PIHL Notebook: 2011-2012 CLASS AA High School Hockey Preview

By: Bruce Markey
Monday, October 10, 2011 | 3:57 PM

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Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook” as we continue out countdown to faceoff on October 24 with a full team-by-team preview. This week, Class AA takes center stage (or ice), and while it might be the smallest classification this season with 13 teams, there is no shortage of quality teams and storylines.

As we reported last week, say goodbye to a juggernaut in Peters Township, but welcome Kiski Area to replace them, winners of multiple titles in the Open Class. Meanwhile, Latrobe has plenty coming back to make their chances of going after a fourth Penguins Cup championship realistic, but Bishop Canevin looks to be a mighty defending gold medalist. Welcome North Hills back to varsity competition after taking a year off, one of several recent underperformers you will read about below hoping this winter is the start of something good.

(Teams listed in order of 2010-11 winning percentage)

PIHL SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE

SECTION 1:

Montour Spartans

2010-11 record: 12-6-2; T-1^st Section 1

2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals

Key departures: Zach Milnarcik (22 G, 30 A); Matt Penz (10-3-2, 2.39 GAA, 0.922 SV %)

Key projected returns: Josh Castleveter (8 G, 6 A); Julian DiFilippo (2-3-0, 3.40 GAA, 0.868 SV %, 1 SO)

The skinny: Montour was solid last season with 92 goals scored and 53 allowed ranking the Spartans eighth and fifth respectively among their peers. Some may wonder why a team with so much veteran talent failed to make a longer postseason run, but the guys inside that locker room right now are undoubtedly focused on the present. Gone are last year’s top three scorers and starting goaltender, so it will fall on the former supporting cast to step up and lead the charge to the Consol Energy Center.

West Allegheny Indians

2010-11 record: 11-7-2; T-1^st Section 2

2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals

Key departures: John Kaltenecker (10 G, 8 A); Derek Schade (4 G, 11 A)

Key projected returns: Jonathan Levitt (16 G, 7 A); Jason Kumpfmiller (11-7-2, 2.30 GAA, 0.919 SV %, 2 SO)

The skinny: West Allegheny was far from being an offensive dynamo in ‘10’-11 with 66 goals, but 43 allowed ranked the Indians third in the class. With Kumpfmiller entering his senior season having played all but 30 minutes as a junior, West A has every reason to think the defense will remain a strong suit. Continuing the good news, three of the top four scorers are back, with Levitt having accounted for eight goals on special teams, including six while shorthanded.

Moon Tigers

2010-11 record: 7-13-0; 4^th Section 2

2010-11 playoffs: Lost in First Round

Key departures: Nigel Crighton (33 G, 25 A); Denny Beulieu (13 G, 10 A)

Key projected returns: Trevor Handlovitch (10 G, 17 A); Matt Miller (12 G, 11 A)

The skinny: Moon barely made the playoffs last March, and it will surely take some getting used to not seeing Crighton in a Tigers uniform. However, perhaps the relative youth of this team – only five seniors last year – and the key roles some of those underclassmen played will make the transition a bit smoother. One of those youngsters is goaltender Andy Grace, who played 825 minutes as a sophomore while posting a 4.69 GAA and 0.862 save percentage.

North Hills Indians

2010-11 record: Did not play

The skinny: After winning just seven games over its last three seasons in Class AAA from 2007-08 through ’09-’10, including a winless ’08-’09 campaign, North Hills took a year off from varsity competition and now hits the reset button as a member of Class AA. For what it’s worth, the Indians were dominant at the junior varsity level last year, going 16-2-0 with 91 goals scored and just 18 allowed. With that success fresh in their minds, their new opponents would do well not to take North Hills lightly.

