Planets capture classic win
PINE TWP — On home ice or on the road, indoors or outdoors in single-digit temperatures at North Park, the Mars hockey team has been nothing short of amazing.
Robbie Sigurdsson tallied a hat trick and senior goalie Tyler Stepke stopped 13 shots as the Planets overwhelmed Westmont Hilltop 5-0 Friday night.
The game, along with Seneca Valley's 3-3 tie with North Allegheny, was part of the UPMC High School Hockey Outdoor Charity Series at the North Park rink.
Proceeds from the Mars game will benefit brain cancer research.
“It means a lot to take part in a game like this,” said Mars' Blake Friday. “It's for a good cause.”
The Planets' Nick Blaney scored a goal and had two assists, Joe Bender scored once and Elliot Tisdale had three assists.
Ryan Magdinec and Colt Berneburg each had one helper.
Sigurdsson scored once in the opening period, then twice more in the third.
“This is a bigger stage than just a normal game,” he said. “To get a win and score a hat trick tonight, it's great.
“The fact that it was really cold, it makes the ice very hard,” he added. “And when the puck gets knocked up in the air, it's hard to see it when you're playing outdoors.”
Something that isn't hard to see is why the Planets (15-0) have gone unbeaten through 15 games: he team has outscored its opponents 123-12.
There has been no letdown for the defending Class A Penguins Cup and state champion.“The friendly competition that we have in practice drives this team,” said Mars coach Steve Meyers. “It was hard getting the guys focused before the season started, but once you start playing the games, it keeps the juices going.”Mars' closest games were back-to-back 3-1 victories over Quaker Valley and Central Valley in mid-December. The Planets have won the vast majority of their games by more than five goals.“Last year's team was more flashy, more top heavy as far as who was scoring the goals,” said Meyers. “This year, we're getting goals from all over the place, including defensemen.”In fact, Mars has received goals from 16 different players. Five players have at least 10 goals, led by Tisdale's 25.The goaltending is in good hands as well, as Stepke's save percentage was pushed to nearly 94 percent with Friday's shutout.“We just go hard every time we step on the ice,” said Sigurdsson. “We're focused on our final goal, which is to win the state title again.”As a prelude to the outdoor games, Friday and teammate Kevin Leslie were two of a select group of PIHL players who toured Consol Energy Center last week.“We got to go into the Penguins' locker room and met (Pittsburgh coach) Dan Bylsma,” said Friday. “A couple of players were there, (Marc-Andre) Fleury and (Kris) Letang. It was an unbelievable experience.”n Seneca Valley's game Friday night was played to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.“We were able to practice (at North Park) a few weeks ago and it was awesome,” said SV coach Denis Kirstein before the game. “It's a great opportunity for our organization and to raise money for a good cause.”
