Tigers

2014-15 Regular Season: 13-6-0, 26 PTS, 65 GF, 46 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals

2014-15 Three Stars: Nick Hart (7 G, 1 GW, 14 A); Luke James (9 G, 1 SH, 2 GW, 8 A); Ryan Durkin (13-6-0, 2.36 GAA, 0.916 SV%, 3 SO)

Bishop Canevin Crusaders

2014-15 Regular Season: 10-9-0, 20 PTS, 94 GF, 85 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Semifinals

2014-15 Three Stars: Blaine Adams (17 G, 6 PP, 3 GW, 25 A); Thomas Krivak (24 G, 4 PP, 4 SH, 1 GW, 14 A); Jason Bilski (7 G, 1 PP, 20 A)

North Hills Indians

2014-15 Regular Season: 9-10-0, 18 PTS, 94 GF, 76 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals

2014-15 Three Stars: Brett Berner (34 G, 6 PP, 5 SH, 4 SH, 22 A); Tyler Volz (16 G, 7 PP, 2 GW, 14 A); Gannon Warrick (14 G, 4 PP, 7 A)

Mount Lebanon Blue Devils

2014-15 Regular Season: 8-13-1, 17 PTS, 56 GF, 75 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Did not qualify

2014-15 Three Stars: Reed Farber (14 G, 3 PP, 2 SH, 3 GW, 14 A); George Farrell (12 G, 3 PP, 2 SH, 2 GW, 15 A); Walker Troy (6 G, 13 A)

Baldwin Highlanders

2014-15 Regular Season: 3-14-2, 8 PTS, 70 GF, 112 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Did not qualify

2014-15 Three Stars: Brian Dee (21 G, 4 PP, 2 A, 13 A); Max Milan (14 G, 1 PP, 2 SH, 2 GW, 20 A); Paul Knerr (10 G, 1 PP, 1 SH, 12 A)

Chartiers Valley Colts

2014-15 Regular Season: 2-17-0, 4 PTS, 48 GF, 116 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Did not qualify

2014-15 Three Stars: Derek Falcioni (11 G, 1 PP, 1 SH, 9 A); Raymond Lindow (8 G, 3 PP, 8 A); Robert Hilpert (10 G, 4 PP, 1 SH, 1 GW, 5 A)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Hempfield Spartans

2014-15 Regular Season: 15-6-1, 31 PTS, 129 GF, 62 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Semifinals

2014-15 Three Stars: Luke Rosendal (32 G, 1 PP, 5 SH, 1 GW, 20 A); Andrew Koziara (14 G, 2 PP, 2 GW, 20 A); Garet Ciaramella (11-5-1, 2.69 GAA, 0.95 SV%, 1 SO)

Hampton Talbots

2014-15 Regular Season: 14-3-1, 29 PTS, 91 GF, 41 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals

2014-15 Three Stars: Ethan Homitz (21 G, 1 PP, 1 GW, 10 A); William Maguire (15 G, 1 PP, 2 GW, 9 A); Salvatore Commendatore (11-4-0, 2.60 GAA, 0.899 SV%, 2 SO)

Armstrong

2014-15 Regular Season: 14-4-1, 29 PTS, 114 GF, 64 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Final

2014-15 Three Stars: Christian Miller (39 G, 8 PP, 3 SH, 4 GW, 23 A); Josh Oliver (22 G, 4 PP, 2 SH, 5 GW, 22 A); Taylor Smouse (14-3-1, 3.40 GAA, 0.861 SV%)

Latrobe Wildcats

2014-15 Regular Season: 10-8-1, 21 PTS, 86 GF, 76 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals

2014-15 Three Stars: Brendan Johns (26 G, 1 PP, 2 GW, 17 A); Alexander Singley (12 G, 2 PP, 1 SH, 1 GW, 11 A); Timothy Ruppen (10-7-1, 3.84 GAA, 0.869 SV%, 1 SO)

Fox Chapel Foxes

2014-15 Regular Season: 8-9-1, 18 PTS, 77 GF, 85 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Lost in First Round

2014-15 Three Stars: Jonathan Rice (17 G, 5 PP, 2 GW, 16 A); Ben Friedland (17 G, 1 PP, 2 SH, 3 GW, 16 A); Brian Beal (5 G, 1 PP, 18 A)

Plum Mustangs

2014-15 Regular Season: 4-14-1, 9 PTS, 71 GF, 91 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Did not qualify

2014-15 Three Stars: David Stonebraker (20 G, 4 PP, 1 SH, 1 GW, 12 A); Nolan Puhala (13 G, 2 PP, 1 SH, 15 A); Dillon Joyce (13 G, 2 PP, 1 SH, 13 A)

Penn-Trafford Warriors

2014-15 Regular Season: 3-18-1, 7 PTS, 58 GF, 124 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Did not qualify

2014-15 Three Stars: Nathan Mickey (9 G, 2 PP, 1 SH, 3 GW, 14 A); Jordan Eisenstat (9 G, 2 PP, 10 A); James Gojkovich (10 G, 1 PP, 6 A)

Norwin Knights

2014-15 Regular Season: 1-18-0, 2 PTS, 32 GF, 170 GA

2014-15 Playoffs: Did not qualify

2014-15 Three Stars: Daniel Kiester (12 G, 1 PP, 1 GW, 7 A); Michael D’Andrea (3 G, 1 PP, 6 A); Donovan Orlosky (3 G, 1 SH, 5 A)

And with that, we are halfway through our 2015-16 PIHL season preview. Check back next Monday for a look at the landscape in Class A. Your home for the 2016 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!