While most student athletes at Mars High are waiting for the spring sports season to begin in earnest, the boys of winter have one more game to play.

The Planets junior varsity ice hockey team will be playing in the PIHL Less Competitive championship game against Conemaugh Valley at 8 p.m. Monday at the Ice Castle in Castle Shannon.

For fourth-year coach J.P. Martha, the team's spot in the title game came as a surprise, albeit a pleasant one.

"We made the playoffs last year and lost in the second round," said Martha. "But most of those kids moved up to the varsity team this season. It was tough to say at the beginning of the season what this team was going to do."

The Planets won the PIHL Western Division, beating out Knoch, Steel Valley and South Allegheny.

They then disposed of Somerset (6-4) and Wheeling Park (3-2) in the playoffs, putting their overall record at 11-4-3.

The team's postseason run is due to several factors, not the least of which is the play of junior goaltender Andy Whiteford.

"This is his first year in net," said Martha. "He was a forward last year, but we needed someone to put the pads on. He's stepped up for us."

Whiteford has recorded four shutouts this season and currently sports an 85.1 save percentage.

He has received fine defensive play in front of him, led by Dave Anderson and Sean Roach.

"In the regular season, we lost to Wheeling Park twice by a score of 4-3," said Martha. "And in the playoff game, I thought our defense really tightened up and played well."

Leading the offense is freshman team captain Ian Finney, who has 19 goals and nine assists.

Mike Heltman chipped in with eight goals and five assists while Jake Takach has nine goals and three assists to his credit.

The Planets will be facing an unfamiliar opponent in Conemaugh Valley.

"They played in a different division," said Martha. "We didn't play them this season and don't know much about them at all."