Norwin duo selected to play in PIHL All-Star game

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

There’s always a few signs that a program is turning things around.

The first sign is wins and losses. Another is a shot at reaching the postseason. One other sign is gaining the respect from peers in the sport. The Norwin hockey team can now check all the above boxes.

Junior Jacob Dally and sophomore Aidan Rosko have earned the respect of their opponents as both were selected to play in the 2019 PIHL Class A all-star game.

“I was surprised and honored to be selected, but you can’t be successful without the help of your teammates,” said Rosko, who leads the Knights in goals (18) and points (22).

This marks the first time two Norwin (7-6) players were named all-stars under third-year coach Dennis Tokarski. Rosko, who plays club hockey for the under-16 Pittsburgh Vengeance team, won’t be able to make the Jan. 27 all-star game at Robert Morris; he has a scheduling conflict and will be playing in a tournament in Connecticut at the time. Instead, Norwin junior Mason Pivarnik will take his place.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Tokarski said. “It speaks well for the team and speaks well for the club. That’s what we’re trying to do and trying to grow it and make sure we’re getting recognized and working our way to the top.”

Pivarnik ranks third on the team in points (20) and second in both goals (12) and assists (8).

Dally, a forward, was sitting in his AP calculus class when he received a text from his mother that he was selected to be an all-star.

“It’s an honor that the other teams’ coaches saw that I should be an all-star and they picked me as a nominee,” Dally said. “I feel like four or five players could have been selected. It’s honor to represent my team.”

The Knights have had an up-and-down season. After starting with a 6-1 record, Norwin lost five straight games to end 2018.

Norwin got back in the win column with an 8-7 overtime against Wheeling Catholic on Jan. 14. The Knights entered the week in third place behind Bishop McCort and Indiana in the PIHL Class A East standings. Norwin has a one- game lead over fourth-place Westmont Hilltop (6-5).

The Knights were to begin their march to a playoff spot during their second trip through the conference schedule on Tuesday against Bishop McCort (11-3), after deadline for this edition.

“We are in the playoffs this year,” Rosko said. “I am a sophomore and Jacob is a junior, it will be good to have us both coming back next year. We still have unfinished business this season. Hopefully, we can jell as a team and play our best hockey down the stretch.”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Norwin