WARRENDALE — Just 25 seconds into the game, Beaver goaltender Zach Richards stopped Mars' Austin Heakins on a breakaway.

No matter. Plenty of shots — and goals — followed that one.

The Planets outshot the outmanned Bobcats 45-5, got the mercy rule enforced less than three minutes into the second period and cruised to a 15-1 PIHL Class A hockey victory Tuesday night.

“Our goalie has only been playing that position since August,” Beaver coach Jim Hickey said. “I thought he played tremendously.

“Mars just keeps on coming.”

That's an apt description of the Planets' hockey program.

The defending Class A state champion and two-time defending Penguins Cup champ is off to a 4-0 start, outscoring the opposition 39-3 in those games.

Goaltenders Tyler Stepke (two) and Walker Enstad (one Tuesday) have assisted on as many goals as they've allowed thus far.

“As scary as this may sound, we may be better than last year,” Mars coach Steve Meyers said.

Elliott Tisdale and Robert Sigurdsson scored hat tricks Tuesday. Sigurdsson already has nine goals this season.

Austin Heakins and newcomer Joe Bender added two goals each. Chris Greco, Tyler Thomas, Rusty Miller, Blake Friday and Max Master scored single tallies.

Mars had an 8-0 lead after Thomas scored 2:36 into the second period. PIHL games are played with a continually running clock once a team goes ahead by eight goals.

“We use games like this to work on things,” Meyers said. “Ice time is precious. We only practice once a week, so I keep the lines together and we work on crisp passing and fundamentals out there.”

The Planets had numerous breakaways and odd-man breaks as Beaver (0-5) was playing with a short bench.

The Bobcats failed to score on four power play opportunities and allowed shorthanded goals to Miller and Sigurdsson. Mars also scored on a 46-second power play chance.

Tisdale said the Planets stay motivated for the new players on the team.

“We lost some key people, but the younger guys are stepping up,” he said. “I want those guys to experience the feeling we got to experience the past two years.”

Mike Mazzotta is the lone forward Mars lost to graduation, but three stellar defensemen graduated.

“That was my concern coming into this year,” Meyers said of the defense. “Kevin Leslie, a captain, is the lone returnee. But Ryan Magidinec came back out after some time away from hockey and he's a very good defenseman.

“Joe Bender also returned to the program after an absence to help up front. Those two guys, plus some talented sophomores, have made us as deep as ever.”

The Planets already own a 5-1 win over Serra Catholic. Serra Catholic has outscored its other opponents 31-3. Mars has a 12-1 win over South Fayette

“I know Serra's good and Westmont Hilltop has a very strong team,” Hickey said. “But Mars is the Class A team the rest of the league is trying to catch.”

It hasn't been much of a race so far.