Fisher’s Files:

By: Ray Fisher 
Sunday, April 7, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Playoff loss stings

The Quaker Valley hockey team rolled to a 16-3-0-1 regular season record to take first place in the PIHL Varsity A Gold Division.

The Quakers narrowly squeaked past Shaler (15-3-0-1-1), Indiana (15-3-0-1-1) and Mars (15-5) at the top of the standings.

QV won its first nine games of the season and was 15-1 through 16 games.

But the Quakers were upset by Greensburg Salem on March 4 in the quarterfinals of the PIHL playoffs.

One of QV’s senior team leaders was defenseman Will Watson, who scored two goals and led the team in assists with 24.

“I am disappointed with our overall performance for the year,” Watson said following the playoff loss. “It was great to win the division but an early exit from the playoffs was disappointing. We feel we worked hard in that game and all year and deserved more from it.

“Regarding next year, I will not be around as I am graduating. However, the team is still young and will come back with a strong group capable of going all the way.”

Watson also plays the attack position on the QV boys lacrosse team.

By: Michael Love 
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 | 9:08 AM

Big games and big performances have filled the first three months of the PIHL regular season.

Now, many of those standout players will have the chance to come together at the end of this month to show their stuff in a series of all-star games.

The 2024 PIHL all-star rosters have been released for the games Jan. 28 at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center.

Five games will be played starting with the D2 game at noon.

The Class A Blue game will be at 1:50 p.m. with the Class A Gold contest at 3:40.

The Class 2A stars will take the ice at 5:30 p.m. with the Class 3A game slated for 7:30 p.m.

PIHL All-Star Games

Class A Gold

Forwards

Owen Denny, Butler

Brayden Hardsock, Butler

Carter Cherok, Greensburg Salem

Chase Kushner, Greensburg Salem

Mikey Kingerski, Greensburg Salem

Philip Bell, Indiana

Ash Lockard, Indiana

Gabriel Nettleton, Indiana

Ben Olshenske, Mars

Ben Bowser, Mars

Ty Turner, McDowell

Rocco Tartaglione, Meadville

Robert Mahoney, Meadville

Preston Phillis, Meadville

Hunter Fiedler, Montour

Thomas Barefoot, Montour

Ryan Berry, North Catholic

Beckett Dunn, North Catholic

Jace Vasbinder, Quaker Valley

Max Modrovich, Quaker Valley

Jacob Kunc, Shaler

Luca Wallander, Shaler

Chase Irwin, Shaler

Branden Switalski, West Allegheny

Defensemen

Kian Fries, Butler

Dylan Swierczynski, Greensburg Salem

Noah Outly, Greensburg Salem

Andrew Kobak, Indiana

Nathan Wood, Indiana

Ethan Bombalski, Kiski Area

Matt Kaste, Meadville

Conor Berry, North Catholic

Will Watson, Quaker Valley

Jacob Keisel, Quaker Valley

Jacob Skerlong, Shaler

Tyler Garasich, Shaler

Goalies

Tristan Gonzales, Greensburg Salem

Luke Rowe, Indiana

Adam Goul, Mars

Wyatt Cleveland, North Catholic

Landon Buterbaugh, Quaker Valley

Shane Ciganik, Shaler

Coaches

Steve Rebovich, Indiana, Head Coach

Jon Hoffmann, North Catholic, Assistant Coach

Kyle Waite, Meadville, Assistant Coach

Kevin Quinn, Quaker Valley, Head Coach

Steven Meyers, Shaler, Assistant Coach

Corey Mentch, Greensburg S

By: Ray Fisher 
Sunday, December 17, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Time to kick-start another winning streak.

Quaker Valley’s hockey team didn’t experience a loss in the first two months of the PIHL season, posting a 9-0 record through Nov. 30.

The Quakers outscored their opponents by a 44-10 margin, allowing 1.1 goals per game and logging three shutouts.

No team had scored more than two goals in any game against QV. That is, until Dec. 7 when the Quakers skated against Indiana in a key Varsity A Gold Division matchup.

Indiana edged the Quakers, 3-2, in overtime at S&T Bank Ice Arena when Gabe Nettleton netted the winning goal at the 2:54 mark.

