Area teams advance in PIHL playoffs
Mt. Lebanon (10-8-1) and Peters Township (15-3-1) will face off at 7 p.m. March 14 at RMU Island Sports Center while Bethel Park (14-5-0) and North Allegheny will battle at 9 p.m. to see which teams advance to the Class AAA finals in the Penguins Cup tournament.
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League will conduct all of its championship games at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry. The AAA contest has an 8:30 p.m. start on March 19.
The Blue Devils earned their semifinal berth by eliminating Erie Cathedral Prep, 7-3, in a first-round contest played March 4 at the Mt. Lebanon Ice Center.
A four-goal, third period vaulted the Blue Devils past the Ramblers (7-10-2). Before Griffin Erdely ignited the scoring barrage, Lebo clung to a 3-2 lead.
Wyatt George and Luke Husak both registered two goals. George also added an assist.
Samuel Mitchell, Griffin Erdely and Feno Monaco garnered single tallies.
Ian Post and Branwen Pollett picked up two assists. Timothy Adler and Aidan Weaver also dished off one each.
In the nets, Bradley Weaver faced 44 shots, making 41 saves.
Meanwhile, the No.1 seeded Indians blanked Canon-McMillan, 3-0, on March 5 at Printscape Arena in Southpointe. The Big Macs finished 6-13-1.
Torrey Schwartz, Nico Watsula and Jeremy Anthos racked up the goals. Schwartz and Anthos also picked up assists as did Eric Wilbert and Ryan Luppe.
In the nets, Alex Wilbert earned the shutout. He stopped 17 shots.
To advance to its semifinal match-up against the Tigers, BP defeated Central Catholic (7-10-2), 6-3, March 4 at the Spencer Family YMCA Ice Rink.
Jeffrey Bele exploded for four goals, all in the decisive third period.
After two periods the game was deadlocked, 1-1.
Vincent Vituccio scored in the first period and Sean Maerkle added to Bele’s third-period barrage.
Jeremy Bueller, George Tomko, Austin Read, Luke McLinden, Thomas Worcester and Adam Slater each recorded assists.
Nicholas Guimond made 14 saves to earn the win in goal.
In Class AA action, Upper St. Clair (15-3-2) advanced to the semifinals by virtue of a 6-2 win against Baldwin on March 4 at Ice Castle Arena.
The Panthers will now play Franklin Regional at 9 p.m. March 13 at the RMU Island Sports Center to determine who advances to the finals set for 8:30 p.m. March 18.
In the victory against the Highlanders, Anthony Carone racked up two goals and two assists for four points.
Mark McQuade, Joseph Pulit, Devin Rohrich and Colton Shiry contributed to the scoring. Rohrich and Chase Wucher also had assists.
Kyle Roerich was the goalie of record, posting 31 saves.
After whipping Blackhawk, 10-0, South Fayette (18-2-0) defeated North Hills, 5-2, on March 5 at the Printscape Arena and advanced to a Class A semifinal showdown with West Allegheny at 9 p.m. March 12 at the RMU Island Sports Center.
Against the Indians (14-6-0), Alexander Keller, Ian Kumar, William Bishop, Matthew Swider and John Trinkala scored. Tristan Cribben posted two assists. Trinkala, Bishop and William Watterson had single assists.
In goal, Bruce Hardman turned back 17 shots.
The SF-WA winner will battle for the Penguins Cup against the winner of the Montour-Thomas Jefferson contest at 6 p.m. March 19.
All Penguins Cup champions advance to the state finals. The Pennsylvania Cup Championships will be held March 23 at the RMU Island Sports Center. Game times are 11 a.m. for Class A, 1:30 p.m. for Class AA and 4 p.m. for Class AAA.