Ice Hockey Game Summaries

Perennial PIHL powers met in the Class AAA semifinals on Monday night at the RMU Island Sports Center and reigning Penguins Cup champion Peters Township defeated the North Allegheny Tigers, 4-0. It was the sixth time in the last seven seasons the two teams met in the playoffs and the top-seeded Indians earned a return trip to the championship game with a convincing effort.

Peters Township outshot North Allegheny, 24-6, in the first period and the Indians’ persistence paid off at the 10:05 mark of the opening stanza. Senior forward Austin Malley blocked a shot near his own blue line and traversed into the NA zone for a shot near the right wing circle, scoring the first goal of the night for a 1-0 Peters Township lead.

The puck possession advantage for Peters Township continued in the second period and resulted in a goal by sophomore Luca Maietta at the 1:55 mark and the Indians led, 2-0. While Peters Township held a decided edge in shots on goal, North Allegheny senior goalie Rylan Murphy performed well and made 44 saves on the night. Murphy’s efforts in net kept NA in the game for a while, but eventually Peters Township gained a strangle hold of the contest late in the second period. At the 13:54 mark, Anthony LaBellarte scored on a rebound for a 3-0 lead, and 38 seconds later, Troy Jones tallied a goal to give the Indians a 4-0 lead at intermission.

In the end, Peters Township outshot NA, 48-20, for the game and coasted to the victory in the third period. Junior goalie Kyle Thomas earned the shutout for the Indians with 20 saves.

Despite a disappointing outcome, the result doesn’t spoil another outstanding season for the North Allegheny ice hockey team. For their efforts throughout their careers, the North Allegheny senior class was named the Wright Automotive Players of the Game. Congratulations to coach Andrew Seiss and the entire team for an thrilling 2022-2023 season.

Ice Hockey Summary vs. Cathedral Prep, 3-13-23

Senior goalie Rylan Murphy made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season as North Allegheny blanked Cathedral Prep on Monday night, 3-0, in the PIHL Class AAA quarterfinals at the Baierl Ice Complex. The win advances the Tigers to the Penguins Cup semifinal round for the ninth consecutive season.

With Murphy holding the Ramblers in check for the entire night, the Tigers got all the scoring they needed in the opening minutes of the first period. In a night of firsts for NA, sophomore Marc Joyson netted the first goal of his career at the 2:24 mark for an immediate 1-0 lead. The Joyson goal was assisted by senior Dylan Murray. North Allegheny had to wait only 51 seconds for its next goal when freshman Luke Walkauskas tickled the twine for a 2-0 advantage. Senior Nate Spak assisted on the Walkauskas marker.

After North Allegheny’s opening salvo, Cathedral Prep settled into the game and put forth a spirited effort. Boasting Class AAA’s leading goal scorer in the form of senior Brayden Sprickman, who netted 28 goals in the regular season, the Ramblers threatened but could never cash in against Murphy and the Tigers air-tight defense.

NA turned away two power play opportunities for Cathedral Prep and maintained a 2-0 lead deep into the third period. In desperation mode, the Ramblers pulled goalie Tanner Ball and the Tigers capitalized for an empty net goal by senior Lorenzo Colaizzi to put the game on ice, 3-0, with just 1:08 left in the game. Spak and senior Trey Gallo each assisted on the final tally.

For his stellar effort in between the pipes, Murphy was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game. Ball was also impressive with 25 saves despite taking the loss for the Ramblers.

With the win, North Allegheny advances to the PIHL Class AAA semifinals on Monday, March 13, at 7:15 p.m. The Tigers will take on the winner of Wednesday’s game between Peters Township and Mt. Lebanon.

Ice Hockey Summary vs. Cathedral Prep, 3-6-23

The playoff-bound North Allegheny ice hockey team outslugged Baldwin on Monday night, 7-6, at the Baierl Ice Complex. The Senior Night victory locks up fourth place for the Tigers and the No. 4 seed in the upcoming PIHL Class AAA playoffs.

Fittingly, it was one of the seniors who opened the scoring just 35 seconds into the game when Nate Spak tickled the twine for a 1-0 lead. At the 2:42 mark of the opening stanza, junior Evan Kerber scored to give the Tigers a 2-0 advantage.