The Indians improved to 8-1-1 while QV dropped to 9-0-1.

“We finished the first half (of the season) versus West Allegheny,” QV coach Kevin Quinn said, “but our week started at practice on Monday, intent on getting better each time we step on the ice. 9-0-1 is certainly a great start and we are intent on continuing our winning ways.”

QV sophomore forwards Jace Vasbinder and Max Modrovich did all the scoring against Indiana. Vasbinder, off a Modrovich assist, gave the Quakers a 1-0 lead at the 14:42 mark of the first period.

“I think we played a decent game, but we didn’t play our best,” Vasbinder said. “I know we can play much better. It was a tough loss, but we are trying not to ponder on it too long and get back to work for the next game.”

After a pair of second-period goals by Indiana, Modrovich tied it at 2-2 on a QV power play with 14:43 gone in the period. Vasbinder was credited with an assist.

“We definitely gave them too many chances in the second,” Quinn said. “In the third and overtime, we had trouble finishing our chances.”

There was no scoring in the third period as both teams tightened up their defensive effort. QV outshot the Indians 9-3 in the period and 29-19 overall.

The first period was the Quakers’ strongest in the game as they attained a 12-0 advantage in shots on goal.

“It was a great start for sure, shot-wise,” Quinn said. “We scored twice but they disallowed one of our goals. They then allowed a very much disputed goal for Indiana in the second.

“We were not pleased with the officiating, but we needed to overcome it and in the end we didn’t. Using it as an excuse is not an option at Quaker Valley. As I told the team after the game, we need to score more.”

QV goaltender Landon Buterbaugh made 16 saves on 19 shots. On the season, Buterbaugh, a junior, had a 7-1 record with a 1.49 goals-against average, .944 save percentage and two shutouts.

The Quakers’ leading scorers were Vasbinder with 15 goals and seven assists, Modrovich, with nine and nine, and senior defender Will Watson, the team leader in assists with 15.

“The first half of the season was mostly successful with the exception of one game,” Vasbinder said, “but that just means we are going to work even harder to maintain a good record.”

Other QV goal scorers this season include sophomore forward Ben McHenry (5), sophomore defenseman Jacob Keisel (4), freshman defenseman Sawyer Krotine (3), sophomore forward Luke Koehler (3), senior forward Noah Kenneweg (2), freshman forward Charlie Pyle (2), senior forward Coleman Carey, sophomore forward Hunter Kronk and junior defenseman Liam Welge.

The QV squad is dominated by young skaters with nine sophomores on the varsity roster: Vasbinder, Modrovich, McHenry, Keisel, Koehler, Kronk, forwards Charlie D’Antonio and Lance Shaner and defenseman Aidan Dillaman.

Pyle, forward Kieran Cain and defenseman Jack Watson are top freshmen.

The Quakers’ defensive corps is anchored by Watson and Keisel. Watson hopes the loss to Indiana serves as a wake-up call for QV for the second half of the season. 

“We all know we have to play better as a team and only scoring two goals is simply not enough,” Watson said. “The team’s mindset doesn’t change. We need to move one game at a time and play our best hockey from here on out. We need to improve our scoring to make a deep playoff run.

“We have a solid team from top to bottom including two great goaltenders. We have been playing to these strengths. We have been playing well so far and will need to keep improving and working hard to achieve our goals. We have all the tools to make a deep run and should take advantage of this.”

Watson, the team captain and a fourth-year contributor on defense, and Keisel were selected as league all-stars in 2022-23.

“Our defense is a strength,” Quinn said. “We also rely on Liam Welge, Sawyer Krotine and Jack Watson on defense.”

QV’s only other game before the holidays was slated for Dec. 14 against West Allegheny at the Baierl Ice Complex in Warrendale.

The Quakers will play four games next month — at Shaler (Jan. 4), Kiski (Jan. 18), at Montour(Jan. 22) and at McDowell (Jan. 30).

By: Ray Fisher 
Sunday, December 3, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Let’s tag them as sophomore sensations.

Through two months of PIHL action, the Quaker Valley hockey team — led by an all-sophomore top line of Jace Vasbinder, Max Modrovich and Colin York — was undefeated at 8-0 in the Varsity A Gold Division.

