Mars eclipses Knoch
NEW KENSINGTON — With an 18-1-1 record, it can be easy for a team to lose its focus.
That doesn't mean Mars hockey coach Tim Coleman has to accept it.
The Planets jumped out to a 5-0 first-period lead in Tuesday's PIHLClass A matchup against Knoch and cruised to a 9-1 victory at the Valley Sports Complex.
"I was pleased, but we still have some work to do," said Coleman. "I don't think we're quite peaking yet. I hope it comes soon. I can't be displeased.
"I'd like to see our goals against the best in the league. I don't want us to give up a goal like we did tonight. In our last game, we gave up three goals (in a 9-3 win over Westmont Hilltop). We shouldn't give up that many goals."
Mars opened a 7-0 lead midway through the second period to start the running clock.
The Knights (6-11) scored with 5:06 left in the period when Robert Maust took a pass from Shayne Hennessy. The score remained 7-1 until the Planets (19-1-1) netted two goals in the final 2:10 of the game.
"They're a good team," said Knoch coach Richard Justice. "They were faster in the first period, like the ice was tilted. They didn't let up. ... They just kept coming."
Mars came out hot, tallying three goals in the first 5 minutes, 11 seconds and four in the first 9:42.
Ian Finney, Matt Wingert, Andrew Santa and Tyler Whiteford each registered a goal while Mike Mazzotta, Derek Sitterly, Steven Tracy and Tyler Thomas each chipped in an assist.
When Santa buried his second goal of the period with 1:03 left, Mars enjoyed its 5-0 advantage.
Just 14 seconds into the second period, Jake Robash scored off assists by Sitterly and Whiteford, then Mike Heltman scored off helpers by Mazzotta and Finney for a 7-0 lead with 8:01 left in the period.
Coleman began to substitute liberally, trying to work on systems his team might encounter down the road.
"You don't want to look past anyone, but I thought we did a good job," said Coleman. "We were running four lines and used all our call-ups. We were running our third and fourth lines consistently."
Knoch goalie Ryan Naples faced a barrage of shots early, 16 in the first period and 12 more in the second. He faced 13 shots and made 10 saves in the first seven minutes of the game.
Although this is Coleman's first season at the helm, he has never seen a team play with such camaraderie as this year's Mars team.
"I've been around hockey since 1975 and I haven't seen chemistry like this," said Coleman, who credits assistants John Finney and Lynn Sipe for the team's success as well. "The only difference is I'm not a player, but a coach.
"I've been with the team six years but not at the varsity level until this year. I knew when I took the job, I knew what the lines were going to be. Our lines have not changed. That's the way to build chemistry."
Notes: Finney tallied a shorthanded goal off a breakaway pass from Heltman with 2:10 left, then Sean Roach scored on a power-play goal with less than 30 seconds remaining to close out the scoring. ... Mars outshot Knoch 37-13. ... Mars backup goalie Martin Lamneck made 12 saves. ... Mars converted 2-of-5 power-play opportunities while Knoch was 0-for-5. Mars finishes the regular season next Tuesday at home against Beaver for Senior Night. Knoch will face Bishop McCort Thursday at the War Memorial in Johnstown.
