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Hockey Notebook: Day of all-star games never seems to get old
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Bethel Park hockey coach Jim McVay recently recalled a time more than a decade ago when he was at the rink with then-North Hills coach Jim Black and Black's son, Cody, was wearing Indians' apparel around the ice.
McVay will be coaching Cody, a senior at North Allegheny, in the PIHL Class AAA All-Star Game at 5 p.m. Sunday at RMU Island Sports Center.
"It makes me feel old," McVay said.
McVay is the head coach for the Southwest Conference team, his 10th time as a coach in an all-star game.
"The focus is more on making sure the kids have fun," McVay said.
McVay will be assisted by Seneca Valley coach Anthony Raco and Black, now North Allegheny's head coach.
Black has coached his son, Cody, for many years and is excited to do it in an all-star contest.
"It's special," Black said. "But at the same time, I always have been able to separate the relationship. In fact, I'm harder on him than anyone else. Whereas I might give someone a hall pass, I give him tough love."
The Blacks are one of five father-son duos who were selected to participate in the all-star festivities Sunday.
Also in Class AAA, Norwin coach James Reith was selected as an assistant on the Northeast Conference All-Star team, where his son, Eli, has been selected as a defenseman.
In Class AA, coaches Mike Bagnato of Pine Richland and Gene Perhac of Gateway were both selected as assistants on the Northeast Conference All-Star team, where their sons, Brendan Bagnato and Tyler Perhac, were selected as goaltenders.
In Class A, Deer Lakes' Todd Luniewski will be the coach of the Northeast Conference team, while his son, Zach, was selected as an all-star forward.
Players were selected last month at meetings organized for each classification. Coaches get to nominate their own players, then a vote is held, in which coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players.
The Open Class game will lead off the first of four games at 11 a.m. Sunday, followed by the Class A game at 1 p.m., the Class AA game at 3 p.m and finally the Class AAA contest.
Keystone Oaks' McCarthy's milestone
When Keystone Oaks defeated Baldwin, 3-2, Jan. 25, it gave fifth-year coach John McCarthy his 50th regular-season win at the school.
The Golden Eagles followed up that win with three more in a row by a combined score of 30-3 to push McCarthy's record at the school to 53-39-4.
The Golden Eagles were 11-4-1, which was tied for first in Open Class Section 4 before Thursday's games. Keystone Oaks hasn't lost since Jan. 4, a string of eight games.
Keystone Oaks has bounced back after two consecutive losing seasons.
But in McCarthy's first two seasons, the Golden Eagles won a combined 28 regular-season games and advanced to the Nailers Cup championship game twice.
Games to Watch
• Quaker Valley at Mars, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Bladerunners-Warrendale
The Quakers (16-0-0 before Thursday's game against Freeport) and Planets (14-2-1) have combined to win the past five Class A Penguins Cup titles. Quaker Valley won the first meeting between the teams, 5-2, Nov. 15.
• North Allegheny at Seneca Valley, 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Bladerunners-Warrendale
Following the Quakers and Planets game, the Tigers (13-2-2) and Raiders (11-4-1) will meet up for the second time this season. North Allegheny won the first contest, 2-1 in overtime, on a goal by Joe Griffin.
• Chartiers Valley at Bishop Canevin, 9:10 p.m. Monday, Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center
When the Crusaders (11-1-2) and Colts (11-3-1) met Nov. 12, Canevin overcame a 4-0 deficit to win, 6-5.
First Published February 8, 2013 12:00 am
