MT. LEBANON, Pa. — The second game of PIHL Opening Night on Monday at Mt. Lebanon Ice Center featured the Chartiers Valley Colts hosting the North Hills Indians. North Hills took a 3-1 victory behind a stellar effort by goaltender Ethan Isaly.
The Colts had an early exit last season in the playoffs as they ran head first into West Allegheny, falling 4-0. The Indians, after defeating Westmont Hilltop in the first round of the playoffs, fell to South Fayette in the quarterfinals. Each team was looking for a win to start the new season on a high note.
That high note was achieved by the Indians, albeit slowly. At the end of an evenly matched first period, Derek Pietrzyk gave North Hills a 1-0 lead and there it remained through the end of the second. The Indians took the shots advantage into the ice cut at 19-13, peppering Char Valley netminder Logan Marnik at the end of the period.
Chartiers Valley finally got on the board midway through the third period as Jax Fodor tied the game 1-1 with a power play goal. At 13:31, North Hills took back the lead for good off the stick of Roman Rennebeck, also a power play goal. The Indians went 1-for-6 on the power play while the Colts went 1-for-4.
Tyler Rodney added an empty net goal with 40 seconds to play to seal the Indians’ first win of the season.
Isaly stopped 21 of 22 shots on goal for a 0.955 save percentage. Marnik stopped 27 of 30 for Chartiers Valley.
Chartiers Valley will visit South Park on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at Ice Castle Arena.
After a long layoff, North Hills will host South Park on Oct. 21 at 9:15 p.m. at the RMU Island Sports Center.
MAJOR FOCUS: North Hills dominant in victory over Char Valley
