There's at least one group of Penguins who have had little trouble making a playoff run this year. The Pittsburgh Amateur Penguins — an U-19 girls hockey team — have already won the Pittsburgh Amateur Hockey League and were scheduled to play this weekend at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, for a chance to win the Mid-Am district title and advance to the national tournament in Anchorage, Alaska. The Penguins, who call Bladerunners in Harmarville their home, are made up of 18 local players ages 12-19 and are coached by Chris Ciardi of Munhall. The PAHL is comprised of six teams predominately in western Pennsylvania — the Penguins, Erie, Mt. Lebanon, Mon-Valley, Beaver and Indiana. The Penguins went 15-4-1 in winning the PAHL's regular-season and tournament titles. The team also played approximately 20 more games in tournaments and scrimmages, including games in Cleveland, Ohio, Syracuse, N.Y., Binghamton, N.Y., Hershey and London, Ontario. "Girls hockey is really growing," Ciardi said. "There's a lot of traveling involved. You learn a lot of geography." Ciardi, 46, a stand-up comic and children's entertainer, is in his second season coaching the Penguins. He took over the team one game into the 2000-2001 season and led it to the PAHL regular-season title before losing in the title game of the postseason tournament. "The team was in need, so I said I would do it," said Ciardi, whose daughter, Pamela, is also in her second year with the team. "The girls didn't let me down, and they started to win. In the past two years, we've hung three banners in the rafters. I'm very proud of them." Ciardi got into coaching hockey when his son, Sean, and daughter played for Steel Valley. Ciardi was elected president of the Steel Valley Youth League Hockey Association (he's now the league's representative) and went on to earn his coaching certificate. He later was an assistant on the Steel Valley boys freshman team. "As president, my job was to hire coaches," Ciardi said. "So, I wanted to know what they were suppose to know. I think it made me a more effective president." As coach of the Penguins, Ciardi has developed what he calls a "defense first" team. "We play fundamental hockey," he said. "I'd rather win games, 1-0. I am blessed with one of the best goaltender combinations in the league and have speed down low. I believe in hard work, and I've got the kids busting their butts for me and for each other." Goaltenders Shannon Annisetti and Alisa Beverley have combined for an .889 save percentage and a 1.25 goals-against average in PAHL play. Center Jocelyn Girlardo (10 goals, 11 assists in PAHL play), winger Lisa Bac (12 goals, 8 assists) and defender Stacy Butera (8 goals, 11 assists) lead a balanced scoring attack. Ciardi — who plays in an over-40 hockey league — described the type of hockey his team plays as "fast paced, highly skilled and extremely competitive." He also said their approach to games in different from the boys players he has coached. "I do enjoy coaching girls for that reason," Ciardi said. "They are much more open to change than boys are." This weekend, the Penguins were scheduled to face the Ohio Flames in a best-of-three series. The winner of the series will join six other district winners in competiting for the national championship. The Cleveland-based Flames — whose roster includes players from western Pennsylvania — have won the district title six of the past seven seasons. They have already beaten the Penguins, 8-0, this season. "They have excellent players from Fox Chapel and Quaker Valley," Ciardi said. "It's a shame they are not playing for Pennsylvania." No.-Name-Position 00-Shannon Annisetti-G 01-Alisa Beverley-G 05-Pamela Ciardi-D 07-Stacy Butera-D 09-Jocelyn Girlardo-C 11-Leah Hindy-W 13-Andrea Frick-W/D 15-Keri Kimes-W/D 18-Lisa Bac-W 19-Liz Perchinsky-C/D 20-Megan King-W 23-Collette Mason-W 25-Tiffany Pan-D 27-Kori Schall-W 28-Riina Aikio-W 32-Sarah Wood-D 78-Stephanie Symosko-C/D 95-Christina Kunz-D Coaches-Chris Ciardi, Michael Bac, Gerry Hindy Manager-Nancy King

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