BUTLER TWP — Norman Riffner was looking for a high school hockey team to coach. Butler was looking for someone to step in as coach and stabilize the program.

Thus far, the two seem to be a perfect match.

Also head coach of the Robert Morris University hockey team, Riffner and fellow RMU coach Ray Bossong were hired over the summer to take over the Golden Tornado program. Riffner will continue to coach the RMU team.

“I go from Butler practice right to RMU’s practice,” Riffner said. “Time-wise, it all works out. The goal is to make everything work out on the ice.

“I never played hockey. My sons played and I grew to love the game. Our entire family is into hockey. This is what we do. I’m self-employed, so I can schedule to make this work.”

His wife has coached youth hockey. His oldest son is also coaching in the Butler system and Riffner has another son still playing at Robert Morris.

The Golden Tornado are dropping to Class A in the PIHL this season after winning just two games in Class AA all of last season. Butler has gone through a number of coaches in recent seasons.

Riffner plans to put an end to that revolving door.

“I’m 54 right now and I plan to coach at Butler and RMU until I retire at around 60,” he said. “This is a process I plan to see through.”

Butler’s hockey numbers are already up compared to a year ago. The Tornado have 22 varsity players, 15 junior varsity and 17 middle school players.

And they’re winning.

Butler reached the semifinal round of the preseason St. Margarets Tournament in Harmarville, defeating Class AAA opponents Bethel Park and Canon-McMillan, and lost to Class AA Greater Latrobe in an overtime shootout to gain a fifth point. The Tornado lost to Seneca Valley, 5-0, in the semifinals, a game in which they used five call-ups from junior varsity.

"You can already see the difference in the team on the ice,“ Golden Tornado Hockey Association president Randy Huey said. ”We had not won a game in that St. Margarets tournament in years and we got to the semifinals this time.

“We were looking for a coach and he (Riffner) applied. The kids have been getting a lot more positive reinforcement and it’s making a difference.”

The hockey team spent the summer in the weight room with the football players this preseason. After weight training, the team would go out to the Dek hockey court on Duffy Road to work on the new concepts and system the coaches are putting in.

“Ice time cost so much,” Riffner figured. “We can work on the power play, moving the puck, basics like that on the Dek court and then apply those concepts on the ice. It’s working so far.”

“I love it,” senior defenseman Carson Bish said of the new system. “We’re playing more of a Russian style of hockey, faster puck movement. These guys know what they’re doing. There are positive vibes throughout the program.”

Riffner said quick puck movement is a big key to winning hockey games.

“The kids deserve the credit,” he said. “They’ve been receptive to what we’re teaching them and they believe in the system. It’s better to pass the puck ahead 50 miles per hour than skate it up ice at 15 miles per hour.”

Owen Denny, a senior center for the Tornado, said people will notice a difference in Butler hockey this season.

“We’ve got a full roster now and at the start of every season, we’ve been considered a joke,” Denny said. “Everyone looked at Butler as a pushover. We showed at the St. Margarets tournament we’re no joke.

“This season will be a good one.”

Bish agreed.

“I believe we can win the Penguins Cup,” he said. “We’re all on the same page. Everything is so positive. This is the most fun I’ve ever had playing hockey.”

Butler’s season begins at 9 p.m. Oct. 9 against Montour at The Frozen Pond.