Central Region

Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships

 PENGUIN CUP FINALS AAA  

Consol Energy Monday 17-Mar 9:00 PM – Bethel Park vs Peters Twp

2014 Penguins Cup AAA Semi-Finals

Bethel Park 4 Pine Richland 0   

  Pennsylvania Championship History – Bethel Park Pennsylvania High School Hockey AAA Champions in 1997 – 2000 – 2001 – 2002 – 2005 and Finalists in 1983 & 2012. Pine Richland Pennsylvania High School Hockey AA Champions in 2006 & 2007 and Finalists in 2008 and Penguins Cup Finalists in 2013.  

RMU Island Sports Center -  

 Pine Richland has one of the top programs in development in Western Pennsylvania and one of its own Brandon Saad is one of the most promising young players in the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Champions Chicago Blackhawks. I am sure Rams Head Coach Mike Bagnato wouldn’t mind have a Saad in the lineup to pop in a couple against the perennial powerhouse of Western Pennsylvania Bethel Park.

Hawks coach Jim McVay knows it take more than a few players to make Pennsylvania State Championship dreams (dormant since 2005) into reality but has lots of experience having his top players on the ice in key moments in any Championship run, which is why he requires the 5-mile run and academic excellence of all of his players.

 That was the turning point of this contest as Coach Bagnato’s Rams were well prepared, well coached and had a commitment to defense and goaltending as well as could be expected from any team all season. That first goal would be all important and Richland fans thought they had it midway through the 2^nd as Hawks Goaltender made an athletic play seen in the National Hockey League as he swept away a potential 1-0 Pine Richland advantage out of danger and the game went to the ice cut after the 2^nd scoreless.

Right Time Right Place perhaps and his teammate Chris Siak, who is considered by many the most dangerous shooter in all of Western Pennsylvania in a unfamiliar position at the right point with 16:02 left in regulation and he sent a missile over the right shoulder of the Pine Richland goaltender and a stake through the heart of the Rams. Bethel pounced on the Rams for three more in less than 5 minutes as Siak added another at 13:37 and Jacob Worcester added a pair the Bethel Park Blackhawks earn a spot in the Penguins Cup and an opportunity for a trip to seek Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championship # 6 in State College at the Pegula Ice Arena.       

Pennsylvania Firsts – Pacesetters, Legendary Programs w/Family Ties

Bethel Park Blackhawks - Evan Oakley # 10

Evan Oakley is new on the Bethel Park radar for their hockey team in 2014 but the name is one that was well known in the Bethel Park hockey circles for many years as his father Geoff Oakly was a leader and solid contributor to many teams at Bethel Park during the 1980’s

Pine Richland Rams - Matt Cole # 19 and Ryan Cole # 25  

• Matt and Ryan Cole continue a long tradition of the Cole Family’s involvement of the Development of the Richland Program of the 1970’s and 1980’s and continues in the third generation of that families great contribution to the Sport of High School Hockey. Dan Cole, Ryan and Matt’s father and brothers and cousins Jeff, Chuck, Tim and Brian all donned the Green, Black and White of Pine Richland High School and were league leaders in scoring and on defense of great Rams teams for many years.