PG North: Strong Shaler hockey team has roster of stars
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The team with the best record in PIHL Class AAA high school hockey will be well-represented all over the ice at the league's All-Star Game this weekend.
Shaler had a forward, a defenseman, a goalie and a coach selected to the Northeast Conference team that will play the Southwest Conference at 6:40 p.m. Saturday at the Ice Castle in Castle Shannon.
In addition, the Titans' Drew Martz was named an alternate.
"I was quite happy we got four … [player] nominees selected," Shaler coach Curt Hetz said. "That's a sign that I have a fairly strong team, and these kids are all contributing to the success of the team. Their play has contributed to our strong record."
The Titans are 14-1 following Tuesday night's 7-6 overtime victory against Mt. Lebanon, and it's easy to see why, what with a player at each position heading to the all-star game.
Start at forward, where junior Zac Lynch was ranked fifth in Class AAA in goals heading into the week with 15. He scored three more against Mt. Lebanon. His 25 points placed him 11th. Lynch has already surpassed his goal and point totals from last season.
"He's a good two-way player, he's a real heady, strong player," Hetz said. "He knows how to control his play on the ice.
"He's not a super huge kid, but he's kind of a thicker kid from the standpoint that he's more of widebody; he's got a nice hockey build.
"He can generate speed but still can be under control and in control of the puck… He has real good hands, good puck-moving ability and is a nice playmaker, too."
Martz has been the team's best playmaker, at least if number of assists is used as the criteria alone. His 15 assists in 13 games ranked tied for 11th in PIHL Class AAA.
Martz, however, will not play in the all-star game even though an injury opened up a spot for him. He will be out of town playing for his amateur travel team.
Junior goalie Oscar Prom was picked by the selecting coaches as an all-star. Heading into Tuesday's game, Prom was 10-0 with a 2.39 goals-against average and .889 save percentage.
"I thought when I compared him to the rest of the goalies in our conference, he's certainly having as good a year as any of them," Hetz said. "I think he's been playing really well, well enough that he deserved the nomination, and the rest of the coaches obviously agreed."
The defenseman playing in the all-star game is senior Zach Piskurich. He and Josh Hetz were the lone experienced holdovers at the position.
They have acted as steadying influences for the Titans throughout the season.
"My defense has played really well," Curt Hetz said. "We have new kids and some kids who opted to move back, but it's been a real strength of the team. They've learned to move the puck quickly in our own zone. And I looked at Zach as the upperclassman, as one of the steadier ones amongst them, so I nominated him for the defense spot."
Hetz will be an assistant coach at the all-star game as well. A first-year coach at Shaler, he is pleased with the fact the Titans' 26 points have them in contention for the No. 1 seed in the Penguins Cup playoffs that will get under way at the end of next month.
"It's hard to complain when your team is 13-1," Hetz said. "The team is continuing to play well."
Shaler's lone loss was a 3-2 decision to Pine-Richland, which happens to be the only team with more points than the Titans. The Rams, however, have a loss and a tie, meaning if Shaler wins out, it will finish with a better record than Pine-Richland.
"I think we've kind of proven ourselves," Hetz said. "I think we've played every type of team and every caliber of team, and for the most part we were competitive with everyone we've played.
"We've played good, strong defense and found a way to make the most of our opportunities, keep games tight."
First Published January 22, 2009 12:00 am
