Central Region

Final Standings and PG Rankings *** UPDATED 03/01/02 ***

Indiana shows depth and Kittanning lookin for Finals berth ! Kittanning vs South Park The Penguin Cup playoffs of 2001 featured many classic games that shaped the outcome of several clubs. The South Park / Kittanning match-up was a wild affair at the Ice Castle which saw the Eagles hold of a furious challenge from Kittanning to move on to the Penguin Cup Semi-Finals. Six months removed from that contest, the 2001-2002 clubs locked up in a key Kittanning Invitational match-up at the Belmont. South Park was hit hard by graduation while the Wildcats feature some promising youngsters as both teams are heading to the start of the regular season. Dustin Keller and Luke Heller scored twice and Adam Toy turned back several South Park chances to lead Kittanning to a 7-5 victory and an opportunity to earn a berth in the finals with a victory over McDowell. The Eagles were paced by Justin Juha and John Holl, who picked up a goal and an assist apiece. Indiana vs Archbishop Carroll This matchup featured the two time defending Flyers Cup champions against a re-tooled Indiana squad with a lot of depth looking to repeat as Kittanning Invitational champions. The Indians would line up without Nicko Speilmann, Mike Lady, Mike Nesper and super freshman Casey Haines and this game would answer the depth and character question for coach Ron Hellen. The Patriots struck first as Stefan Teece scored with four minutes into the first. The Indians answered with a early in the 2nd as Clint Pizarchuk and Dane Bettenazzi scored a minute apart to give the Indians a 2-1 lead. Cory Schaffer extended the Indiana lead to 3-1 four minutes into the 3rd. Three goals would be enough as sub goaltender Mike Mentch stoned the Patriots on several point blank opportunities including a great glove save with a little over 90 seconds remaining in a 3-2 game to perserve the victory and a date in Sunday's final. Latrobe vs Butler A very improved Butler team battled Latrobe to a scoreles tie in a game that featured fine goaltending by both Matt Bloom of Latrobe and Eric Laska of Butler. Bloom made several spectacular saves in turning away 21 Butler shots.

The 7th Annual WPHCA Coaches Pre-Season Poll. See who is ranked # 1 and who is part of the Elite 8 rankings ! AAA - Bethel Park looking to become first AAA school to since Meadville in 1996 to record three State Championships in a row ! AA - The word around the rinks is Peters Twp is the team to beat and a dozen or so schools would like to dispute that ! A - Serra Catholic is # 1 and building a dynasty, can anyone stop the Eagles from a three-peat ? Click on title above to see the Rankings !

Plum ousts Latrobe and Franklin stuns the Foxes in GCC Semis Plum vs Latrobe Plum Coach Stu Relnick looks back on last years PIHL campaign and shakes his head at the horrible start his Mustangs had, which eliminated them from post season possibility. While he is shaking it there is a smile, because this years squad is out to make hay ! Plum has waltzed through the GCC Invitational and has been virtually unchallenged. Enter Ron Makoski's Latrobe Wildcats, a quick maturing team looking to make a move for a AA Division title this year. Latrobe broke a 1-1 tie in the middle of the second as Ron "Jags" Jakubovic scored to 7:34 to give the 'Cats the lead and Aaron LaPresti loft a beautiful wrist shot over Plum goaltender B.J. Schreib less than three minutes later. Plum then scored a big goal late in the second on the power play as Lenny Blatnica took a back door pass from Travis Senchur to cut the Latrobe lead to 3-2 with only 1:19 to play in the second. Early in the third, Senchur tied it on a power play goal. Plum continued its onslaught outshooting the Wildcats 29-20, while Latrobe's Matt Bloom stopped breakaways on Blatnica and Ian Beitler. With the game on the line, Robbie Tunon finally beat Bloom, with a backhander on the ice with 2:10 remaining to send Plum to the Finals. Franklin Regional vs Fox Chapel When Franklin moved into the Center Ice Arena prior to the 1997 season, its club reaped the benefits of a brand new rink and capitalized by fielding two freshman teams. The 2001-2002 Panthers were built out of that development. The Panthers would face an old foe in Fox Chapel, who has also built a fine program over the years. Franklin came out flying as the Panther Line of Luke Baughman, Dave Molitierno and Joe Ferriero scored two goals in the first 41 secoonds. Mark Gigliotti added a goal at 8:31 of the first to stretch the lead to 3-0. Fox Chapel's Jake Werner cut the lead to 3-1 just 23 seconds into the 2nd Period, but Baughman closed the door and put the game out of reach with five minutes left in the period at 4-1. The Franklin defense only allowed four shots in the 3rd as the Panthers marched on to the Finals of the GCC Invitational.