Pine-Richland hockey finds recipe for success with power play, defense

By: Jerin Steele
Sunday, March 10, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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There wasn’t much separation in PIHL Class 3A with four teams finishing within one point of each other, but Pine-Richland has a couple traits that helped them eke into the top seed in the Penguins Cup playoffs.

The Rams boast the top-ranked power play and have been exceptional at closing out games, yielding only eight goals in the third period.

It was enough to finish one point ahead of North Allegheny, Seneca Valley and Peters Township, and those are the four teams that advanced to the Penguins Cup semifinals.

“They’re a good group,” Pine-Richland coach Jordan Yoklic said. “They want to win. They listen. We have a good core of seniors. The upperclassmen and lowerclassmen are all buying into our goals that we’re trying to accomplish. They understand if we have a lead, protecting the lead and managing the puck is important.”

In Pine-Richland’s 3-1 win in the first round over Bethel Park on March 4, the formula of striking with the man advantage and closing out games rang true.

Logan Kozak sparked a three-goal first period with a power-play goal from the point three minutes into the game. AJ Versylza and Aiden Tarasovich added a goal each.

Then, holding a two-goal lead in the third, the Rams limited the Black Hawks to only two shots on goal.

For the game, the Rams allowed only nine shots.

In the third period, they have a plus-15 goal differential.

“Our leadership group led by our captain (Zach) Howard really helps pull us together,” Rams defenseman Doug Van Meter said. “During the (second) intermission, he really keeps our heads in the right space. Then when we come out, we just leave it all on the ice.”

Yoklic joked that he yells a lot and buys the team Gatorade to get them to play a disciplined style of hockey.

Whether it’s the Gatorade or not, the Rams certainly made simple plays when called upon and weren’t afraid to get in the way of a shot when Bethel Park got a chance to put the puck toward goal.

“There was some crucial plays at the end,” Yoklic said. “Credit Kozak, Van Meter and (Benjamin) Baileys with blocking shots. It’s good to see guys buying into that, because it all adds up at the end of the day.”

The power play is clicking at 27.7%, which is five percent better than any of the other four teams in the semifinals.

Yoklic said having a lot of options helps make their power play dangerous.

“We have two good units,” Yoklic said. “You can call them 1A and 1B. We have some weapons with good shots and guys that are skilled that want to make the right play. Then we have other guys that are hungry to get around the net to finish. Kozak got our (power play) goal (Monday) at the top (of the zone). He’s got a good shot and it paid off on that particular power play.”

Pine-Richland drew the two-time defending champion Indians in the semifinals, and in a one-and-done scenario anything can happen. But the Rams were hopeful their play could lift them to a championship for the first time since 2019.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Pine-Richland