Welcome to the
NORTH ALLEGHENY SPORTS NETWORK

The Official Source of North Allegheny Sports

 

Roster

Schedule

Standings & Rankings

Photo Gallery

Game Summaries

Photo courtesy of J.J. LaBella

GRIFFIN PG NORTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR, THREE NAMED ALL-STARS

(4/11/13) The North Allegheny Ice Hockey team continues to garner attention following their Penguins Cup and Pennsylvania Cup championships. NA’s leading scorer, Joe Griffin, has been named the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette North Player of the Year. Griffin scored eight goals in the last three post-season games, including a four goal performance against LaSalle in the state title game. Griffin, senior defenseman Harry Kramer, and junior goalie Bradford Thornburgh also earned PG North Stellar Six Hockey All-Star honors. Kramer had 13 points in 17 games and Thornburgh led Class AAA in goals against average (1.87) and save percentage (.921).  

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

THORNBURGH NAMED TO MSA'S
ALL-ICERS TEAM

(4/1/13) North Allegheny goalie Bradford Thornburgh has been named to the MSA Sports All-Icers team as a second-team selection. The Tigers led Class AAA with 37 goals allowed, and their defensive signature is stamped across their state championship run. Obviously Thornburgh was a huge part of that, seeming to come out of nowhere to post an 11-4-1 record, 1.98 GAA, 0.909 save percentage and three shutouts.

His best stretch was a 6-0-1 run from December 13 through February 5. His defense only let him see 30 shots on one occasion, a 5-4 loss to Bethel Park in the regular season finale. Aside from that, he peaked with 28 saves in a 2-1 win at Seneca Valley on December 18. His most impressive shutout was a 17-save performance at Mount Lebanon on November 13. Thornburgh went 3-0-0 in the Penguins Cup Playoffs with a shutout in the championship game, 1.29 GAA and 0.957 save percentage. He also stopped 35 out of 37 shots in the state title game. His career numbers in 20 starts boast a 15-4-1 record, 1.78 GAA, 0.912 save percentage and six shutouts.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

GRIFFIN'S FOUR GOALS HELP NA TO PENNSYLVANIA CUP TITLE

(3/23/13) Sparked by Joe Griffin’s natural hat trick in the second period, the North Allegheny Tigers won the Pennsylvania Cup Championship with a 6-2 triumph over the LaSalle Explorers on Saturday afternoon. Traveling to the Philadelphia area as underdogs, the Tigers topped the favored Flyers Cup champs for NA’s second state title and first in six years.

The Explorers entered Saturday’s game as the reigning state champions and navigated their way to an early 2-0 lead. Brendan Jaquay struck for a goal on a backhand shot at 6:52 of the first period to give LaSalle the game’s opening marker. Senior Nicholas Master added LaSalle’s second goal with just 53 seconds remaining in the period to give the Explorers a two goal advantage.

In the second period, Griffin breathed life into the Tigers attack with a natural hat trick to rally North Allegheny to a one goal lead. The second of his goals was a spectacular effort, threading through two defensemen and beating LaSalle goalie Corbin Gustafson to tie the game, 2-2. Late in the second period, Gustafson allowed a rebound on a Matt Fantaski shot, which Griffin backhanded from in front of the crease and into the LaSalle net to put NA in front, 3-2.

Tigers’ goalie Bradford Thornburgh was a brick wall throughout the second and third periods, denying numerous attempts by the Explorers to get back into the game. Thornburgh stopped 35 of the 37 shots he faced. Gustafson made 21 saves on 25 shots from the Tigers

Still clinging to a one goal lead entering the third period, sophomore Dominic Zangaro gave the Tigers some cushion with a marker three minutes into the period to increase the lead to 4-2. Not even an approximate 30 minute delay to replace a pane of glass at the Iceworks Arena in Aston could sway the momentum as Thornburgh and the Tigers continued to turn LaSalle away. Desperate for a goal, the Explorers pulled the goalie in the waning minutes of the contest only to have North Allegheny put a championship on ice. Empty net goals by Fantaski and Griffin put away LaSalle for good, 6-2. The empty netter for Griffin was his fourth goal of the game, part of a five point night for the NA senior.

North Allegheny concludes the season with a 19-4-2 record while LaSalle ends the year with a 17-3-1 mark. The loss for the Explorers snapped a nine game unbeaten streak. Congratulations to Coach Jim Black and the North Allegheny Ice Hockey Team on their championship and a terrific season!

JV Update: The North Allegheny JV Gold Hockey Team won the PIHL JV Championship with a 3-2 victory over Pine-Richland at RMU Arena on Thursday, March 21.

SCORING SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 6   LaSALLE - 2

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Any questions or comments should be directed to Athletic Director
Bob Bozzuto at:  bbozzuto@northallegheny.org