PIHL hockey: What to watch remainder of season for Butler, Freeport and rest of local teams
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Butler's Jase Renwick scores the first goal against Freeport on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Mason Huey (77) sets up to pass during the hockey game against Freeport on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Owen Close (17) scores on Butler during the hockey game on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Zach Bowser (71) with a slapshot during the hockey game against Butler on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Lucus Hensler (8) looks to pass during the hockey game against Freeport on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Landen Kozma (48) with a shot on goal against Butler on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Aiden Bauman (12) and Butler's Anthony Trombatt (33) faceoff during the hockey game on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Ryan Suwan (72) moving the puck up the ice during hockey game against Butler on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Head Coach Norm Riffner giving instructions to his team during the hockey game against Freeport on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Aiden Bauman (12) digs in and looks to pass during the hockey game against Butler on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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In the hockey game against Freeport, Butler's Head Coach, Norm Riffner, gather the team for instructions during a timeout on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Head Coach, Derik Gaworski, top left, gathers his team during a timeout in the game against Butler on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Aiden Bauman (12) aggressively moves the puck across the ice during the hockey game against Butler on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Brayden Hardsock (59) looks to get out from behind the net during the hockey game against Freeport on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Tyler Hileman (8) tries to score against Butler's Harper Slater (31) during the hockey game on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Head Coach Derik Gaworski giving instructions to his team during the hockey game against Butler on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Owen Close (17) sets up for a slapshot during the hockey game against Butler on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Mason Huey (77) looks to take a shot on goal during the game against Freeport on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's goalie Harper Slater (31) with his eye on the puck defending the goal during the hockey game against Freeport on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Ashtven Skiba (79) fights for the puck against Freeports Liam Mckivigan (5) during the hockey game on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at Frozen Pound Arena. Freeport won 6-3. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
The 2024-25 PIHL season is in full swing around the Butler County area.
Seneca Valley sits in third place in the PIHL Class AAA standings behind Mt Lebanon and Central Catholic. Moon sits atop the Class A Blue Division with Mars nipping at its heels, North Catholic is tied for third, Butler farther down in 10th with Freeport right behind in 11th. Finally, Knoch sits fourth out of five in the D2 Blue Division looking to improve.
The Butler Eagle reached out to six teams within our coverage area and heard back from four about their seasons and what’s ahead.
Here’s a look around the area at some of those storylines (all stats and records as of Tuesday morning):
Tenth in the Class A Blue Division with a record of 0-5-1-2.
Butler graduated 12 players last spring, so the team is in a bit of a rebuild this season with a mix of 50% returning varsity players and 50% JV call-ups. If they can start to gel like the teams of previous years, head coach Norman Riffner believes they can turn their record — and season — around.
“Although our record is in the bottom third of the standings, I am confident once our newer players get more experience, we can start collecting more points in the second half of the season,” he said.
Captain Brayden Hardsock (four goals, 13 assists) and assistant captain Anthony Trombatt (six goals, 13 assists) are the players to watch, with both averaging right around two points per game so far this season.
“Watching them work together is really something,” Riffner said. “They have been playing together for so long, they instinctively know where the other is on the ice.”
In fourth place in the Class D2 Blue Division with a record of 3-1-0-1.
Burrell seems to be the team Knoch has set its sights on this season.
After losing 13-2 last season against the Class D2 Blue Division runners-up, the Knights faced Burrell to open the 2024-25 season. The game went to the fifth round of a shootout before Knoch fell 4-3. However, Nov. 23, the Knights managed to get their win against Burrell 3-2.
Head coach Nick Minton has high hopes for his squad, which is eyeing a playoff run.
“I think that opened a lot of eyes that this is not the same team and will be ready to compete this season,” Minton said about the season opener against Burrell.
Nick Olshanski (six goals, seven assists) and Mick Ritts (six goals, three assists) are both averaging two points per game so far this season — career highs for both players. Playing on the top line with Kevin Justi (two goals, seven assists), these three players have accounted for a total of 31 points through six games.
On defense, Zack Weiland (four goals, one assist) has already doubled his goals from last season. Brody Lyle has stepped into the role as the No. 1 goalie on the team, starting three of the first four games. Last season his save percentage was .676. This season his save percentage is .919 with a 2.96 goals against average.
“He is proving to be a top goalie in the division and the backbone to this team,” Minton said of Lyle.
Second in the Class A Blue Division just behind Moon with a record of 7-3-0-0.
The team is on track for a second straight season with 15 or more wins, and 45 or fewer goals against. Goaltender Adam Goul is allowing 1.81 goals against and has a save percentage of .929.
“He has a high compete level you need as a goalie and has played solid for us so far this season,” head coach Cody Black said.
Also look for Jack Weaver (eight goals, 10 assists) and Max Zagorski (three goals, nine assists) to continue to propel the team.
“[Jack] is a forward we can count on to bring energy to the team every game, and he has been a factor in goals/assists in the big games so far this season,” Black said. “[Max] consistently plays a well-thought-out game that involves making the right play and minimizes risk when he possesses the puck.”
Second in Class AAA with a record of 5-0-2-0.
The main goal for the team this year is simple but lofty: win the program’s first state championship. The Raiders lost the state championship in 2018 after winning their first Pens Cup that year after missing out in 2009 and 2010 (they made it to the championship game again in 2022).
“Obviously, that's a long way down the road, but we are confident we have a very competitive team, and that's what we are striving for,” head coach Tyler Mesisca said.
Andrew Malichky is the senior captain this year and has been off to a fast start with 13 points in seven games — Mesisca said he “brings a lot of great leadership qualities, and it starts with his work ethic on the ice.” Malichky and his linemates, Jimmy Murtha (five goals, two assists and an assistant captain) and Tyler Garvin (two goals, seven assists and a senior who was part of the 2022 Pens Cup team) lead the offense.
As for defense, be sure to keep an eye on Chris Nichols (4-0 record, 2.45 goals against average, .903 save percentage) and Matthew Gilchrist (2-0 record, 2.0 GAA, .852 save percentage).
