Bethel Park Black Hawks Win High School Hockey National Championship

By: Bruce Markey
Sunday, March 30, 2014 | 3:25 PM

After losing to Peters Township in the PIHL Penguins Cup championship game nearly two weeks ago, the Bethel Park Black Hawks regrouped in a major way and now they have a NATIONAL title to show for it. Bethel Park became the first Western Pennsylvania team to win the USA Hockey national Championship when they edged Providence, Illinois 2-1 Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska.

Both Bethel Park and state champion Peters Township were a part of the 32-team national tournament. While the Indians were eliminated in pool play, the Black Hawks won their pool to advance to the Quarterfinals.  There they beat Sioux Falls, South Dakota 3-0 on Saturday morning, then knocked off Des Moines, Iowa 3-1 in the National Semifinals Saturday night.

In the championship game after a scoreless first period, Providence scored two minutes into the second period to take a 1-0 lead.

However the Hawks tied it at 1-1 with four minutes left in the second when #21 Chris Siak scored on a 2-on-1 break on a nice set up by Tyler Kruczewski.  Just over two minutes later, Siak set up fellow senior Jake Salak who buried a wrist shot with 1:35 left in the second to give Bethel Park a 2-1 lead.

In the third period, the Hawks defensive style, along with several outstanding saves by BP goaltender Tre Lowe, helped them hold on for the thrilling national championship.

Bethel Park out shot Providence 28-24 as the Celtics fell to 54-5-2 for the season.

Siak was the top scorer for the tournament with 5 goals and 9 assists in six games while Lowe picked up four wins between the pipes for Bethel Park, who finish this memorable season with a final record of 24-5-0.

Tags: Bethel Park