"Mr. High School Sports" - PIHL Preview
By Matt Popchock
It's time to get off the mat after one of the gloomiest sports weekends in recent memory and get fired up for the 2010-11 stretch run in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League. A number of games this week will affect the playoff picture in all four classifications, and each of the two remaining undefeated teams in the league will lay its respective goose egg on the line. So without further ado, before Mr. High School Sports rushes off to New Ken for his Game of the Week, here's a quick glance at what's coming to a rink near you:
MONDAY:
CLASS AA, SECTION 2
West Allegheny (9-6-2) @ Montour (9-6-2) (8:35) - RMU Island Sports Center
Junior sharpshooter Jon Levitt leads the offensively-challenged Indians with 15 goals, but has just one in his last four. Zach Milnarcik had seven goals and 16 points for the Spartans in January, but now he has to solve Jason Kumpfmiller, one of the premier goaltenders in the PIHL. Can the netminder help West A steal this battle for first place in Section 2?
CLASS AAA, NON-SECTION
State College (6-6-2) @ Fox Chapel (16-0-0) (7:00) - Valley Sports Complex
Can anyone beat the amazing Foxes, who have run away with the Section 3 crown? In order to play giant killer, while at the same time, keeping Norwin off its back in Section 4, the Little Lions need talent and discipline, and they have it. Daniel Moscone is one of the top ten point-getters in Class AAA with 27 and plays a skill-oriented game without getting into penalty trouble, though counterpart Daniel Humes has become a quintessential power forward and climbed his way to No. 2 in the scoring race with 44 points. Check back with Mr. High School Sports at 937thefan.com later for extensive coverage of this game.
OPEN CLASS, SECTION 1
Morgantown (9-5-3) @ Wheeling C.C. (17-0-0) (7:50) - Wheeling Civic Center
A move back to the Open Class from Class AA has worked out "perfectly" for the Maroon Knights, who are the only unbeaten school in the PIHL besides Fox Chapel, and they're coming off a hard-fought, but ultimately ego-boosting win over rival Wheeling Park. The Mohigans are coming off an equally tough tie versus in-state rival John Marshall, as both those teams jockey in the Nailers Cup standings. Brandon Richards leads Morgantown with 16 goals, having amassed an 11-game goal streak through January, while Nicco Catalono is second in the Open Class scoring race and has 13 of his 33 goals in five games for the Section 1 champs.
TUESDAY:
CLASS A, SECTION 3
Serra Catholic (10-4-1) @ South Fayette (11-5-2) (7:00) - BladeRunners Ice Complex, Bethel Park
This isn't the first time we've kept an eye on these two squads, and it won't be the last, as they battle down to the wire for the section title. The front-running Eagles have games in hand to catch up, and they've stayed on top with a superior point percentage and superior play from the one-two punch of senior Jarrett Ruchka and sophomore Tyler Speis, who combined for 27 goals and 64 points on the year through January. Nick Shultz leads the vastly-improved Lions with 15 goals, including seven in his last three outings.
For continuing coverage of the PIHL and Penguins Cup Playoffs, be sure to check back with Mr. High School Sports throughout the 2010-11 season!
