Franklin Regional hockey trio finally gets to play in all-star game together

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, January 18, 2019 | 7:45 PM

Daniel Soltesz, Olda Virag and Mathieu Sliva are best friends, so, naturally, they got together to listen to the TribHSSN PIHL Power Play show last week for the revealing of all-star rosters.

With this being their senior year, they wanted to hear all three of their names called, so they could play together. They got their wish.

The trio will represent Franklin Regional in the Class AA game Jan. 27 at RMU Island Sports Center. The game will start at 2:45 p.m.

“To get to go to the all-star game together is a dream come true,” Sliva said. “We’ve played together for a long time. Olda and I have been playing together since we were in mites, so this is really exciting.”

Soltesz, Virag and Silva have been named to the all-star game before, but this is the first time they get to play together.

Virag had to miss the event the last two seasons because of obligations with his Esmark Stars travel team. He is happy to finally have his schedule allow him to participate in the game.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to play with my buddies and the top players from other high schools in the area,” Virag said. “It provides a whole new level to high school hockey, because there will be a lot of skilled players out there.”

Soltesz, a goaltender, will make his third appearance in the all-star game, and Sliva, a forward and Franklin Regional’s captain, was selected for the second season in a row.

“Usually, playing against another team is pretty intense, but in an all-star game, you put all that aside and make some new friends,” Soltesz said. “You get to reconnect with some people you’ve played with on travel teams. Overall it is a pretty good time.”

Soltesz and Virag won back-to-back Penguins Cup championships in Class A their freshman and sophomore years, and Sliva joined them for the second one. They have gone from younger guys on championship teams to leaders on a team that is battling in a tight Class AA South/East Division, where they are 7-5-2 and in fourth place entering Monday’s game with Pine-Richland.

Sliva and Soltesz plan to attend IUP and play for its ACHA Division I team. Virag said he is considering Pitt and playing for its ACHA Division I team.

Virag, an alternate captain, missed two games with a shoulder ailment but still leads the team with 23 points in 12 games played.

“Olda has some of the best hands I’ve ever seen,” Sliva said. “He gets the puck and makes things happen. He makes everyone around him better, and he’s something to watch when he has the puck. You have to double- or even triple-team him, because if you leave him one-on-one he’ll beat you. He’ll do something every game that will shock you.”

Sliva is tied for second on the team with 18 points and has eight goals.

“Matt has always been a gritty type of player,” Virag said. “He’s not scared to get the puck deep, go after it and play the body. He’s always had an aggressive mentality, and as we’ve become older he’s using his skill to get the puck around guys. He’s also getting his head up and making good plays.”

Soltesz has played in every game for the Panthers, and he has seen a lot of pucks. Franklin Regional has allowed nearly 35 shots per game, but Soltesz has battled to give his team a chance most nights.

“I’ve played on a lot of teams, and Danny is one of those goaltenders that when he’s on his game you just want to sit back and watch,” Sliva said. “I’ve never seen someone make so many spectacular saves to help a team win. The past two years have been more difficult. We’ve had to play a lot of defense, and the other teams rack up shots and he keeps us in it most of the time.”

The all-star game will provide a reprieve for the trio before Franklin Regional finishes the season with conference games against Penn-Trafford, Plum, Hempfield and Baldwin. With only six points separating Hempfield, Franklin Regional, Baldwin and Penn-Trafford from third to sixth in the standings, those games will go a long way toward determining playoff seedings.

“We didn’t know what to expect coming into this year, because we have a good bit of freshmen on the team,” Soltesz said. “So far, we have a winning record, but no win has come easy for us. We have had to grind out all of our wins, which isn’t a bad thing. It helps the young guys and keeps things exciting.

“We have some important games coming up. We can finish top three, or we could get knocked out if we don’t play our game.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer.

Tags: Franklin Regional