The North Allegheny lead swelled to 3-0 on a power play goal by senior Trey Gallo before Baldwin got on the board at the 5:31 mark on a goal by Tanner Plinta. Just 21 seconds later, Gallo netted his second of the night for a 4-1 lead. The two teams traded goals in the remaining minutes of the period, including NA markers by Spak and junior Evan Perrotte, and the Tigers held a 6-3 lead at the end of two.

In the third, North Allegheny stretched the lead to 7-3 thanks to a goal by senior Matt Irvin at the 8:30 mark of the period. With their playoff hopes on the line, ninth-place Baldwin didn’t give in and scored three straight goals to trim the score to 7-6, Tigers, with 2:33 left in the game. Senior goalie Rylan Murphy and the Tigers defense fended off the Highlanders in the remaining minutes to vanquish the visiting Highlanders, 7-6.

Murphy made 20 saves to secure the win. Baldwin’s Alex Golvash stopped 29 pucks in a losing effort.

North Allegheny concludes the regular season with 12-5-3 record, good for 27 points and fourth place in Class AAA. Baldwin slips to 5-13-2 and is on the outside looking in with no games remaining in the Highlanders season. The Tigers will start the Penguins Cup Playoffs on Monday, March 6.

Ice Hockey Summary vs. Baldwin, 2-27-23

The North Allegheny ice hockey team fell by a 5-3 decision to the Seneca Valley Raiders at the Baierl Ice Complex on Monday night.

The Tigers got off to a great start with a power play goal by Nate Spak, assisted by Luke Evans, at the 9:56 mark of the first period for a 1-0 advantage. The lead was short-lived, however, as Seneca Valley responded with back-to-back goals by Jaxson Read and another from Jacob Komaniak to grab a 3-1 lead by the end of the first period.

NA netted the lone goal of the second period to close the gap at 3-2 thanks to another marker by Spak, assisted by Ryan Jackman, at the 13:35 mark of the period.

A power play goal by Ethan Lindberg to open the third period gave Seneca Valley a two-goal cushion, 4-2, just 1:38 into the stanza. North Allegheny once again edged closer at 4-3 when Cole Bianchin scored an unassisted goal with 2:21 left in regulation. The Raiders managed to put the game away on Read’s third goal of the night with only 10 seconds remaining to give the Raiders a 5-3 victory.

In net, Cenzo Ditullio earned the win for Seneca Valley with 20 saves. Senior Rylan Murphy stopped 19 pucks for the Tigers.

North Allegheny slips 11-5-3 on the season and sits in fourth place in the Class AAA standings with one game remaining. Seneca Valley improves to 14-4-1 to climb into a first-place tie with Peters Township. The Tigers will conclude the regular season on Monday, Feb. 27 against Baldwin at 7:00 p.m.

Ice Hockey Summary vs. Seneca Valley, 2-13-23

With its highest single-game scoring output of the season, the North Allegheny ice hockey team buried Baldwin under an avalanche of goals in a 10-2 blowout at the Ice Castle on Monday night.

Facing a Fighting Highlanders team involved in a tight race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Class AAA standings, the Tigers cruised to a one-sided victory. NA jumped out to a 6-0 lead by the 8:41 mark of the second period and never looked back.

Six different Tigers finished with a three-point night, including Trey Gallo, Cole Bianchin, Evan Kerber and Luke Evans who all netted two goals with one assist. Nate Spak and Luke Walkauskas notched three assists each. Other NA goal scorers included Brett Baker and Matt Irvin.

North Allegheny outshout Baldwin, 50-17, and chased Highlanders starting goalie Alex Golvash from the game with seven goals allowed. Austin Landosky didn’t fare much better, permitting five goals. NA’s Rylan Murphy stopped 15 pucks to earn the victory.

North Allegheny improves to 11-4-3 overall and jumps into a three-way tie for second place, along with Peters Township and Seneca Valley, with 25 points. Baldwin falls to 5-11-1 and remains tied for eighth place with Bethel Park. The Tigers will next take on Seneca Valley on Monday, Feb. 13.

Ice Hockey Summary vs. Baldwin, 2-6-23