PIHL Notebook – 03/16/2015

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, March 16, 2015 | 6:29 PM

Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. With the 2015 Penguins Cup champions crowned, there is still more to do. Since we honored the three “pure” classifications with semifinal preview capsules last week, it’s only fair we give the same treatment to the fine folks in Division II. Plus, we have a brief look at the PA Cup Finals being played this weekend in State College, though at present we only know two out of the three final matchups. So, let’s light the lamp on this special postseason edition of “PIHL Notebook.”

PIHL DIVISION II SEMIFINALS:

#8 Carrick Cougars (22-0-0) vs #4 Meadville Bulldogs (12-8-1) AT Bladerunners in Warrendale on Monday, March 16th at 6:00pm on MSAsports.net

CARRICK

Number of Penguins Cups (Last Time Won): N/A

Team Stats: 212 GF, 18 GA

Three Stars: Anthony Manuel (34 G, 31 A); Vincent Maccarone (34 G, 30 A); Mark Granatire (25 G, 39 A)

Playoff Results: First Round – Wheeling Central Catholic 8-1 (Maccarone 4 G; Granatire 1 G, 4 A); Quarterfinals – Harbor Creek 6-5 (Maccarone 2 G; Manuel 2 G)

Three Keys to Victory: 1) Use short shifts to exploit your depth with five players over 20 goals during the regular season; 2) Win the special teams battle; 3) Don’t take this well-coached team lightly.

MEADVILLE

Number of Penguins Cups (Last Time Won): 9 (2003)

Team Stats: 86 GF, 63 GA

Three Stars: Bryan Ray (17 G 12 A); Trevor Johnson (12 G, 14 A); Cody Passilla (11 G, 9 A)

Playoff Results: Quarterfinals – Blackhawk 3-1 (Ray 2 G; Sam Kinneston 23 SV)

Three Keys to Victory: 1) Jamie Plunkett has been there and back in this league, so his coaching experience will matter; 2) Focus 110% on defense first, and let the offense come in transition; 3) Don’t fall behind by more than one goal because you cannot run-and-gun with Carrick.

Previous Meeting(s): N/A

#2 Indiana Little Indians (14-5-2) vs #3 Beaver Bobcats (13-8-0) AT Bladerunners in Warrendale on Monday, March 16th at 8:00pm on MSAsports.net

INDIANA

Number of Penguins Cups (Last Time Won): N/A

Team Stats: 97 GF, 60 GA

Three Stars: Luke Lewandowski (24 G, 19 A); Thomas Petro (10 G, 21 A); Zane McElheny (13-5-2, 2.91 GAA, 0.887 SV%, 1 SO)

Playoff Results: Quarterfinals – Peters Township 3-2 (Patrick O’Neal GWG, 1 A; McElheny 17 SV)

Three Keys to Victory: 1) Win the special teams battle, as the Indians did in their regular season victory by a 2-1 count; 2) Get Petro involved in the offense from the back end; 3) Keep shooting in general, as Indiana carried the shot margin through two meetings.

BEAVER

Number of Penguins Cups (Last Time Won): 2 (2001)

Team Stats: 80 GF, 58 GA

Three Stars: Ryan Hartman (12 G, 20 A); Antoni Chirgott (18 G, 13 A); Robbie Halvin (8-5-0, 2.45 GAA, 0.930 SV%, 1 SO)

Playoff Results: Quarterfinals – Morgantown 4-0 (Chirgott 2 G; Halvin 25 SV)

Three Keys to Victory: 1) Hold the shot total down, as the Indians have fired off 83 total over two previous meetings; 2) Get your own blue line weapon involved in John Cahill; 3) Keep clicking on a power play which has produced three of the six goals scored in the season series.

Previous Meeting(s): 11/19/14 – IN 3, BE 2 (Petro GWG; McElheny 18 SV); 2/12/15 – BE 4, IN 3 (Chirgott GWG, 1 A; Halvin 51 SV)

2015 PENNSYLVANIA CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS @ PEGULA ICE ARENA, STATE COLLEGE

Class AAA – Canon-McMillan vs. Holy Ghost Prep

About the opponent: In the “Prep” division of the ICSHL, the teams only play an eight-game regular season, so bear that in mind. That said, credit Nicholas Bohatiuk, who notched 15 points (10 G, 5 A) in only seven appearances. Alex Taylor was the team’s top goaltender, going 5-2-0 with a 2.71 GAA, 0.909 save percentage and one shutout. Holy Ghost Prep posted an overall regular season mark of 6-2-0, tied for first with La Salle. They then blew through the Flyers Cup bracket, outscoring three opponents by a 26-8 margin.

Class AA – Erie Cathedral Prep vs. Downingtown East

About the opponent: Downingtown East had a fairly mediocre regular season, going 9-7-2 in the Ches-Mont division of the ICSHL. The team still boasted three double-digit goal scorers in Joe Kubachka (18 G, 9 A), Jack MaGee (14 G, 9 A) and Collin Harple (13 G, 7 A). Lead backstop Jeff Cummings went 7-2-1 with a 3.18 GAA, 0.872 save percentage and one shutout. They were dominant in the postseason, outscoring four opponents by a 22-5 count.

Class A – Mars vs. WC Bayard Rustin / WC Henderson (Game being played 3/16 @ 6:30 PM)

That wraps up this edition of “PIHL Notebook,” but check back every Monday through March for more news from around the league. In the meantime, Adam Hoerner and Josh Rowntree host the tenth season finale of “The PIHL Power Play” on its regular night, this Wednesday at 8:00 PM. The guys will check in one final time with the 2015 Penguins Cup champions, preview the Division II title game and take a last look ahead to the state finals. Your home for the 2015 Penguins Cup Playoffs is the MSA Sports Network!