Chicago Interscholastic Showcase

NEVILLE ISLAND - North Hills coach Jimmy Black and Mt Lebanon Paul Taibi have a rivalry back to Black's days at Pine Richland and Taibi's at Bethel Park. So familiarity in coaching style on both ends was evident and the battle to keep pace with Bethel Park continues in the PIHL South Division. If you are going to beat Mt Lebanon, you must get the lead and that theory was gone at the 12:27 as Bill Leckenby (son and nephew of star players for the South Hills Catholic 1979 State AA Champions), scored to give the Blue Devils the lead. Mt Lebo's big gun Jason Schulz extended the lead to 2-0 with 5:20 remaining in the first. Mike Colligan had a great chance to make it a three goal lead but was stopped on a great save by Casey Dudt-Mulzet with just :07 left in the opening frame. Mt Lebanon and North Hills then engaged in some end to end action with both teams trying to get that big goal. Colligan, considered by many one of the best two way players in the PIHL, stripped the puck from an Indian defenseman and was in alone and beat Dudt Mulzet upstairs and Mt Lebanon was now on top 3-0. North Hills pressured the Blue Devils toward the end of the second and almost scored as the puck lay on the goal line, but Colin Sebastian scooped it up to preserve the advantage. Shots through two periods were even at 14-14. The third period of this contest was a different story as North Hills kept Mt Lebo penned up in its own end and outshoot them 16-2. Sebastian was terrific with great stickwork and controlling rebounds to earn the shutout and a big 3-0 win.

CASTLE SHANNON - Canevin's Thomas Henderson Memorial is now in its sixth year and the tournament has witnessed some great champions including last year when Bethel Park defeated Malvern Prep and in 1999 when Malvern Prep defeated Erie Cathedral Prep. Gilmour Academy extended its tournament record to a perfect 2-0 with an impressive 7-0 victory over a scrappy Harborcreek club. Charlie Petretti had the hat trick and added two assists, while linemate David Corvi tallied two goals and 3 assists. Charles Long notched the shutout for Gilmour. Canevin won its second straight with a 8-4 victory over Malvern Prep as Justin Holzer scored a hat trick, while teammates Rick Nolte and Jordan Goff added a pair of goals. The Crusaders, who have struggled during their PIHL regular season have looked like a new with new life in the Henderson, even with the adversity of injuries and suspensions limiting Canevin to two lines.

Penguins Cup Class A Final Serra Catholic 3 Bishop McCort 0 ***GAME SUMMARIES*** Penguins Cup Class AA Final Peters Township 4 Indiana 2 ***GAME SUMMARIES*** Penguins Cup Class AAA Final - 9:00 PM Bethel Park 3 Mt Lebanon 1 ***GAME SUMMARIES***

MEADVILE - The "House of Chills" with all its State Championship banners and of course the Bulldog faithful were out in full force at the MARC. Meadville has had a resurgence with three wins in a row. A tight defensive battle in the first left the score 0-0 through the first period as the Bulldogs outshot the Gators 9-6. Late in the second period, while on the power play, Meadville's Tony Langs wrist shot had eyes on it and snuck past David Himes to put the Dawgs on top 1-0. In the third period, Meadville's Matt Rusilko took a pass in stride and moved in on Himes and slipped a backhander past the Gator keeper to give Meadville a 2-0 lead early in the period. The Gators struck back with a little over five minutes to play, as Justin Scott took a cross ice feed and beat Dan O'Sharuk to cut the lead to 2-1. Meadville took advantage of an undisciplined Gator penalty as Christian Nickerson tipped a point shot past the Gator keeper and the Dawgs enjoyed a 3-1 lead. But Gateway was not done as Zach Flora scored on the breakaway on O'Sharuk with two minutes remainiing. Gateway applied pressure and could not find the net as Meadville saved the victory 3-2.

MONROEVILLE - Penn Hills Jerry Bass was looking for intangibles at Tuesday's pre-game practice session at the Golden Mile. Boy, if hindsight was 20/20, Bass should have dressed special guest Vancouver Canuck (NHL 1st round draft choice) R.J. Umberger and maybe no one would have noticed. All kidding aside, Penn Hills could really use a dose of good offense. North Allegheny on the other hand has cruised to the top of the West AAA division with scoring and good team play. Penn Hills and North Allegheny skated through the first period with each getting plenty of opportunities for goals, but the Indians Justin McCullough and Tigers Thierry Clermont kept the game scoreless. Penn Hills had the better of the play in the second, but Clermont kept them off the board. Then Joe Smarto's poked at a rebound which was loose and McCullough apparently had the puck underneath him, but when he tried to return to his feet knocked it into his own net and NA had the 1-0 lead. Onto the third and the Tiger's Bill Waldschmidt scored at 11:55 to give NA a 2-0 cushion. As Penn Hills continued to pressure, Clermont stopped them cold. Then it was Waldschmidt again wristing one by McCullough to give theTigers a 3-0 lead with 3:30 remaining. Penn Hills finally solved Clermont with just 1:12 left and the goalie pulled as Matt Cancilla scored from in front. Jeff Hall added an empty netter for NA to make the final 4-1. Penn Hills outshot the Tigers 28-20 on the night.