From the time they first strapped on the skates many months ago, members of the Seneca Valley hockey team took to the ice with one goal in mind.

Win the PIHL's Class AAA Penguin Cup.

The Raiders were two wins away from accomplishing just that when the coronavirus pandemic hit and play was suspended.

When the PIAA canceled its springs sports slate, the PIHL held out hope of completing its playoffs.

The inevitable, though, has finally happened.

The PIHL posted on its website late Sunday afternoon that it “regretfully must announce that the remainder of its 2019-20 season is now canceled. This includes all unplayed games in the Varsity playoffs.”

It didn't come as a huge surprise to Seneca Valley hockey coach Anthony Raco, whose team was one of 12 still alive in the PIHL's three classes when the season was halted.

“Think about what these high school hockey players do,” Raco said. “They start in June and play into March. They were literally one week shy of finishing the season, so it's pretty disheartening.

“I think the PIHL deserves a lot of credit,” Raco added. “They had every intension of getting it done and long after the PIAA canceled, they held out.”

The PIHL only had three semifinal games as well as three championship contests remaining on its slate. The league was hopeful it could find a way to get those six games in and conclude the season.

But as time wore on, that became more and more unlikely, Raco said.

Seneca Valley was the only Butler County team still alive in the tournament after the seventh-seeded Raiders upset No. 2 seed Upper St. Clair in the quarterfinals all the way back on March 3.

Seneca Valley was scheduled to take on No. 3 seed Peters Township in the Class AAA semifinals.

No. 1 North Allegheny and No. 4 Pine-Richland were on the other side of the bracket.

Raco said it was just a matter of time before the remained of the season was shelved.

That knowledge still didn't make it any easier.

“I don't think anyone anticipated it being like this,” Raco said. “From some conversations I had with the league, rinks wouldn't even be opened until we are in the green phase. It took this long to just get into yellow. It's just tough.”

Raco is not shifting his focus to next season.

Hoping there is one.

“I told the guys (Sunday) and I think they knew it was eventually going to come,” Raco said. “It's especially hard for the seniors. I thanked them and told them they were welcome back with open arms any time they wanted to come back and skate with us.”

For the underclassmen, Raco also had a message.

“Take advantage of the opportunities you are given,” Raco said, “because you never know when it could be gone.”