PIHL hockey season storylines: What to expect from Butler, defending champ Seneca Valley and other local teams
Seneca Valley began its season with an 8-1 win over Pine-Richland, a good start for the defending PIHL and state champions. Mars got to the precipice of PIHL gold and is seeking more. Butler is hoping to make the playoffs with a new coach.
The PIHL season began two weeks ago with the defending champion Raiders routing the Rams. And the rest of the league dropped the puck shortly after.
What’s in store for Butler County’s six teams? Here’s what to know:
The advantage the Raiders have is they know what it takes to win.
Nearly all of the roster that won the program’s first state title against Holy Ghost last year is back. But some notable faces, like leading scorer Andrew Malichky (22 points, nine goals, 13 assists) and Marshall Hewitt (15 points), who is playing exclusively for Pitt Elite’s club team this year, are gone.
But SV returns one of the best goalies in the league, senior Chris Nichols, the hero of the state title game, junior Braden Morin, top defenseman Carter Hoehn and many others.
“Being able to go through what we did last year, I was maybe worried a little bit some of the hunger and some of that wanting to get to the top would, not be gone,” head coach Tyler Mesisca said, “but it’s a really competitive, hungry group of kids that have played together for a long time.”
Morin scored a hat trick against Holy Ghost Prep in the state final. Nichols had an impressive .934 save percentage last year in 15 games, going 11-2 with three shutouts, and the Raiders’ defense allowed no more than two goals in every playoff game last season.
Seneca Valley, which plays in Class 3A, won the St. Margaret’s Tournament, a preseason competition, for the second consecutive year, possibly portending another big season.
They are 1-0 — Cooper Hoehn had three goals, Morin three assists and a goal, and Nichols stopped 16 of 17 shots — heading into their second game of the season Thursday against South Fayette at Mt. Lebanon Ice Center.
“I think it’s just we have to expect every night we’re gonna get teams’ best effort,” Mesisca said. “I think the challenge in front of us is we’re ready for every team’s best every night.”
Cam Reidna takes over the Golden Tornado after leading Fox Chapel for seven seasons.
He’s tasked with turning around a team that went 4-15 in Class A Gold with two overtime losses last season. It’s been several years since the Tornado recorded a winning season.
But the team had a 2-1 record in the St. Margaret’s Tournament, and Reidna sees that as a possible sign of things to come.
“I think this team has a lot of belief,” he said.
Reidna described the team’s identity as “not fancy, we’re not cute. … We have to earn everything.”
Back is senior Anthony Trombatt, who was second on the team with 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) last year, junior Mason Heichel (17 points, seven goals) and senior Lucas Hensler (15 points, eight goals). Junior Aden Devore returns after scoring six points last year.
“(Trombatt is) a great leader, he’s a fantastic hockey player, he’s one of those people you can lean on in any situations,” Reidna said.
The coach is also high on returning defensemen Seamus Griffith (19 points, eight goals) and Mason Huey (13, four), as well as netminders Corbin Holt and Harper Slater, who went 2-9 with a combined 395 saves while part of a trio with the graduated Kaidon Vorel.
“We have a really good one-two punch,” Reidna said. “You’re going to need multiple guys to win games for us.”
Butler opened the season Thursday with a 4-3 loss to Chartiers Valley at Mt. Lebanon Ice Center.
Mesisca said Seneca Valley will be without one of last year’s top scorers, Marshall Hewitt, who is playing with Pittsburgh Penguins Elite and cannot play with SV this season.
But the Raiders welcome two new faces from the club senior, seniors Carson Limberg and Jacob Gilbert. Limberg played for Pens Elite last year, while Gilbert is allowed to play for his club team, South Hills Panthers, and SV.
“They have a lot of hockey experience,” Mesisca said. “It adds a lot of hunger to the lineup … (and brings a) physical edge to the team.”
The Planets fell a win short of another PIHL Class A Blue title last year; Avonworth won the trophy 7-1 after Mars made an impressive three-game run in the postseason to reach the final.
Anchoring the roster will be who is in net once again. Seniors Adam Goul (.903 save percentage, 11-1 record) and Carter Gallagher (.865, 6-2) are back and give Mars a formidable tandem.
The Planets also get back Jack Weaver (17 goals, 18 assists), Ethan Vactor (12, 15), Xavier Bossola (19, eight), Jack Tirch (14, 11) and Grant Weaver (eight, 16), who all averaged more than a point per game. But leading playmaker Ben Bowser (11 goals, 27 assists) is gone.
Mars is off to a 2-0 start after wins over South Park and Avonworth and plays Greensburg Salem on Monday night at Baierl Ice Complex.
North Catholic went 11-7 last year in Class A Blue and opens the season Thursday at Baierl Ice Complex against Quaker Valley.
Freeport was 4-16 with an OT loss last year in Class A and opened the season 1-1 after beating Meadville 3-2 and losing 3-1 to Moon. They face Montour at RMU Island Sports Complex on Monday night.
Knoch went 6-12 with an OT loss last year in Division 2 Varsity Gold and is off to a 0-3 this season before Monday night’s game against Elizabeth Forward at Frozen Pond Arena. The top three scorers from last season are gone, with Brady Lineman (five goals, eight assists) the top returning producer. The Knights have new goaltenders in Brady Helsel and Calvin McLaughlin.
