2008 Greensburg CC Invitational
Semi-Finals ~ Franklin Regional 6 Greensburg CC 2
GREENSBURG –
The Greensburg CC Invitational is the longest running Invitational Tournament remaining [1993] in Western Pennsylvania and maintains its place in the Western Pa hockey community as a pre-season warm-up tournament, which is all that any tournament is this time of year, since most teams are still trying to figure out their rosters. For Greensburg CC and coach Tom Ward, it has been 12 years since the Centurian’s captured the Class AA Pennsylvania State Title [1996], which was one of three including 1994 in Class A and in 1993 in Class A. Since there was only one State Champion from Western Pennsylvania in 2008, the interest in the Centurians return to glory has reinvigorated. The start for GCC will be to knock off rivals 2008 Penguins Cup finalist Franklin Regional and 2008 Pennsylvania State Champions Latrobe.
Franklin Regional is a program that has knocked on the Penguins Cup door six times [2008,2003, 1996,1995,1994 & 1993] in its 27 year history and has not been able advance to the Pennsylvania State final. Last years run ended in overtime in a loss to Latrobe, who went on to capture its first Penguins Cup and then held on to top Conestoga in the final in Johnstown. Jim Daugherty knows that time is limited and numbers in the Panther program, at least at the Varsity level permit that 2009 may be the last opportunity for a very long time not only to win a Penguins Cup, but to compete at the Varsity level, which is something for a program with winning campaigns in 17 of its last 18 years. Franklin Regional is one of five teams I believe who are favorites to compete for the 2009 Penguins Cup, but will face stiff competition with Latrobe, Canevin, Kittanning and Meadville in March.
Franklin got off to a quick start against GCC with a decided advantage in territorial
Play in the opening period and after a delayed penal, Peter Ellis rammed home a rebound
at 10:41 for a 1-0 lead. The Centurians opportunity on the power play at 6:51 was
shortlived as Shane Crossey stole the puck and buried a slapshot on the stick side to make
it 2-0.
The second period was all FR as they held a 22-12 shot advantage through two
periods and the scoring continued as well as Steve Shirk took a beautiful feed from
Eugene Mack and fired it home to make it 3-0 at 7:34. At 5:56, Ryan Crossey hit the post
but made the best of a 2nd opportunity as Anthony Talamo threaded a perfect pass and
Crossey made no mistake and it was 4-0 with 5:44 to go. Shane Crossey gohis second
goal with 2:16 left and GCC finally broke the shutout with just 26 ticks remaining to
make it 5-1 thru two. The teams traded goals in the final frame as Franklin Regional will
get an opportunity to defend its title from a year ago in the GCC Invitational.
2008 Greensburg CC Invitational
Semi-Finals ~ Latrobe 6 State College 2
GREENSBURG –
State College moved to Class AAA a year ago and accorded themselves very well
capturing a division title in 2008 under Tim Holdcroft and part of that season was a finals
appearance in the GCC Invitational before bowing to Franklin Regional. The Icers
have faired well in this years event and advanced for a rematch with Latrobe who
downed State College convincingly 9-2 in preliminary round action.
There was only one State Champion in 2008 from Western Pennsylvania and ending
a 29 year drought Latrobe under Ron Makoski captured the Class AA Penguins Cup and
Pennsylvania title over Conestoga in March. The Wildcats earned that title as they
defeated Franklin Regional and some stiff competition to capture their first ever crown
and the good news is that this team is primed and talented to do it again in 2009. History
in Class AA tells us that this feat is common as Thomas Jefferson, Peters Township and
Pine Richland have all repeated after capturing their first state titles within the past ten
years and Latrobe is the early favorite to do it under new Head Coach Dan Ridder. The
Wildcats have marched through the GCC field impressively defeating State College and
Franklin Regional 5-0.
State College battled Latrobe well in the opening period as the shots were 6-2 in
favor of the Wildcats. Andrew Onge scored at 4:15 to give the defending champs a 1-0
lead. State College tied the game at 6:36 of the second period as Ryan Pate scored with
6:36 to go in the period. That lead didn’t last long as Dillon Hunter scored with 5 minutes
remaining in the middle frame and then Tyler Berger scored on a strong move to the net
with 1:36 left to make it 3-1. Jayson Angus added insuance with 20 seconds left on a nice
drop pass by Michael McCurdy to give Latrobe a 4-1 advantage at the end of two.
The Wildcats kept coming and Michael McCurdy scored on a rebound on the power
play to slat the Wildcats spot in the GCC Finals with 7:06 to go. Brandon Graham scored
for the Icers on a high slap shot over the glove of newcomer goaltender Scott Ault to
make it 6-2, but Matt Batis backhanded home a rebound to make the final count Latrobe
6 State College 2 setting up a rematch of the 2008 Penguins Cup final in the 2008 GCC
Invitational finale.
