Central Region

Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships

2014 Penguins Cup AAA Semi-Finals

 – Peters Twp 6 Penn Trafford 1

Pennsylvania Championship History

• Peters Twp won the Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championship at AA in 2002 (Archibishop Carroll) – 2003 (Holy Ghost Prep)  – 2005 (Haverford) and Finalists in 2004 (Archbishop Carroll). The Indians have been to the Penguins Cup Finals the past three years 2011 AA vs Canevin, 2012 vs Bethel Park and 2013 vs North Allegheny

• Penn Trafford has endure a 20 + year history of winning competitive teams with a spotty playoff history and latest attempt was 2012 Penguins Cup Semi-Finals. 

Pennsylvania Firsts – Pacesetters, Legendary Programs w/Family Ties

Penn Trafford Warriors - Kenny White # 80

• When a program is only 20 or so years old, it’s tough to find tradition and with sophomore Kenny White from the time he was young he followed and excelled in his older brother Michael’s footsteps and will leave an enduring legacy when he finishes his Career at penn Trafford. His father Dean and Uncle Jackie were both very good athletes and have raised their kids to be leaders and impact athletes with the Penn Trafford and Franklin Regional High Schools, respectively.  

Peters Twp Indians – Josef Kittleberger # 6

• Josef is a top performing defensemen for Peters Twp and is following in the footsteps of his older brother Kyle Kittleberger who was goaltender of 2002 and 2003 Pennsylvania High School Hockey AA Champions for Peters Twp on terrific teams with an array of outstanding players   

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.  

 Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championship History

Bayard Rustin Knights  

2014 - Flyers Cup Champions

2012 - PA State Championship Finalists & Flyers Cup Champions

2010 - PA State Championship Finalists & Flyers Cup Champions

2009 - PA State Champions  &  Flyers Cup Champions

2008 - Flyers Cup Finalists

By CANDICE MONHOLLAN cmonhollan@dailylocal.com

WEST GOSHEN — The West Chester Rustin ice hockey team will once again wear the Flyers Cup "A' tournament crown for the fourth time in the last six years after a convincing 4-1 win over Springfield in the championship game Wednesday at Ice Line.

"We were really worried about (Springfield),' said Rustin head coach Nick Russo. "They're always a tough opponent and a lot class. I'm proud of my boys. It's just awesome.' Working off the momentum leftover from a thrilling overtime win against Henderson in the semifinals, Rustin came out ready to play from the drop of the puck. "We just took it into this game,' said sophomore forward Brett Christie. "We kept playing as hard as we did in that overtime and third period of the Henderson game.'

Helping to the lead the way in the win for Rustin were the Grande brothers, Michael, a junior defenseman, and freshman goaltender, Jason. Michael Grande led all defenseman in the tournament in points (9) and goals (5), while brother Jason led the way in goals-against (1.25) and was the lone goaltender with a shutout in the tournament. "Let me tell you something, if I had a high school daughter right now, I'd want her dating one of them because I want those grandkids,' Russo said. "What a gene pool. And they're great kids in the classroom, on the ice and in the locker room.' Jason Grande had to fight against the disbelievers this tournament with him being just a freshman and leading the team to a championship. "It's a dream come true,' he said. "As a freshman, they thought I couldn't do it and we did it.' Senior forward Armen Asdourian got things going as he slapped the puck from the bottom of the right circle just to get the puck on net. Junior goaltender Bryan Biehl stood up against the post, but lost track of the puck and it snuck across the line at 4:18 for the lone goal of the first.

Starting the second period off strong, Michael Grande needed just 21 seconds to put his team up by two. He grabbed the loose puck below the goal line, skated around a defender to the front of the net and snapped one by Biehl. With roughly five minutes left in the middle frame, senior forward Jeff Hagan had the opportunity to extend the lead for Rustin on a 2-on-1 break with Eric Flynn, but rang the puck off the post. Rustin started the third with power-play time and senior forward J.R. Barone needed just all of 19 seconds to fire a shot from the middle of the left circle to put the bench in a frenzy with a commanding 3-0 lead. But Springfield, which was 5-for-14 on the power play coming into the game, was given golden opportunities to get themselves back in it with three, almost back-to-back penalties by Rustin. Unfortunately for them, the power play was snuffed out by strong penalty killing units headed by Christie. Rustin dumped the puck out of its end, a misplay at the blue line by a Springfield player sent the disc gliding down the ice for Michael Grande to chase down. He skated down the slot on a breakaway, did a little forehand, backhand and into the net for a short-handed goal and 4-0 lead. "Our defense is really good on the PK,' Christie said. "We work on it a lot. They just got it out, I got a lucky bounce and got on a breakaway and put it in the net.'

Springfield began to press, finally breaking through Jason Grande late in the period. Senior forward Ryan Brawley dug the puck out from along the wall, skated to the high slot and was able to get a shot off with two Rustin players on him which hit the right post and ricocheted in at 10:23. It would be the only goal Springfield could get past Jason Grande, despite firing 25 shots his way. "We played tough defense all year,' Russo said. "That's our motto. Goals wins games, defense win championships. We work on that 75 percent of the time.'

Rustin has captured the championship title in 2009, 2010, 2012 and can now add 2014 to the ever-growing list. They hope to be able to get one more trophy in their collection when they play for the State Championship on March 22 at State College against western representative Thomas Jefferson or Quaker Valley. "I'm a one game at a time guy, but whoever (the State Championship opponent) is, we're going to have a lot of notes on them,' Russo said. 

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.

Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships

2014 Penguins Cup A Semi-Finals – Cathedral Prep 9 Armstrong 5

Pennsylvania Championship History – Armstrong won the Penguins Cup in 1991 at AAA which is the schools only Penguin Cup Championship in School History. Cathedral Prep won the Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships in 1984 at AAA and 1997 at AA. Both Schools have had a long history of winning competitive programs on the cusp of Competitive Greatness

RMU Island Sports Center - This Game was all about offense with several top end players stepping to the forefront throughout the contest. River Hawks Hunter Grafton sustained a game ending injury early on but the Team overcame several deficits, but this game came down to goaltending and the Ramblers advanced to the Penguins Cup for the 2nd time in 3 years with a 9-5 victory over Armstrong. Prep broke out to a 3-0 lead after one period on goals by Trevor Faulkner, Hunter Emerson & Brandon Gotkin found the net.

Armstrong came storming back in the 2nd period as Nick Long, David Contrael and Christian Miller scored to tie the game at 3 apiece. Joe Kelly and Richard Vicary scored late in the period to help the Ramblers regain the lead 5-3 at the ice cut. Armstrong cut the lead again at 5-4 as John Phelps scored on a long shot and Nick Long tied the score at 5-5.

Prep seized the defensive zone and had stready goaltending the rest of the way and unheralded hard working forward Jacob Ordos pounced on a loose puck and buried it to give Prep the lead for good 6-5 with 9:42 to play. Trevor Faulkner added three goals to give the Orange and Black a convincing 9-5 win and a spot in the Penguins Cup. Congratulations and good luck to Armstrong for an outstanding first season in existence and a long time coming for that program and Cathedral Prep Craig Barnett for molding and developing a group of young athletes with leadership into a Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championship contender.

Erie Times Article

 http://www.goerie.com/article/20140312/VARSITY03/303129907/Cathedral-Prep-advances-to-PIHL-title-game