Butler hockey making history
BUTLER TWP — Through nine games and sporting a 3-3-3 record, Butler’s junior varsity hockey team was, well ... average.
The Golden Tornado have been anything but average since.
After going 5-1-1 in its final seven regular season games, Butler has won three consecutive PIHL playoff games to reach the JV title game for what is believed to be the first time in program history.
“The kids just kept working hard all year and the level of play improved,” assistant coach Blaise Steadman said. “That’s all it’s been. We’ve been playing really well overall.”
The Tornado (8-4-4) closed the regular season in third place in their division, trailing Avonworth (14-2) and Mars (11-3-2). They tied the Planets, 2-2, in their final regular season game.
Butler takes on Mars for the championship at 7:20 p.m. Thursday at Ice Castle in Castle Shannon. Butler is 0-2-2 against the Planets this season, the losses coming by 4-0 and 3-0 scores.
“This team has definitely taken on a family-type bond with each other,” second-year Butler JV head coach Nicholas Wilcox said. “That’s what every coach wants to see.
“From where this program was a few years ago to where it is now, we’ve done a complete 180. The program has really turned.”
Wilcox credits the coaching staff — including Steadman, Parker Smith (who started the season with the team before moving on), Ray Bossong and Norm Riffner — for “bringing a winning culture to the room.”
Butler’s JV team finished 9-6-1 last season before losing an 8-1 decision to Mars in the second round of the playoffs.
Now they get the Planets again.
“We know we can play with them,” Steadman said. “But it’s going to take a very disciplined effort. Mars is a very skilled team with an outstanding top line.”
That line is led by Xavier Bossola, who has tallied 24 goals and 11 assists for 35 points this season. Cooper Stevens has eight goals and 13 points, Dylan Van Horn six goals and 12 points, Colin Stevenson a goal and 12 points.
By comparison, Butler has no player who’s scored more than 11 points all year. Ronald Kuczynski — one of four seniors on the Tornado squad — has five goals and six assists to lead the team. Zachary Zandarski has four goals and 10 points, senior Carter Bohanak four goals and nine points, Ben Mikan seven goals and nine points.
The team’s other two seniors, captain Tullio Didomenico and Connor Rensel, have scored nine points and two goals, respectively.
“Those seniors have been outstanding leaders,” Steadman said. “And it’s cool because they’ve got something to play for going out.
“We’ve had some injuries ths year, some broken hands, wrists, but every time someone goes down, somebody else steps up. That’s the way it’s been all season.”
“Those four seniors have been tremendous,” Wilcox said. “Carter’s been a forward most of the year, then we had an injury to our defense and we asked Carter to move back there. He’s anchored down that unit. Our goaltenders are very comfortable when he’s on the ice.”
Wilcox added that the seniors “control the room. This group is playing with confidence now and it’s largely because of them. Our varsity team didn’t make the playoffs, but these four guys have a chance to end their careers here with a memory that will last a lifetime.”
The Tornado opened the playoffs with a 4-0 win over Elizabeth Forward as freshman goaltender Harper Slater got the shutout. Lucas Hensler scored a pair of goals in a 3-2 win over top-seeded Avonworth in the quarterfinals.
“That was probably the best game we’ve played all year,” said Steadman, who played for Butler from 1990-94, then for Indiana (Pa.) University from 1994 to 1999 before coaching at Deer Lakes. “That was a pretty emotional win.”
“Anything can happen in single-elimination,” Wilcox said. “Just work harder than them and take your chances.”
Mikan scored a pair of goals for Butler in a 5-2 win over Peters Township in the semifinals.
