PITTSBURGH — Sweet redemption.

Junior goaltender Tyler Stepke stopped 36 of 37 shots and junior center Robbie Sigurdsson scored two goals to lead Mars to a 4-1 triumph over West Chester Bayard Rustin Thursday at Mellon Arena.

The win handed the Planets (24-2) the program's first Pennsylvania Class A hockey championship and avenged last year's 5-0 state title-game loss to Bayard Rustin in West Chester.

"That was sort of intimidating out there last year," Sigurdsson admitted. "It was pretty much their home rink. They had 5,000 fans there to our 70 and it felt like they were right on top of us."

Those 5,000 fans chanted Stepke's name in a mock jeer.

"I handed the puck right to one of their guys, he scored and all I heard was my name," Stepke said. "I was rattled. They got to me."

Nothing got to him — or through him — Thursday.

By the time Bayard Rustin's Brian Christie scored his 36th goal of the year and fifth of the playoffs when he deflected a shot past Stepke, only 38 seconds remained and the Planets had a 4-0 lead.

"Nice shot, nice tip — that's OK," Stepke said. "I'll take allowing one goal in a state championship game any day."

The Golden Knights (14-9-2) outshot Mars 37-20, but went 0-for-7 on the power play. They put eight shots on goal during their first power play and had 19 shots in the first period.

"He was spectacular," Mars coach Steve Meyers said of Stepke. "I was surprised they outshot us the way they did. But we have a great goalie and great goalies are game breakers."

Bayard Rustin coach Nick Russo described the Mars defense as "a puzzle we took too long to figure out.

"They were giving us shots from center point and we did nothing with them. By the third period, we were working the boards more and got some better chances.

"The shots on goal showed who was dictating the play. But their goalie was unbelievable. He stood on his head. He was the difference in the game," the coach added.

Mars broke the scoreless tie with a power-play goal 10:37 into the first period. Sigurdsson took a pass from Mike Mazzotta in the high slot and drilled a wrist shot past goaltender Zach Sheriko's glove side.

Rusty Miller scored his third goal of the playoffs 31 seconds later, jumping on a loose puck in front of the net and flipping it in as the Planets crashed the offensive zone.

Sigurdsson gave Mars a 3-0 lead 52 seconds into the second period, taking a pass across the goal crease from Miller and beating Sheriko to the short side.

"All of our lines are offensive-minded and crash the zone," Meyers said. "That's the biggest difference between this year's team and last.

"I'm so happy for Robbie. He's one of those guys who seems to be left out of the conversation all the time, but he brings it every night. We needed him, too, because Elliot (Tisdale) hurt his shoulder in the first period and played with one arm the rest of the game," the coach added.

Tisdale led the Planets with 30 goals overall and 11 points in the playoffs.

Mazzotta gave Mars a 4-0 lead with an unassisted goal midway through the third period after Sheriko and a Knights defenseman mishandled the puck in front of their own net and Mazzotta was there to knock it in.

Mars seniors Mazzotta, Eric Attanucci, Tyler Whiteford and C.J. Thibault ended their prep hockey careers with an 11-game winning streak and a state championship.

"What a way to go out. It feels awesome!" Whiteford exclaimed. "Last year, we were all hyped up about winning the Penguins Cup. This time, we wanted more."

"This is bittersweet for me," Meyers said. "I love the success, but I've been through a ton with those seniors.

"It's hard to believe, just like that, it's over."

Mars 4, Bayard Rustin 1Bayard Rustin 0 0 1 — 1Mars 2 1 1 — 4First PeriodMars: Robbie Sigurdsson 3 PP (Mike Mazzotta, Tyler Whiteford) 10:37; Mars-Rusty Miller 3 (Nick Blaney, Sigurdsson) 11:08Penalties: M-Hunter Sacchini (interference) 1:58, BR-Michael Gunderson (hooking) 9:57, M-Eric Attanucci (hooking) 11:30, M-Austin Heakins (slashing) 14:44, BR-Gunderson (roughing) 14:44

Second PeriodMars: Sigurdsson 4 (Miller, Kevin Leslie) :52Penalties: BR-Matt Gosik (tripping) 3:09, BR-David Thompson (hooking) 5:17, M-Leslie (tripping) 9:17, M-C.J. Thibault (holding) 10:48, M-Bench (too many men on ice) 13:40

Third PeriodMars: Mazzotta 3 (unassisted) 7:27, Bayard Rustin: Brian Christie 5 (Thompson, Jon Thompson) 14:22Penalties: M-Tyler Whiteford (high sticking) 4:51, BR-Michael Guiduck (roughing) 11:08, M-Elliot Tisdale (roughing) 11:08, M-Miller (tripping) 13:08, BR-Nau Cody (slashing) 14:05

Shots on goal: Bayard Rustin 19-10-8-37, Mars 8-6-6-20

Power plays: Bayard Rustin 0-for-7, Mars 1-for-3