North Xtra: Recent results verify North Hills is a factor
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After a one-year hiatus, the North Hills High School hockey program played its first PIHL varsity-level game in almost 20 months in October.
Over the past month, the Indians showed the rest of PIHL Class AA that they truly are back.
North Hills experienced some early struggles in its re-entry into area high school hockey following its only winter without a varsity team since 1973. The Indians left the ice after each of the first 10 games it played as the losing team.
But with a new calendar year has come a new outlook for North Hills. The team has won three of its past six and has been more than competitive in all seven of the games it has played since New Year's Day.
"I think maybe in the first part of the season, it looked like it was headed toward being a long season," coach Brandon Dudt-Mulzet said. "A lot of that can be attributed to the fact everyone was new to that level and everyone was new to each other. Basically, three-fourths of the team was new.
"Since January, it's looked like a different season. Everything has started to kind of come together. It's a little later than I thought it was going to happen, but it's happened, and that's what I thought would happen based on the talent we have and the group of kids we have."
North Hills began the season being outscored, 31-2, in its first four defeats (it would be awarded a victory by forfeit as well) and with a 78-13 goal-differential at the holiday break.
But in their six games since Jan. 9, the Indians and their opponents each have 31 goals as they split six games. North Hills has wins against Franklin Regional, Kiski Area and Montour in that time, but perhaps more impressive is its performance in the defeats.
In two losses to second-place Moon Area, North Hills had a third-period lead in one game, and had the advantage in shots in the other. The Indians' 8-4 loss to defending state champion Bishop Canevin on Jan. 26 was a vast improvement on a 13-1 defeat to the Crusaders Nov. 14.
"It was a weird transition, I guess, from JV to varsity," North Hills captain Mike Punzak said. "The highest level anyone had played was JV, so it was hard coming straight into varsity for that. But I think we've gotten a lot better getting adjusted to that.
"We're getting to know each other's chemistry. We're starting to become better friends and we've improved as a team because of it."
North Hills has gone from a winless team before the holidays into a .500 team in the past month. Two of its players have thrust themselves into the top 20 of the Class AA scoring race almost on the basis of their performances in that time period.
Brett Berner, an alternate captain as a freshman, has 18 points during his past four games to give him 29 for the season, good for 10th in the classification through Monday.
Sophomore Tyler Heisel had 18 points in a five-game stretch between Jan. 9 and Jan. 30, and he has had at least a point in every game since Christmas after recording only three points in nine games up to that point.
"They both led double-A [in points] for the month of January, which is pretty impressive," Dudt-Mulzet said.
Berner and Heisel typically skate together on the Indians' top line with junior Jake Lydon, who is tied with Punzak for third on the team with 16 points. Mike Witt, the other alternate captain, is next with six points.
A senior who formerly was a standout rollerhockey goalie and only recently took up ice hockey, Nick Resnick's improvement throughout the season has mirrored that of his team. Resnick allowed six goals or more in nine of his first 10 games but has allowed fewer than that in four of his past six -- culminating with a 22-save shutout of Montour on Monday.
"Everyone is playing a role and contributing and having fun," Punzak said.
"To be able to get a chance to play for your high school with all your friends and stuff, it's been a great opportunity and a great experience. And now we're winning, and hopefully we'll go out in the playoffs."
Ten of the 13 teams in Class AA will earn playoff berths. The Indians (4-12) emerged from Monday's game tied for 10th in the classification.
First Published February 9, 2012 12:00 am
