It's time for the rubber match between Mars and Quaker Valley — and the stakes are higher than ever.

"The first two games meant nothing,"Mars hockey coach Tim Coleman said. "The third game means everything.'

The Planets and Quakers meet for the Penguins Cup Class A championship at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Mellon Arena.

Quaker Valley (22-2-0) has won 16 straight games, including a 5-3 win over Mars Jan. 14. The Quakers' last loss was a 5-2 decision to the Planets Nov. 27.

Mars (22-1-1) has won nine straight games since that loss to Quaker Valley.

"Mars is a very strong, deep team,"Quaker Valley coach Kevin Quinn said. "They're a bigger school with a lot more kids to draw from than we have.

"They have more than one good line to throw at you, and they take full advantage of that."

Quaker Valley has six players who have scored more than 10 goals this season. The Planets have 10 players who have scored at least seven goals.

While the Quakers are playing in their third consecutive Penguins Cup title game, losing 4-1 to Freeport last year and winning the state title in 2006, Mars is playing in its first Penguins Cup finale since the program began in 1988.

"We've been to at least the semifinals in five straight years,"Quinn said. "I don't think that experience will be a factor, though. Mars has been playing hockey at a high level for a while now and they've got a great group of seniors."

Among the players gone from Quaker Valley's team last year are 31-goal scorer Bret McNamara, 21-goal scorer Greg Dyer and three-year goaltender Zach Zinger, who had a 0.93 goals-against average a year ago.

This year's Quakers are led by George Jackson (26 goals, 37 assists), 24-goal scorer Colin South and 23-goal scorer Noah Zamagias.

Goaltender Zack Taylor is 17-2 with a 1.68 goals-against average.

"Our team has overcome adversity this year, in terms of injuries and losing key players,"Quinn said. "Our seniors have lost only four games in three years."

While Quaker Valley has history on its side, Coleman said he believes Mars has the better team.

"This is the top two seeded teams going at it, but we're the No. 1 seed," Coleman said. "We're the favorite and we should be able to get the job done if we stay focused on the ice.

"We can't take any bad penalties. We took about five bad penalties in the first two periods against Bishop McCort. We can't do that again."

Mars defeated Hampton 5-1 and Bishop McCort 3-1 in its first two playoff games. Quaker Valley defeated Somerset 8-2 and Serra Catholic 6-5 to begin the playoffs.

Coleman said his team won't be intimidated by Quaker Valley's tradition or by playing in a National Hockey League rink.

The Planets' win over Bishop McCort was played at Mellon Arena March 10.

"Things change,"Coleman said. "Bishop McCort has won six state championships since 1990, but that meant nothing when we played them.

"I told the kids that tradition is good, but sometimes it's time for a change. And to us, Mellon Arena is just another sheet of ice. It's not what happens outside the boards, but what happens between the boards that matters."

Ian Finney leads the Mars attack with 25 goals and 34 assists. Michael Heltman has 30 goals and 52 points while junior Jake Robash has 25 goals and 47 points.

Sophomore goalie Greg Lewis is 8-1-1 with a 0.90 goals-against average.

"We've got great seniors, but our sophomores have been terrific, too,"Coleman said. "Mike Mazzotta, Tyler Whiteford, Greg Lewis in goal — those kids have made some big plays for us."

Mars has scored 190 goals and allowed 30. Quaker Valley has scored 170 goals and surrendered 42.

"We're used to facing quality competition and so are they,"Quinn said. "This should be a great hockey game."

The winner faces the Flyers Cup champion for the state title March 29 at Johnstown's War Memorial.