By all estimation, the Fox Chapel hockey team is having a dream season.
» The Foxes cruised to a 16-game winning streak that lasted almost four months.
» They won an outdoor game during festivities surrounding the Winter Classic at Heinz Field.
» They will compete for their first PIHL Penguins Cup at the team's new arena.
In the Class AAA semifinals, the top-seeded Foxes (19-2) face No. 4 seed Upper St. Clair (14-6-1) at 9 p.m. today at Consol Energy Center.
Upper St. Clair is led by forward C.J. Murray, who finished the regular season with 59 points (30 goals, 29 assists) in 20 games. Fox Chapel defeated the Panthers, 5-2, on Dec. 20.
Today's victor will face No. 2 seed Canon-McMillan (16-4-1) or No. 3 Bethel Park (15-4-2) for the Class AAA title Sunday.
"What you have left is four incredibly evenly matched teams, all with their particular strengths and weaknesses," Fox Chapel coach Cory Rome said. "You can make an argument for North Allegheny, but I guess the cream has risen to the top in what's been a wide-open year."
For Fox Chapel, it's a 180-degree turn from a nightmarish 2009-10. In August of '09, coach Jim Damp died of a heart attack before a team workout.
"Everyone was in shock, and the fact that he passed away in front of some of the kids made it that much worse," said Rome, the junior-varsity coach at the time.
Rome took over the team, but injuries decimated the Foxes, particularly on defense. Eight players were hurt -- concussions, a high ankle sprain, a broken wrist, a torn ACL and even a hyperextended elbow -- and it resulted in a 3-14 record.
"Last year was Murphy's law: What could've gone wrong went wrong," Rome said. "There were games we literally went with nine guys. We all threw our hands up and said, 'Let's just work on individual skills,' and we got the young guys a ton of ice time. It's definitely paid off this year."
Other than a lack of postseason experience, the Foxes show few weaknesses. Senior playmakers Dan Humes (27 goals, 30 assists) and Jacob Friedland (18, 28) form a potent combo.
Defenseman Will Lorenz, third on the team with 16 assists and 23 points, teams with Colin Cheng to lead a disciplined blue line. Junior goaltender Tyler Fannie (19-1, 2.00 goals-against average) has consistently stopped pucks in pressure situations.
Capping the list of positives, sophomore sniper Bryan Hovanec -- who led the Foxes in goals as a freshman -- rejoined the team midway through the season. Hovanec has seven goals and five assists in just 11 games.
The dream season keeps getting better.
"Last year, we had a big talk in the locker room after the last game and referenced Xbox and how I wish we could hit the reset button," Rome said. "We knew we had the talent, as long as we stayed healthy. The kids don't give up -- ever -- and we've earned our place playing for the Penguins Cup at the new building.
"It's been a dream season for us, it really has, but there's still a lot of hockey left to play."
PIHL Penguins Cup semifinals
All games at Consol Energy Center
Class A
No. 1 seed Kittanning vs. No. 6 Hampton
5 p.m. Monday
Records: Kittanning 21-1, Hampton 16-6
Season series: Tied, 1-1
Leading scorers: K--Troy Schall 62 (30 g, 32 a). H--Luke Leya 36 (21 g, 15 a).
Top goaltenders: K--Cameron Langham (20-1, 2.24 GAA). H--Samuel Watson (14-6, 2.10 GAA).
Outlook: Kittanning would be entering this matchup undefeated were it not for Hampton. The Talbots handed Kittanning its only defeat, 5-4, in overtime Jan. 3. The Wildcats returned the favor March 3 with an 8-4 victory in the regular-season finale. Kittanning looks like a team ready for gold.
No. 2 seed Mars vs. No. 3 Westmont Hilltop
5 p.m. Tuesday
Records: Mars 21-1, Westmont Hilltop 17-4-1
Season series: Mars, 1-0
Leading scorers: M--Elliot Tisdale 68 (33 g, 35 a). WH--Corey Schafer 67 (36 g, 31 a).
