Hampton Talbots take spotlight on ice

The Hampton Talbots ice hockey team was led by a couple of defensive standouts, as captain K.C. Swain and goalie Sam Wilson served as the face of the team this season.

Balancing the great defensive effort were two senior forwards who helped the Talbots get to the forefront of Class A hockey.

Zach Homitz and Luke Pankowski have different styles, but were important players this season, coach Brad Lloyd said.

"Zach can take the puck from end to end, and I was never in doubt when the puck was on his stick," Lloyd said. "He could break a heavy forecheck and was a playmaker for us.

"Luke was our No. 1 emotional leader. He had the ability to step up and say what needed to be said. He was night-and-day different from his junior year. He may have been the best penalty killer in the league."

That trait shined brightest against Serra Catholic, when the Talbots needed a boost and faced a 5-on-3 penalty they had to kill.

"Luke killed that penalty all by himself," Lloyd said. "He blocked six shots. I have never seen anything like it."

Pankowski called that shift nerve-wracking and was relieved when it was over.

What really made this season special for Hampton was that the team came into the season under the radar and did what no Hampton squad had done before. By getting to the Consol Energy Center, it got two games on the big sheet of ice, and it is a moment they will never forget.

"I was very proud of this team," Homitz said. "We were young; we only had four seniors.

"Playing at Consol was an amazing experience. We always watch the Penguins and wanted to play at Mellon Arena, but we got to play at Consol twice. It was great to do that with my friends."

Homitz said that the seniors are best friends and, if nothing else, he hopes future Hampton teams remember that "you can fight through all odds and set where you want to go (and get there)."

Pankowski agreed and added that the past few seasons were emotional, especially the last few games this one.

"I will miss this environment," Pankowski said. "We would carpool and always make a Sheetz run before practice. It may seem small, but I already miss that."

With a large exodus of seniors last year and Lloyd being a first-year head coach, Hampton garnered little attention until the season progressed toward the playoffs.

"Coach Lloyd taught me to focus on a team game." Pankowski said. "We all played our role. That is what helped us get so far."

Homitz said that although Lloyd was new, "he knew exactly what he wanted to do, and he turned me and Luke into leaders and made sure we did what we needed to do."

In the Penguins Cup semifinals, the Talbots led Kittanning 2-0 and needed a third goal to take control of the game. Homitz stepped up and scored.

"(At that moment), I knew we would get another day at Consol," Homitz said.

Lloyd said he will miss his seniors.

"They liked to be goofy, but they are light-hearted kids," he said. "But, on the ice, they took things personally. They both excelled and made us all laugh."