“Obviously, record-wise we are quite satisfied,” coach Kevin Quinn said. “We were hoping to be where we are; get off to a great start and achieve the highest seed possible. We feel we have an opportunity to win and it’s my job to make sure we get better every game.

“As a coach, I know we can be much better. I’m happy with our goaltending and our young players stepping up, but I know we are going to have to be better in a lot of ways.”

Vasbinder and Modrovich are dynamic offensive players as fast-skating forwards.

Through eight games, Vasbinder led the Quakers offensively with 14 goals and five assists and was complemented by Modrovich’s seven goals and eight assists.

“They’ve gotten off to a great start in every way,” Quinn said. “They play in all situations and have produced. They bring it every game. They are tough competitors with a lot of talent to back it up.”

Vasbinder was honored as the PIHL Class A Player of the Month for October when he had 11 goals and five assists in five games.

“I am very grateful to have been named player of the month,” Vasbinder said. “I think it is a great reminder to keep up the hard work and show that hard work pays off.”

Vasbinder, who accounted for 10 goals and four assists as a freshman, is hoping the Quakers can maintain their perfect record throughout the 2023-24 season.

“I think our team has been performing well through the first half of the season,” Vasbinder said. “We have all been working hard at practice to prepare for the games, which has led to our early success. We have some tough matchups ahead, but if we continue our hard work and dedication, we have a great chance of winning our division.

“We always talk about being relentless is something you have to do to win games, so my expectation is for all of us to be prepared and give it our all each game we play regardless of the score. We all have the same mindset that we want to win, which will help us obtain our goal of staying undefeated.”

Vasbinder, Modrovich and York make up QV’s top line this year. York contributed six assists to Vasbinder’s and Modrovich’s offensive antics.

“But we have also been relying on (forwards) Coleman Carey, Luke Koehler, Ben McHenry, Noah Kenneweg, Kieran Cain, Hunter Kronk, Charlie D’Antonio, Charlie Pyle, Aidan Dillaman and Lance Shaner,” Quinn said.

Carey and Kenneweg are seniors; Cain and Pyle are freshmen. And there are more sophomores: Koehler, McHenry (4 goals, 2 assists), Kronk, D’Antonio, Dillaman and Shaner.

QV finished with a 13-6-0-1 regular-season record last year, good for fifth place in the division, then went 1-1 in the PIHL playoffs, blanking Indiana, 3-0, before losing to Fox Chapel, 5-3.

This year, the Quakers allowed just nine goals in going 8-0 and attaining three shutouts. Junior goaltender Landon Buterbaugh, a PIHL all-star a year ago, was 6-0 with a 1.33 goals-against average.

“Landon has been incredible. He’s the top goalie in our league,” Quinn said. “We would not be 8-0 without him. Landon pushes himself very hard, and I love his competitiveness.

“Landon along with Ian Lorang form the best goaltending duo in our league. We are fortunate to have both.”

Lorang, a sophomore, chipped in with a 2-0 record, 0.50 goals-against average and one shutout. He surrendered just one goal on 24 shots so far.

The Quakers’ defensive corps is anchored by senior Will Watson, the team leader in assists with 13, and sophomore Jacob Keisel, who had three goals and three assists.

Watson, the team captain and a fourth-year contributor on defense, and Keisel were selected as league all-stars in 2022-23.

“Will and Jacob have been our top defensive pair for two years now,” Quinn said. “They play a lot of hockey for us, both offensively and defensively. They are excellent skaters and play the game the right way. I can’t remember a freshman skater that has made the all-star game (in the past) for us. Jacob is an advanced player with all the tools to be a great player. He is eager to learn and get better. And Will brings it every night.

“Our defense is a strength of our team. We have not allowed more than two goals in any game this year. We also rely on (junior) Liam Welge and (freshmen) Sawyer Krotine and Jack Watson on defense.”

QV was being hotly pursued by Shaler (7-1) and Indiana (6-1-0-1) in the Varsity A Gold Division standings at the end of November.

The Quakers averaged close to five goals per game offensively and shut out McDowell, 7-0, Meadville, 3-2, and Mars, 2-0.