PIHL’S BEST TO CLASH IN ALL-STAR GAMES
Bethel Park senior defenseman Ryan McLinden has already played in the PIHL Class 3A all-star game at Robert Morris University Island Sports Center, but that didn’t take the luster off being selected to participate again on Sunday.
“It’s very honoring,” McLinden said. “To be picked to play in an all-star game, it’s very humbling. It’s a very fun game to play, to play with all the best kids in the league and there’s a lot of skill on the ice.”
McLinden came into the week as the No. 2 scorer for Bethel Park this year with four goals and seven points and will be instrumental if the Black Hawks are to make a move up to qualify for the Penguins Cup playoffs.
They entered the week one point out of the postseason with two games in hand on eighth-place Mt. Lebanon.
Playing in the all-star game last year, though, was an experience that he remembers fondly.
“I had a very fun time,” McLinden said. “A bunch of my good friends were on the team and it was fun getting to know the other good kids because I played against them, but I didn’t really know them.”
About the only downside to his selection was that his twin brother, Luke, wasn’t chosen to participate.
“It’s tough and I definitely feel like he should have gotten the vote this year,” McLinden said. “He’s definitely equally as good as me and, I don’t like to admit that, but it’s the truth.”
One of the players who will be on the ice — either with or against McLinden depending on how the committee divides the participants — will be Canon-McMillan senior forward Logan Ford, who will also be making his second consecutive appearance.
“It’s great to have a great team around me to put me in that type of position,” Ford said. “I’d really like to thank my coaches who worked me really hard and pushed me to my limit. I’m really proud of what the team has done to put me in that type of position.”
Ford entered the week tied for 12th in the classification in scoring with 16 points and will be joined by fellow senior forwards Josh Hrip and Daniel Garver as well as senior defenseman Christian Trottier and junior goaltender Mario Eafrati.
Because of the format, it’s unlikely all five will play on the same team. Ford, though, got used to facing off against his teammates when he participated last year.
“It was a lot of fun and I definitely bonded with a lot of kids from around the league,” Ford said. “It was really great to get to meet some of the players I played against and learning about their games really helped my game.”
Class 2A
Montour forward Michael
Felsing was one of the top scorers in PIHL Class 1A last season and helped Montour to win the program’s first Penguins Cup title.
Things were supposed to be a little tougher this year with the move up to Class 2A, but the junior has shown no signs of slowing down.
“I really didn’t change my game or anything,” Felsing said. “I just kept scoring goals like I’m good at and listen to my coaches.”
Felsing came into the week as the leading scorer in the classification with 24 assists and 40 points. He was also fourth with 16 goals, so it wasn’t surprising when he was chosen as an all-star for the second consecutive year.
“It feels good and you obviously know you’re doing the right things,” Felsing said. “You get to represent your team and you get to play with a lot of guys that you just meet in the locker room before the game.”
It also becomes a challenge to get to know those players and get in-sync on the ice in a hurry.
“Sometimes you play with guys you used to be friends with [on other teams] and you get that chemistry back,”
Felsing said. “For me, I think I work pretty well with everyone and I’m pretty good at adjusting.”
Class 1A
Getting selected to play in an all-star game might be an honor, but there are some drawbacks being one of three goaltenders selected for each team.
Thomas Jefferson netminder junior Luke Ripepi found that out when he was picked last year.
“It’s pretty difficult because, in my game, I was sitting the bench for the first two periods and, in the third, it was like, ‘OK, Luke, make sure that [Montour’s Luke] Diffendal doesn’t go bardown on you’ which happened,” Ripepi said. “It was a really great experience overall and I enjoyed it.”
He also came up with a game plan in case he doesn’t start and has to wait his turn again this time around.
“I just have to stay warm and give it your all early,” Ripepi said. “I’d like to start because it would be nice to just skate off and put your feet up on the bench and say, ‘I did my part boys, now it’s time to do your part.’”