On 13th February 2024, the Blackhawk and Mars high school hockey teams achieved noteworthy triumphs in the PIHL Class A hockey matches.
Blackhawk secured an impressive 10-1 victory over Westmont Hilltop, with Owen Keister leading the charge with two goals and an assist. Finn Conlon and Owen Gratowski also made significant contributions with two goals each, while Matias Huber added a goal and two assists. On the opposing side, Ethan Downey scored the solitary goal for Westmont Hilltop, as they struggled to keep up with Blackhawk’s offensive prowess.
Meanwhile, Mars dominated their match against McDowell, emerging victorious with a scoreline of 7-0. Luke Olshenske scored twice, Ethan Lipchin had a goal and three assists, and Grant Weaver added a goal and two assists to secure the win for Mars. Carter Gallagher also played a crucial role, making 12 saves to earn a shutout for his team.
In another Class 2A matchup, Bishop McCort secured a 6-4 win over North Hills, with Nikita Kolomejtsev scoring a hat trick and Timur Naletov notching two goals and three assists for Bishop McCort. On the opposing side, Chris Muschar and Jonathan Trosky each contributed with a goal and an assist for North Hills, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Bishop McCort’s strong performance.
Finally, Wheeling Catholic clinched a hard-fought 5-4 overtime victory against Richland, with Logan Pielech scoring the overtime winner and Zach Vitlip netting a hat trick for Wheeling Catholic. Jack Lorence’s two goals for Richland were not sufficient to secure the win.
The victories for Blackhawk, Mars, Bishop McCort, and Wheeling Catholic underscore the high level of competition and skill in high school hockey. These teams have clearly demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure and secure important wins in their respective matches.
As the season progresses, it will be exciting to see how these teams continue to compete and evolve. With the playoffs on the horizon, the stakes are higher than ever, and each victory brings these teams closer to their ultimate goal of championship glory.