SECTION 2:

Bishop Canevin Crusaders

2010-11 record: 16-4-0; T-1^st Section 3

2010-11 playoffs: Won Penguins Cup & Pennsylvania Cup

Key departures: Frank Vance (16 G, 29 A); Zack Daley (11-5-0, 2.69 GAA, 0.843 SV %, 2 SO)

Key projected returns: Matt Walsh (22 G, 29 A); Randy Unger (16 G, 18 A)

The skinny: The scene of Bishop Canevin celebrating its 2011 Penguins Cup victory over Peters Township will stick in the memories of Crusaders’ fans for quite some time, especially after three straight years of losing in the semifinals to reach that moment. Of course, as with any defending champion, the question now is whether they can do it again. It will be tough to follow a class-leading 113 goals, not to mention a fourth-ranked 44 allowed. The return of leading scorer Walsh and playoff hero Unger will make the former a bit easier. The departure of Daley is an obvious hit to the defense, though young backup Nikita Meskin was brilliant in limited action with a 4-0-0 mark, 1.99 GAA one shutout.

Chartiers Valley Colts

2010-11 record: 16-4-0; T-1^st Section 3

2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Semifinals

Key departures: Bob Tracy (20 G, 27 A); Bryan Waldron (17 G, 10 A)

Key projected returns: Justin Sabilla (34 G, 29 A); Noah Stevenson (16-4-0, 2.73 GAA, 0.899 SV %, 2 SO)

The skinny: Chartiers Valley was nothing short brilliant last year, so whatever shadow Canevin may be casting in their direction is a short one. Consider the Colts matched BC’s goal total while ranking right behind them in defense with 51 allowed. Sabilla returns after finishing second in the class scoring race to lead the offense. Good as he was with seven power play goals, Waldron will be missed on special teams having scored nine. Still plenty of offense here, though, which has been the case for a while. The big story in ’10-’11 was the emergence of a top goalie, and Stevenson still has plenty of hockey left to play at CV.

Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers

2010-11 record: 8-10-2; 3^rd Section 2

2010-11 playoffs: Lost in First Round

Key departures: Jacob Digello (9 G, 7 A); Anthony Tebaldi (7 G, 6 A)

Key projected returns: Jimmy Bufalino (20 G, 16 A); Chris Coombs (19 G, 15 A)

The skinny: Erie Prep was one of six teams in the class to break 100 goals while finishing middle of the pack with 76 allowed. What propelled this team to a sub-.500 record is thus a bit of an enigma, but there is plenty coming back to try and right that wrong. The Ramblers saw four guys top 20 points a year ago, and all will suit up again. The question will be whether Jacob Varo can make his senior year between the pipes one to remember. His 6-5-2 record looked good, but surely he would like to improve the 3.48 GAA and 0.861 save percentage just a bit.

 

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE

SECTION 3:

Kiski Area Cavaliers

2010-11 record: 13-6-1; 1^st Section 4-Open

2010-11 playoffs: Won Chiefs Cup; Lost Open Cup

Key departures: Nick Faletti (11 G, 9 A); Phil Cappo (8-4-1, 3.49 GAA, 0.861 SV %)

Key projected returns: Brandon Donnelly (16 G, 15 A); (Ben Crawford (6-2-0, 2.97 GAA, 0.855 SV %, 1 SO)

The skinny: Despite losing two straight Open Cup games, Kiski Area figured back-to-back Chiefs Cup victories were enough to justify a move up to Class AA. When one looks at the section now called home by the Cavaliers, you have to consider them the preseason favorite. Of course, some of that has to do with Kiski getting its top scorer back, not to mention a very solid backup goaltender apparently suited to replace a standout performer in Cappo. With those two plus four more players who reached the 10-point mark, look out for this bunch.

