Burrell hockey team buzzing in 2nd half of PIHL season
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Monday, January 22, 2024 | 9:56 AM
Burrell’s goalie Kooper Price celebrates with teammates after defeating Deer Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Burrell’s Mike Morazcyzk (89) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Deer Lakes earlier this month.
Burrell’s Aidan Petroff sets up a Bucs’ goal against Deer Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Burrell’s Mike Morazcyzk skates with the puck behind the Deer Lakes goal on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Burrell’s goalie Kooper Price makes a save against Deer Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Burrell’s Adam Scheftic talks with goalie Kooper Price during their game against Deer Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Burrell’s Aidan Petroff celebrates after scoring against Deer Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Burrell’s Chantz Watkins celebrates after defeating Deer Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Burrell’s Chantz Watkins celebrates with goalie Kooper Price after defeating Deer Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Burrell’s goalie Kooper Price plays against Deer Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Burrell’s Mike Morazcyzk fires a shot to score against Deer Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Burrell’s Chantz Watkins plays against Deer Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Burrell’s Dante Taliani fires a shot against Deer Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Burrell’s Chantz Watkins celebrates with Mike Morazcyzk after scoring against Deer Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Burrell’s Aidan Petroff scores against Deer Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Alpha Ice Complex.
Aidan Petroff said the Burrell hockey team came out buzzing when the Bucs faced Deer Lakes on Jan. 11.
That word is a good descriptor for how the Bucs have played recently.
Burrell went on to defeat the Lancers, 7-3, in part because of a hat trick by Petroff, and extended its winning streak to six games.
The Bucs haven’t lost since November.
Getting to where they are now has been a process, but they look like they could be PIHL Division II championship contenders again.
“This is my third year with them coaching the same system and style,” Bucs coach Luke Kopchak said. “Now that the upperclassmen are familiar with it, they are starting to coach each other, and that’s really helping me out. The team is starting to know what to expect.”
Petroff got the Bucs on the board with a power-play goal five and a half minutes into the game.
He added two more goals in the second. His hat trick goal was short-handed.
Julian Kemp, Chantz Watkins and Forrest Baird had goals in the first to give the Bucs a 4-0 lead.
“We just played our game and didn’t let them get into our heads,” Petroff said. “We knew they were going to come out and try to get in our heads and try to take us out of our game. We stayed with it, got a few quick goals and got pucks deep to take it home.”
Petroff leads the team in points with 30 and goals with 18. He was a snub for the PIHL All-Star game but recently was named PIHL D2 player of the month for December.
“We at Burrell were a little surprised he didn’t make the All-Star game, but we’re happy he got player of the month and got some recognition,” Kopchak said.
The Bucs are still well represented at the D2 All-Star game, which will kick-off the PIHL All-Star festivities at noon Jan. 28 at RMU Island Sports Center.
Goalie Kooper Price, defenders Kemp and Watkins and forwards Mike Morazcyzk, Tyler Danko and John Lukac were selected.
Morazcyzk (28), Danko (27) and Lukac (24) are second through fourth on the team in points. Price has an 11-3 record and three shutouts.
Kemp and Watkins have been productive offensively as defensemen, notching 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Having a fast, attacking style is what Kopchak has envisioned since he took the job three years ago. They’re finding the right balance this season.
“The biggest thing for us is speed,” Kopchak said. “We’ve been a speed team for a couple years now, but we’re becoming a lot more structured. There’s less running around, and we’re playing good defensively. That’s starting to show.”
The Bucs (11-3) are in second place in the D2 Gold Division with six games to play. Neshannock is two points behind them and has two games in hand. The Bucs split with Neshannock. Their other two losses came against Bishop Canevin, which is undefeated.
Burrell’s win against Deer Lakes puts them in good position to make the playoffs. They’ll look to continue their good form down the stretch run.
“It was really good to get a win against a team like that: A really good team in our division,” Petroff said. “We just got to keep it rolling, keep doing good things and it will all work out.”
Jerin Steele is a freelance writer
Tags: Burrell
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