Kiski hockey team reloads in quest to defend Class A title

By: Antonio Rossetti
Monday, October 30, 2023 | 12:07 PM

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Kiski Area’s hockey team put together a nine-game winning streak last season before losing two of its final three regular-season games.

The Cavaliers were the underdogs heading into the Penguins Cup playoffs. Matt Behrik said no one expected them to win, but the Cavaliers continued to battle.

“Fox Chapel said to Greensburg that, ‘We’ll see you in the championship,’ and we won that game and it was really special,” Behrik said about beating Greensburg Salem. “It was just good to show everyone, but we were just ready. We wanted that game. That was really special to all of us.”

Despite losing their last regular-season matchup to Fox Chapel, the Cavaliers defeated the Foxes in the final 4-1 to take home the PIHL Class A Penguins Cup.

“You didn’t notice it until we were in (the final) because it just came all together, like the puzzle clicked together and we were all on top of things,” defenseman Ethan Bombalski said. “Everyone was on the same page. Everyone had one goal, and as soon as everyone got their mind straight at this point, we had each other on the same page. Everyone had the same mindset, the same goals and we just capitalized and we finished it off.”

Bombalski played a key role in the Cavaliers’ success as he tallied two points a game, with 18 goals and 18 assists.

After the departure of nearly half of the team to graduation, Kiski Area looks to reload.

Ethan George and Kyle Guido also are among the players who graduated. George tallied 50 points, and Guido finished with 44 in 20 games last season.

“They gave us the great opportunity of seeing what it takes at the moment to win some big games and have the courage just like go out there and get it done,” Bombalski said of last year’s senior class. “It’s going to be a tough year for us with the loss of our guys, but I think we’ll have the mentality of we just we got to push. Our opponents, obviously, are going to be pretty good, but we got to push every game. We got to give them the best that we got to have the best game possible.”

The Cavaliers are returning just 11 skaters this season. In their first game this year, they had just seven players, which led to long, grueling shifts for the squad. Bombalski and Jacob Kraus, two of the team’s leaders, were out with injury in the first game.

Dwayne Wilson has taken over as coach and understands the challenge of having a short bench.

“It makes it really hard,” Wilson said. “We have a lot of talent. It’s just we just don’t have enough guys on the team. But I still think we’re going to be pretty decent once we get everybody back healthy and up and running.”

To conserve energy, Wilson said his team is playing a 1-2-2, neutral zone trap with a focus on defense.

“We’re playing the old, defensive style of hockey,” Wilson said. “Dump it down and play in a starting position where the guys can’t come in and try to stop in the neutral zone. This year is going to be kind of a boring, not high scoring year for us because it’s going to be a lot of defense.”

Wilson said the Cavaliers have bought in on this style and look to put it to good use. Wilson knows they have the talent and have his trust when it is time to go on the attack.

“They know when that opportunity is there,” Wilson said. “They’re very disciplined. They play defense, but if they see that break, they can see it and my guys know. They’ll take it, and they’ll rush. I’m very confident with them. The biggest thing for me right now is just getting my entire team together with no injuries.”

One of those talented players returning is Bombalski, who was named captain this year.

“He’s just an all-around good player,” Wilson said. “He’s going to be a pretty strong force this year. I call him (Kris) Letang. He’s all over the ice. The other guys know that they watch where he’s at and know what he’s doing. If his wingers are going to drop back, we will drop back.”

Wilson also said Behrik will help lead the defense while Bombalski, Gross and Kraus will spearhead the offense as the team’s centers.

“I feel like (Kraus and Gross) are going to have a big offensive push for us this year knowing that we lost two of our biggest weapons,” Bombalski said. “Also, I feel like just as a defensive group, we’re going to be able to put a lot more into it this year, and we’re going to be able to produce offense from the back end as well.”

Kraus averaged a point a game in 13 games, and Gross scored five goals and notched an assist in 18 games last season.

Behrik, who is an alternate captain, is preparing for his new role as a senior leader. He had 10 points in 20 games last season.

“It gives you a lot of pressure because you have these kids who look up to you,” Behrik said. “I’ve known most of these kids since fifth and sixth grade, and I know most of them look up to me. It just gives you a good amount of pressure and makes you nervous sometimes, but you gotta realize that they look up to you, so you have to stay chill and just act calm.”

The thought of a shortened bench and a smaller roster looms, but Behrik said they have zero concerns. After tasting victory, he and the Cavaliers want to return to the championship game.

“We’re going to have to battle, and it’s not going to be easy, but we’re not going to get it handed to us either,” Behrik said. “We’re just going to have to battle and battle and battle. We’re going to have to want it.”

Bombalski said the team has one focus: to never give up.

“We’ve been preaching at practices, coaches have been preaching, players have been preaching: We want to stick on our ‘no quit,’ ” Bombalski said. “No matter how tough our games might be, or how tough a situation we’re put in, we aren’t going to quit, we’re going to give our opponents 110% for 51 minutes per game, and if it goes to overtime, we’ll give them 120% over time.”

Wilson also coached the players throughout middle school. A varsity assistant last year, he is assisted this year by former middle school coach Mack Kraus.

“He’s a good coach,” Behrik said of Wilson. “He’s rough on us and he’s a good coach overall. He really talks to you. He doesn’t just yell at you and carry on the game. He’ll talk to you and tell you what’s wrong and tell you what you need to do to improve on your game. He’s not just going to baby you. He’s here to win.”

Tags: Kiski Area