Top goaltenders: M--Tyler Stepke (13-1, 1.52 GAA). WH--Adam Ayre (13-4-1, 3.34 GAA).
Outlook: Class A's top two scorers on the same ice could make this an entertaining game, but Stepke's presence in net could give Mars the edge. The Planets also are looking to advance to the finals for the fourth consecutive season.
Class AA
No. 1 seed Peters Township vs. No. 4 Chartiers Valley
7 p.m. Monday
Records: Peters Township 18-2-1, Chartiers Valley 17-4
Season series: Peters Township, 1-0
Leading scorers: PT--Taylor Cox 44 (25 g, 19 a). CV--Justin Sabilla 63 (24 g, 39 a).
Top goaltenders: PT--Woody Shell (12-0, 2.39 GAA). CV--Noah Stevenson (16-4, 2.73 GAA).
Outlook: Keyed by Sabilla and a hard-nosed defense, Chartiers Valley has made a strong turnaround after some down years. Peters Township will be a tough obstacle, but the Colts played well in their only meeting of the season -- a 5-4 overtime loss.
No. 2 seed Bishop Canevin vs. No. 3 Latrobe
7 p.m. Tuesday
Records: Bishop Canevin 17-4, Latrobe 16-4-1
Season series: Latrobe, 2-0
Leading scorers: BC--Matt Walsh 51 (22 g, 29 a). L--Zach LaDuke 66 (36 g, 30 a).
Top goaltenders: BC--Zack Daley (11-5, 2.69 GAA). L--Shane Brudnok (12-4-1, 1.86 GAA).
Outlook: Bishop Canevin is a traditional power in AA, but Latrobe is the winner of the past three state titles. In two January meetings between these teams, Latrobe relied on the efforts of Brudnok but prevailed by a combined score of 4-1. Expect this one to be tight. as well.
Class AAA
No. 1 seed Fox Chapel vs. No. 4 Upper St. Clair
9 p.m. Monday
Records: Fox Chapel 19-2, Upper St. Clair 14-6-1
Season series: Fox Chapel, 1-0
Leading scorers: FC--Daniel Humes 56 (27 g, 29 a). USC--C.J. Murray 59 (30 g, 29 a).
Top goaltenders: FC--Tyler Fannie (18-1, 1.93). USC--Michael Stein (8-5-1, 3.34).
Outlook: Until a late-season dip, Fox Chapel had been the most dominating team in the PIHL. Humes and Jake Friedland (45 points) lead an impressive offense. Upper St. Clair ended the regular season 6-1-1 in its final eight games, with the lone loss coming in overtime to No. 2 seed Canon-McMillan. The Panthers' AAA-best offense produced 119 goals, 15 more than the next highest total, posted by Fox Chapel.
No. 2 seed Canon-McMillan vs. No. 3 Bethel Park
9 p.m. Tuesday
Records: Canon-McMillan 16-4-1, Bethel Park 15-4-2
Season series: Bethel Park, 2-0
Leading scorers: CM--Brett Oldaker 54 (20 g, 34 a). BP--Daniel Kucerovy 41 (23 g, 18 a).
Top goaltenders: CM--Ryan Palonis (13-4-1, 2.59). BP--Austin McGinty (9-2-1, 2.14).
Outlook: Last year's surprise champions, the Big Macs are searching for a second consecutive title, but first, they have to top a Bethel Park team that was one point behind in the Section 1 standings and won both regular-season meetings. The Black Hawks gave up the second fewest goals in AAA during the regular season, yielding 47.
-- Dan Stefano
Additional Information:PIHL Class AAA semifinals
No. 1 Fox Chapel (19-2) vs. No. 4 Upper St. Clair (14-6-1)
» When: 9 p.m. today
» Where: Consol Energy Center
» Winner plays: No. 2 Canon-McMillan (16-4-1) or No. 3 Bethel Park (15-4-2)
