North Allegheny hoping to officially repeat Cup title
North Allegheny won the PIHL Class 3A title last season, but there is a touch of debate whether or not its victory qualifies as a repeat.
You could make the argument either way.
North Allegheny won in 2019 and was still alive in the Penguins Cup semifinals when the COVID-19 shutdown ended an extremely unsatisfying cliffhanger of a postseason. The Tigers then took the title in 2021, so, technically, they were crowned the champions in the past two completed tournaments. Albeit with a hole in the middle. There is one thing North Allegheny could do to take away any debate as to whether the team is the first since Bethel Park to repeat since 2003 and that’s to put up another title this year.
And, make no mistake, the Tigers are loaded.
“We have a really good nucleus coming back,” North Allegheny coach Mike Bagnato said. “I think we have a really good chemistry with the group.”
North Allegheny put an early stamp on things when it won the annual St. Margaret’s Fall Face Off Tournament with a 5-4 victory against Mt. Lebanon. Although Bagnato is leery about winning because, in his estimation, a victory in that tournament can be a precursor to trouble in the regular season, he still liked what he saw.
“What that told me about that tournament was that the group is very, very focused. We do have nine seniors this year who have been in our program for a while and they know what it takes to win,” Bagnato said. “I think they’re in a good groove and they’re one of the best groups of se-niors I’ve ever had. We have a long way to go, but they’re really good.”
North Allegheny brings back a stellar offense led by senior Connor Chi, who was the catalyst to the team’s postseason success with an overtime game-winner against topseeded Peters Township and the eventual game-winner in a 4-1 win against Mt. Lebanon in the Penguins Cup finals.
Chi, who finished with 14 goals and 37 points during the 2020-21 season, is the top returning scorer in the classification. He also had a pair of assists in the championship game at St. Margaret’s.
“I think Connor’s one of those kids who wants the puck on his stick when it’s time,” Bagnato said. “He likes to be the guy and he did that numerous times since he’s been with us.”
Chi isn’t the only top player back for the Tigers as senior Trey Gallo will return as will Luke Washabaugh, who had a hat trick against the Blue Devils in the St. Margaret’s clincher.
North Allegheny, though, has won its titles with defense and strong goaltending and will turn over the reins to sophomore Rylan Murphy. Last season, Murphy was 2-1-0 with a 4.05 goals-against average and a .839 save percentage.
Franklin Regional
Franklin Regional needed a lot of help and a late-season hot streak to even qualify for the Class 2A Penguins Cup playoffs last season.
All the Panthers did with their opportunity was go from the No. 7 seed all the way to the championship where they were shut out, 3-0, by eventual state champion Baldwin.
Now, with Baldwin gone, Franklin Regional might be in a position to build off that loss and make a run to the school’s third championship in six seasons.
“We’re going to be a serious threat to go all the way and that’s the team goal,” Franklin Regional coach John Winebrenner said. “It’s going to take a lot of work to get there, but we should be slotted up near the top for Double-A.”
Franklin Regional has a full three lines of forwards back from last season, including leading scorer Chase Williams, who had 14 goals and 32 points, Zach Abdallah and his seven goals and 21 points and high- scoring defenseman Zachary Zeto.
About the only place Franklin Regional doesn’t have a starter back is in goal where Nolan Schilling and Alex Rauber will rotate to start the season as they attempt to replace