PG East: Penn-Trafford Shows Improvement

The Penn-Trafford Warriors aren't afraid to set the bar high for the young PIHL hockey season that began a month ago and runs through February before the Penguins Cup playoffs start.
'The expectations are fairly high,' second-year coach Brett Farrow said. 'We've got quite a few guys returning. We think we can win our section [title] and have a good chance to do so as long as we stay healthy.
'We have good scoring punch, solid defense and two senior returning goalies. If everyone chips in and does what they need to do, we will be competitive and we'll see where we're at come Feb. 1 [for the stretch drive and playoffs].'
The Warriors (2-3-0) carried a modest two-game winning streak through a break of more than two weeks between games over the Thanksgiving holiday. They'll return to the ice tomorrow night at Center Ice in Delmont to play Gateway.
Although Penn-Trafford lost its first three games of the season, those contests were against some of the top teams in Class AAA. Pine-Richland, Shaler and Seneca Valley were a combined 15-2 entering the week. A 7-11-2 team last season, the Warriors lost those three games by a combined five goals, including two one-goal defeats.
Penn-Trafford believes its early-season returns are showing it is an improved team over last season, when it lost in the first round of the Penguins Cup playoffs.
'I think we can go a lot further this year,' said defenseman Rob Maier, the team's captain. 'We have a great core group of seniors, and we have underclassmen who are developing into leaders, too, this year.'
Maier helps anchor an experienced defense that includes alternate captain Kevin Fulton and Brad Stumpf, both seniors.
The senior class also includes two of the three more-than-capable goalies on the roster: Anthony Laurito and champagne wedding dress Josh Fischer (freshman Mike Cheswick is the other).
Forwards Chase Keibler, Zach Lawther, Brian Zagorac, R.J Dulemba are other contributing seniors.
Zagorac, a three-year letterman, Dulemba and Carlin Crombie have been skating on a line that has combined for nine goals the first five games of the season. Dulemba's five goals had him tied with Maier for the team lead, and Crombie's five assists have him tied with Keibler for most on the team.
Keibler is part of a line that includes Lawther and junior center Charles Boyer. A.J. Swanstrom, Dan Maier and Conlan Sodrosky have formed another line.
Sophomore Jared Ingersoll and freshmen Justin Williams and Joe Boyer have contributed on defense when called upon to dress for games, as has sophomore Matt Kijowski.
'Everybody is contributing in some way shape or form,' Farrow said. 'We rely on our seniors to carry us, but the young guys are going to have to step it up, too, when called upon to chip in.
'We're very pleased with what we've seen so far this year. We've competed pretty much every game out. We had a rough start against Pine-Richland in the opener, but we've been competing with Shaler and fancy dress clapham Seneca Valley, pretty good teams.'
Keibler, an alternate captain, was an all-star last season when he posted nine goals and 13 assists in 18 games. This season, body con dress he is second on the team with eight points (three goals, five assists) through five games.
'The last couple years, we've expected a lot out of him,' Farrow said. 'He's a versatile player who's an asset in all situations and special teams that come up during the game. We can always count on him to make plays and be in the right pace at the right time. And he has a big heart and plays hard. You couldn't ask for anything more from a senior.'
The past two games, the Warriors have outscored their opponents14-4.
'Our style is to try to play it close to the vest and possess the puck as much as possible,' Farrow said. 'Take our chancesbe a big counter-attacking team.'


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