PIHL announces January Players of the Month

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, February 9, 2018 | 5:45 PM

The PIHL has announced its players of the month for January.

Those selected will receive tickets to and be recognized at the Penguins home game against the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 27.

Class AAA — Sergio Benitez, goaltender, Plum

The senior helped Plum win two of three games in the month to stay in the playoff race.

The Mustangs topped Butler and scored a shootout victory over Mt. Lebanon.

Benitez stopped 91 of 97 shots in those three games for a 1.06 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage over 156 minutes.

His efforts have helped Plum stay in the hunt for the eighth and final playoff spot in Class AAA.

Class AA — J.T. Schimizzi, forward, Latrobe

A PIHL all-star this season, the senior helped the Wildcats post four victories in five games in January as they ascended to first in the Southeastern Conference.

Schimizzi totaled 12 points — five goals, seven assists — in five games and also had no penalty minutes.

His overtime goal against Upper St. Clair on Jan. 4 lifted Latrobe to a key 5-4 victory.

Class A — Michael Sedlak, forward, Chartiers Valley

Sedlak's performance on the ice earned him a spot in the all-star game Jan. 28, and he excelled to the tune of 16 points in six games with eight goals and eight assists.

He averaged 2.7 points per game, and it included both a game-winning goal and a score on the power play.

Sedlak helped the Colts go 5-1 in the month to surge into a playoff position.

Division 2 — Ryan Brown, forward, Connellsville

Brown recorded eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in just five games as the Falcons went 4-1 in January.

He scored a game winner and added a goal on the power play. It all has helped Connellsville to a third-place standing in the 10-team Division 2 standings.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Chartiers Valley, Connellsville, Latrobe, Plum