Welcome to Hockey’s Headwaters, your place to keep track of Pittsburgh born and trained hockey players skating out of town. Here is Hockey’s Headwaters for the week ending Jan. 29.
HEADWATERS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Florida Panthers forward Vince Trocheck played two regulation games this week, scoring a goal and an assist and then on Sunday, he appeared in the NHL All-Star Game, where he had a 
goal and three assists
“It’s been a blast,” Trocheck said to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “Never in a million years did I think I’d be here right now. It’s kind of fun watching everybody; I’m kind of in awe; a little bit starstruck. It’s nice to be a fan every time I was on the bench even in the skills competition as well I was watching everybody go out there and do the thing they do. It’s pretty exciting.’’
Trocheck’s Atlantic Division team lost to the Metropolitan Division. On the season, Trocheck leads the Panthers with 18 goals and 34 points at the break in what has been a breakout year for the 23-year-old Pittsburgh native.
Here’s whats going on around the rest of the hockey world.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Brandon Saad (Pine-Richland) had a goal and was a plus-2 Jan. 26 against Nashville. Saad’s former Pittsburgh Hornets teammate, New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller, had one assist in two games.
Goaltender Parker Milner (Mt. Lebanon) got the call-up to the Hershey Bears and made his AHL debut this season on Jan. 28, stopping 30 of 32 shots in a 4-2 win over the Springfield Thunderbirds. Milner has a .906 save percentage in 28 games played with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays this season. … Iowa Wild defenseman Mike Weber had two assists and was a plus-2.
Adirondack Thunder forward Ty Loney (Pine-Richland) had a goal and an assist Jan. 28 in an 8-2 win over Elmira. Loney now leads the Thunder with 34 points on the season.
Last week’s Headwaters Player of the Week Zac Lynch (Robert Morris) has kept his hot streak going. He added a shorthanded goal and three assists in four games this week. It was a big week for former RMU forwards, Cody Wydo had three goals an assist for the Wheeling Nailers, including a three-point night against Quad City Jan. 27. Wichita Thunder forward David Friedmann (Robert Morris) had a goal and two assists.
Atlanta Gladiators forward Tyler Murovich (Mt. Lebanon) had two goals, three assists and was a plus-4 in three games. … Indy Fuel goaltender Jake Hildebrand (Butler) recored his fourth shutout of the season, stopping all 45 shots against Rapid City on Jan. 27. … South Carolina Stingrays forward Dylan Margonari had two goals and teammate Patrick Gaul had a goal and an assist. … Quad City Mallards defenseman Donnie Harris had a goal and an assist. … After a short stop in the SPHL, Travis Jeke is back in the ECHL, playing two games with the Toledo Walleye.
Pensacola Ice Flyers defenseman Evan Moore (Robert Morris) scored the first two goals of his professional career — including the game winner — and was a plus-3 in a 4-2 win over Roanoke Jan. 29. The 2016 RMU alum only registered four goals in his entire collegiate career. Teammate and fellow RMU alum Aaron Clarke has an assist in two straight games. … Fayetteville FireAntz forward Joe Harcharik (Robert Morris) scored a goal Jan. 26, but had his seven-game point streak snapped Jan. 28. … Peoria Rivermen forward Jeff Jones (Robert Morris) had a two-assist game Jan. 27.
HC Bolzano (EBEL) forward Jesse Root (Mt. Lebanon and SønderjyskE (Metal Ligaen) forward Greg Gibson (Robert Morris) each registered a goal and an assist. … HK Nitra (Slovak Extraliga) Matt Cope (Robert Morris) added a goal. … Fellow RMU alums Cody Cartier of Manchester (EIHL) and Andrew Blazek of Aalborg (Metal Ligaen) each had an assist.
Former Robert Morris captain Rebecca Vint continued her push with Brampton of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, scoring a goal. Vint now has four goals in her last six games and seven goals on the season, which is fourth on the team.
Colorado College (WCHA) forward Alexander Berardinelli (Franklin Regional) scored a goal in each of the Tigers’ two games against No. 13 North Dakota and got a nod as an honorable mention for NCHC Rookie of the Week. The outburst has Berardinelli tied for second on the team in goals with six on the year. … Ferris State forward Tyler Andrew scored a goal for the Bulldogs.
Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) Austin Tonkovich (Canon-McMillan) had a goal and an assists in a 6-5 loss to Markham Jan. 23. He then capped the week with a three-assist game against Lindsay Jan. 29, giving him five points on the week. … Soo Eagles (NOJHL) William Casey (Penguins Elite) added two assists.
Tommy Horn (Mt. Lebanon) and Logan Stork (Upper St. Clair) scored a goal and added two assists for the Johnstown Tomahawks. Dalton Hunter (Latrobe) also scored for Johnstown, and Adam Pilewicz (Quaker Valley) chipped in with two assists. … Paul Maust (Mars) earned two assists with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights.