Gateway Gators

2010-11 record: 5-14-1; 2^nd Section 4

2010-11 playoffs: Did not qualify

Key departures: Jeffrey Donatelli (5 G, 30 A)

Key projected returns: Taylor Siwik (20 G, 22 A); Troy McAteer (24 G, 16 A)

The skinny: Scoring was not Gateway’s problem in ’10-’11 – any team should be happy with a 98-goal performance. No, the issue was keeping enough pucks out of the net, which the Gators failed to do 112 times. The offense will no doubt be good again. Even without stud playmaker Donatelli in the lineup, five other double-digit point getters return. Back to the defense, let’s be fair to goaltender Tyler Perhac. He was only a freshman, and for somebody who only notched five victories, a 5.38 GAA and 0.814 save percentage could be a lot worse.

Franklin Regional Panthers

2010-11 record: 0-20-0; 4^th Section 4

2010-11 playoffs: Did not qualify

Key departures: None

Key projected returns: Nicholas Cecere (9 G, 5 A); Josh Coyne (9 G, 2 A)

The skinny: A lot of PIHL programs go through this. You get good for a period of years, but eventually, graduation catches up with you. Not everyone can reload as quickly as the Latrobe’s of the world, but give Franklin Regional this much – they are coming back in ’11-’12 after putting a goose egg in the win column. There were only three seniors on that winless roster, so this team will continue to learn, and hopefully improve, together. This includes the return of the Panthers’ top two scorers in Cecere and Coyne.

SECTION 4:

Latrobe Wildcats

2010-11 record: 15-4-1; 1^st Section 4

2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Semifinals

Key departures: Zach LaDuke (36 G, 30 A); Alec Koluder (1 G, 13 A)

Key projected returns: Josh Singley (18 G, 31 A); Shane Brudnok (12-4-1, 1.86 GAA, 0.910 SV %, 4 SO)

The skinny: Three straight Penguins and Pennsylvania Cups – a run which will be remembered and compared to for years to come, and if it had to end, it’s a safe bet Latrobe is fine with it ending to the team which would go on to capture both PIHL and state gold itself in the Crusaders. The Wildcats still impressed last season, ranking sixth with 101 goals and leading the class with a mere 32 allowed. Yes, scoring champ LaDuke will be missed, but the next five guys on the team leader board before Alec Koluder all return. Of course, so does Brudnok, which is bad news for any opposing offense.

Plum Mustangs

2010-11 record: 7-11-2; 4^th Section 3-AAA

2010-11 playoffs: Lost in First Round

Key departures: Nicholas Cicolini (19 G, 15 A); Cody Cenci (11 G, 13 A)

Key projected returns: Hunter Brett (19 G, 12 A); Andrew Walters (5 G, 9 A)

The skinny: Plum was a bit lucky to make the Class AAA playoffs last season, and with perhaps one too many graduation hits coupled with that knowledge, the Mustangs ride into town looking for a fresh start. With four of the team’s seven 10-point producers out of the picture, Brett will be relied upon in a big way this winter. As for the goaltending, Taylor Cestra is young, so a 4.35 GAA and 0.853 save percentage are hopefully something he can build on.

Pine-Richland Rams

2010-11 record: 9-10-1; 2^nd Section 1

2010-11 playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals

Key departures: Julian Rizza (22 G, 26 A); Ryan Hanahan (14 G, 16 A)

Key projected returns: Scott McAliney (11 G, 19 A); Zach Richey (9 G, 10 A)

The skinny: The 102 goals Pine-Richland scored certainly helped get them into the playoffs last March, but 88 allowed may not have been the best recipe for expecting a trip to Consol. The Rams will not be helped by the graduation of their two leading scorers, and with some of the supporting cast also gone, McAliney and Richey need to find another gear. It was goaltender by committee last time out with Brendan Bagnato and Grant Goldberg posting GAA’s north of 4.00 and save percentages in the 80’s. If PR wants to go deeper into the postseason, one of those guys may need to step up and grab the starting job.

And with that, we are halfway through our ’11-’12 PIHL season preview. Check back next Monday for a look at the landscape in Class A. The exclusive home for the 2012 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!

Tags: Bishop Canevin, Chartiers Valley, Franklin Regional, Gateway, Kiski School, Latrobe, West Allegheny