Canon-McMillan featured in PIHL face-off event
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League will host a kick-off event for the local high school season. Dubbed the “PIHL Premiere,” the inaugural event will be held Oct. 6 at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center.
Canon-McMillan will host to Seneca Valley at 7 p.m. in a Class AA match-up while Freeport will face Quaker Valley at 9:15 p.m. in a Class A clash.
Canon-McMillan and Seneca Valley met three times last season, with the Big Macs taking the two regular-season contests before the Raiders came out on top in the first round of the Penguins Cup playoffs. Both squads are expected to be in contention for the Penguins Cup Class AAA championship, which was won last season by Peters Township.
Peters Township is also the defending state champion while Bethel Park is the reigning national champion.
Carter Ekberg captains the Indians this season along with assistants Sam Barnes, Brady Cochrane and Chad Wyatt as they travel to Penn Trafford for their season opener Oct. 10. The Indians host Upper St. Clair in their home opener at 7 p.m. Oct. 14.
QV and Freeport also met three times last season, with all three games being decided by two goals or less. Their contest in the Penguins Cup semifinals in March was one of the most-thrilling games of the 2013-14 PIHL season, with the Quakers scoring twice in the final minute – including once at the buzzer – to rally for a 4-3 win.
Visit www.pihlhockey.com for more information about the league.