Central Region

Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships

2014 Penguins Cup A Semi-Finals – Canevin 7 Hampton 1 

Championship History – Canevin won the Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships in 1983. 1984, 1989 and again in 2011 as the winningest Class AA program in Pennsylvania History. Hampton has endure a 40 + year history of winning competitive teams with a spotty playoff history.

RMU Island Sports Center -

Sometimes Schools are great on Paper and then fall short in the Playoffs. Canevin coach Kevin Zielmanski could write a book on that subject prior to 2011 as the Crusaders won their 4th Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championship. The School fell short the past two seasons and righted the ship midway through the 2013-2014 season and worked on getting healthy and ready for a Championship run.

While Hampton was a worry early in the season, the Talbots did not have the depth nor the competitive greatness to match the Crusaders. Championship Hockey Games are decided by one play or a series of moments and this one was never in doubt as the Talbots were victimized by Adams Family values with a shorthanded tally by Blaine ‘Little Dog’ Adams and a hypnotizing blast from the ‘Big Dog’ Brennan Adams on the power play that put the Talbots to sleep for good at 4:05 of the first period.

Ryan Unger put the Talbots under the ether with 2 goals and three assists the rest of the way for a 7-1 victory for Canevin as Zack Kosick finally broke through the stingy solid defense of Canevin with just 1:48 left and Kevin, Billy, Chris and Kevin already with thoughts of Cathedral Prep in their heads.

Garrett Godlewski and Ross Langford found the scoresheet with statement goals but let’s face it …with 6 Schools left including four from Eastern Pa, there is one favorite to claim in a only two opportunities left and the odds are pretty good for Blue and Blue at Penn State’s Pegula Ice Arena.

Pennsylvania Firsts – Pacesetters, Legendary Programs w/Family Ties

Cathedral Prep Ramblers – Shane Cross – # 17

Senior Shane is the son of Jeff Cross who played on a couple of State Champions at Erie Fairview back in the day in 1977, 1981 and 1982 and was a significant contributor of the Development of the current Cathedral Prep program over the past ten years

Armstrong Riverhawks – Coby Toy # 13

Senior Coby Toy is listed as Grade 13 and maybe that was a typo but what I will tell you the extended family of Toys has been a name affiliated with Armstrong and Kittanning Hockey going back to development in the program for years at the Belmont is the same breath with the Montebells and other great families who have contributed to that program for 40 years

Hampton Talbots – Zack Kosick # 11

Senior Zack Kosick is a leader for the Hampton Talbots both in numbers and character that has led every team he has ever played on. Zack’s uncle Dave and father Eric have developed many players for the North Hill Vipers Organization for over 35 years and have been consistant supporters of the development at the Tier 1 and Tier 2 levels of Amateur Hockey and understand the contributions to the support at the School level while continuing development for School hopefuls to the Junior and Collegiate levels Educationally and promoting the Sport of Hockey

Canevin Crusaders – Liam Walsh - # 23 Freshman

Liam’s brother Matt scored many huge goals in the 2011 Canevin Pennsylvania AA High School Championship run and it was the leadership and character that helped Pennsylvania’s winningest AA program end a 22 year drought and bring the program respect honor and prominence at the State Level over the past 10 years. Liam will carry the torch for Canevin until he moves on to play hockey at the next level with many more triumphs.