Butler ready for hockey playoff opener

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

March 10, 2004 Last Updated: March 16, 2005 04:51 PM High School

Looking for some wide-open hockey? Be at the Belmont Area come 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Butler (16-8) and Franklin Regional (15-8-1) will be hooking up in a PIHL Class AAA first-round playoff game that could scorch the ice.

"If I wasn't coaching in it, I'd get off the couch and pay admission to watch this game," Franklin Regional coach Jim Damp said. "It's easily the best matchup of the first round."

The Panthers come into the game riding a four-game winning streak, outscoring Seneca Valley, Latrobe, Connellsville and Hempfield by a combined 23-5 count.

The Golden Tornado are coming off a shutout of North Hills in their final regular season game two weeks ago.

"These teams may be going up and down the ice, but I don't see a particularly high-scoring game," Butler coach Bob Hoehn said. "I see something like a 5-2 or 5-3 game.

"We've been giving up a lot more shots on goal than I like in recent games. We've really been concentrating on defense in practice," he added.

Scoring goals has not been a problem for Butler. One of the highest scoring teams in AAA this season, the Tornado have five players with at least 10 goals: Spencer Crouse 30, B.J. Tipton, 26, Greg Rogerson 19, Andy Turner 17 and Jared White 10.

Franklin Regional's leading scorer is Mark Gigliotti with 16 goals and 35 points. Dave Hopper, Luke Baughmann and Lou Levine have all scored more than 20 points.

"We've had opportunities to score more, we just haven't been finishing (at the net)," Damp said.

The Panthers were 20-7-1 last year, reaching the Penguin Cup Finals for the first time ever before losing to Meadville, 8-3.

Three of the top four forwards, three of the top four defensemen and veteran goaltender Brandon Stallard are gone from that team.

Mike Roth was one of the top scorers in AAA hockey and Luke DiLorenzo is now playing for the Toledo Icediggers, formerly the Pittsburgh Forge.

The Panthers have no one among the top 50 scorers in PIHL Class AAA this year.

"I don't know if we're balanced or we're offensively challenged," Damp said.

Hoehn isn't buying the latter possibility.

"We know they're good," he said. "They take a lot of shots, and, like I said, we've been giving up a lot of shots, so that's a concern."

Butler's top two lines feature Crouse, Tipton and Turner along with Rogerson, White and Tyler Druschel. A third line of Rob Ramirez with a combination of Mike Barker, Bryan Rodgers and Joe Coulter will see action as well.

"Our third line could be the second line for most schools," Hoehn said. "Our depth up front helps keep our skaters fresh."

Butler and Franklin Regional didn't play each other this year. The Panthers scored a 5-0 win over the Tornado a year ago.

"You could see they were an up and coming team then," Damp said. "With them in the north and us in the south, I was hoping we could avoid them this season.

"Butler has such a versatile team. They can play any style. If you want a physical game, they can play physical. If you want a fast-paced game, they can do that, too," he added.

Both teams have strong goaltending. Bucky Holt has played all but one game for Butler this season and has a 2.81 goals-against average with five shutouts.

Chris Fonzi (2.06 GAA) and Ben Gallagher (2.48 GAA) have shared netminding duties for the Panthers. Fonzi will start Thursday.

"We'd prefer to play a team we're more familiar with," Hoehn said. "There's a little less guessing that way. But our kids are excited either way.

"Butler has never won a PIHL playoff game, and we want to change that."

Game at a glance

Here is a look at the Butler-Franklin Regional PIHL Class AAA first-round playoff matchup to be played at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Belmont Arena in Kittanning

Butler (16-8)

Goals scored:

146

Goals allowed:

Top scorers:

Spencer Crouse 30 goals, 22 assists, 52 points, B.J. Tipton 26-22-48, Andy Turner 17-30-47

Starting goalie:

Bucky Holt 15-7-0, 2.81 goals against, 88.1 save pct.

Playoff note:

Golden Tornado are in playoffs for first time since 1998.

Franklin Regional (15-8-1)

Goals scored: