Franklin Regional
After winning back-to-back Class 1A Penguins Cups, Franklin Regional was destined to make the move up to Class 2A this season.
At first it didn’t appear that the Panthers would make the cut and would have the drop-off experienced by so many teams that have been shuffled into a higher classification. That’s kind of what happens when you lose your season opener, 6-3, on your home ice against Hampton.
Needless to say, they have rebounded in a big way.
Through four games, Franklin Regional (3-1-0) was tied with Upper St. Clair (3-2-0) for second place in the South/East Division, two points behind undefeated Hempfield (4-00). The Panthers were also getting key contributions from several players who were integral parts of thosechampionship teams.
Junior forward Oldrich Virag picked up where he left off last season as he has four goals and eight points in just three games. Senior Nicholas Carretta has also been on point with two goals and five helpers, while Matthew Sliva and Ethan Yohe have each chipped in three goals apiece.
If there would have been any slippage it would have been on defense and, though junior goaltender Daniel Soltesz hasn’t had the eye-popping numbers he did last season when he was 17-1-0 with a 0.93 goals-against average and eight shutouts in the regular season, he has been consistent with a 3-1-0 mark, a 2.25 GAA and a .899 save percentage.
Fox Chapel
After going winless in Class 2A last season, there was little doubt Fox Chapel was dropping down in classification so it could regroup.
Though there hasn’t been a resurgence in the Foxes program, at least the team won’t finish without a point again in 2017-18.
On Oct. 16, Fox Chapel (1-3-1) ended its 21-game losing skid with a 5-3 victory against South Park at Alpha Complex in Harmarville. The Foxes came from behind as they scored three goals in the final 3:50, including the game-winner by Shane Krhovsky at 14:07 and Willie Doyle’s empty-netter at 16:36 to close it out.
There is also no doubt that Fox Chapel has improved over last season. In 2016-17, the Foxes scored just 27 goals in 19 games with a season-high five in a loss to West Allegheny, but have already notched 21 in just five games and had six in a season-opening loss to Norwin.