Here is our continuing coverage of Week. 2 of the 2018-19 PIHL season, brought to you by Brian Mitchell and Ed Major II.
THURSDAY, OCT. 11
GREENSBURG, Pa. — Brian Mitchell had a special “Drop-In” edition of In-The-Rink coverage at Kirk S. Nevin Arena in Greensburg. Drop-In’s are bonus coverage games not originally scheduled, but added due to various schedule changes.
HEMPFIELD AREA 5, MOON 3
Matthew Tracszynski netted a hat-trick and Jared Gerger added a goal in a physical battle at Kirk S. Nevin Arena on Thursday night. The Spartans opened up the contest outshooting the Tigers 18-1 in the first period, but were only able to get two pucks past Lukas Konescni in the opening frame.
The Tigers capitalized on their only shot of the stanza, as Zachary Wildason picked a puck up from the slot and fired it to give Moon a 1-0 lead. Traczynski tallied his first of the season on the power-play at 6:13 of the first, and Gerger added his fifth of the season 1:07 later.
Moon came out flying in the second frame, and at 14:34 an effort play that saw a Tiger take a backhand shot while on his back ended with a goal by David Pawuk. Traczynski added his second at 7:41 of the second, and completed the trick at 2:16 with his second power-play goal of the game.
At 15:43 Connor Moran capitalized from the top of the circle on a 5-on-3 to bring the Tigers within striking distance, and the two teams battled for the remainder of the period until the Spartans were able to finish the game off with an empty netter with 26 seconds remaining.
Hempfield moves to 2-0 on the season while Moon falls to 1-1.
MITCH’S PICS
TUESDAY, OCT. 9
HARMAR TWP., Pa. — Brian Mitchell was at Alpha Ice Complex for a PIHL doubleheader.
PETERS TOWNSHIP 4, CENTRAL CATHOLIC 3 /SO
In a game that resembled more of a rollercoaster ride than a hockey game, the Peters Township Indians defeated the Central Catholic Vikings 4-3 in an eight round shootout. Torrey Schwartz gave Peters a 1-0 lead early, only to have Anthony Purdue tie things up before the end of the first period.
Domenick Veltri handed the Vikings a 2-1 lead 9:07 into the third, however Ryan Luppe needed only 6 seconds to respond, tying things up at 2. Purdue gave the Vikings a 3-2 lead at 13:11, but Mark Lehman responded at 14:05, another response.
Andrew Wilburt scored the winning goal in the shootout.
MITCH’S PICS (FULL GALLERY)
SHALER 6, QUAKER VALLEY 3
Adam Baginski netted a hat-trick and Domenick Cerra notched two assists as the Shaler Titans defeated the Quaker Valley Quakers 6-3 at Alpha Ice Arena in the back half of the doubleheader. Spencer Platt opened up the scoring on a penalty shot.
Joshua Bemis scored two and assisted on another for the Quakers.
MONDAY, OCT. 8
RICHLAND TWP., Pa. — Brian Mitchell was at Frozen Pond Arena for a PIHL doubleheader.
SEWICKLEY ACADEMY 5, DEER LAKES 4
Matthew Hajdukiewicz netted a hat-trick and Jackson Paul collected two assists as the Panthers (1-1) defeated the Lancers (1-1) 5-4.
Deer Lakes jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a Dominick Detman tap- in, but Sewickley scored three unanswered and five of the next seven goals to take the lead.
The Lancers late-game push saw them get within a goal of the lead late, only to fall short to the Panthers as the final buzzer sounded.
MITCH’S PICS (Full Gallery)
MARS 5, HAMPTON 0
Mars got five goals from five different scorers and Daniel Mitchell stopped all 19 Hampton shots as the Planets shut out the Talbots in PIHL Double-A North/West Conference action.
Jackson Krock started things off with a shorthanded goal just 1:22 into the game and Nathan Isaac followed up with an even-strength goal eight minutes later to build an early lead for the Planets.
In the second, Nicholas Kiefer scored on the power play and Zachary Korebel and Sean Newman added insurance markers in the third period. Newman also had an assist, William Foley dished out a pair of helpers and Hudson Finn, Luke Raymundo, Mackenzie Riemer and Shaun Waslyson all each found the scoresheet with an assist.
MITCH’S PICS (FULL GALLERY)
CASTLE SHANNON, Pa. — Ed Major II was at Ice Castle Arena for a PIHL doubleheader.
UPPER ST. CLAIR 10, PLUM 6
The Upper St. Clair Panthers, coming off of a 4-3 overtime win over Franklin Regional to open the season, looked to start 2-0 against the Plum Mustangs, who fell in overtime, 7-6, to Hempfield to open their season. Each team could score at will, and it did not take long for the Panthers to show that. They took a 1-0 lead on a penalty shot midway through the first and quickly added a second to go up by two. Within the final four minutes of the period, the Mustangs had put in two quick goals of their own to tie the game before USC took the lead again, 3-2. It was during those final minutes, and most notably during Plum’s two goals, that the crowd began getting into the game more. Both of Plum’s goals were scored in front of the home crowd, so there was some natural jawing between players and fans through the glass as the goal celebrations took place.
The Plum Mustangs celebrate their first-period game-tying goal in front of the Upper St. Clair student section Monday night at Ice Castle — ED MAJOR II
From then on, it was all Upper St. Clair. The Panthers outscored Plum in the second period, 4-1, to take a 7-3 lead. It was during the second period where the home team would score in front of the home crowd, which only created a more intense atmosphere and made it easy to spot an early front-runner for “Mitch’s Challenge” to find the best student section in the PIHL.
An Upper St. Clair student waves a homemade flag as he celebrates his team’s second-period goal — ED MAJOR II
The third period started with one goal apiece by each team within the first 17 seconds; first by Plum then answered by Upper St. Clair. Plum answered again on a power play to cut the Panther’s lead to three goals, but could not complete the rally as they ultimately fell, 10-6.
THOMAS JEFFERSON 5, SOUTH PARK 0
The Eagles of South Park, coming off of a 4-0 win over Wheeling Park on Oct 1 in their home opener, found themselves on the other end of a shutout Monday night against the Jaguars of Thomas Jefferson. After seeing each other in the Greensburg-Salem preseason tournament in Seeptember, where Thomas Jefferson prevailed 6-2, it was clear this game was going to be just as physical. The first period brought a mix of physicality and speed as the Jaguars took a 1-0 lead late. The period was relatively clean, with only a minor hooking call. The second period was where the physical play took prominence. Hard hits, but still clean, were abundant as the boards were heavily used on both ends of the ice. Each team had an abundance of chances but it was Thomas Jefferson that capitalized on two of those to take a 3-0 lead into the second intermission. More hitting from the players and jeering from the crowd only encouraged everything. In the third, Thomas Jefferson managed to put in two more to take the decisive 5-0 victory to start the season 2-0.
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