Shawn Hytla is a center on the Moon Area Tigers of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League. He started skating and playing hockey when he was four years old, when his father signed him up for “Learn to skate” class and his hockey career took off.
Hytla plays strong and physical but can also score goals. He’s the leading goal scorer with eight this season. “My game has changed over the years with getting faster and my shot has improved,” said Hytla. “My linemates give me the puck when they can and I aim for the net and shoot the puck.” Hytla serves as assistant captain on this team and he knows he has a big responsibility and wants his teammates who follow in his skates. “I have to be a leader for this team,” Hytla said. “I want the team to follow how I play, and having them look up to me is a great feeling.” The Tigers have been in first place of the Varsity Division 2 standings since the beginning of the season, and Hytla credits the coaching staff and the players for working hard every day. He also envisions the team going all the way through championships and winning his third title with the club. Even though Hytla is only a junior, he plans on going to Coastal Carolina University with the possibility of majoring in business.
0 Comments
On a recent rainy Wednesday afternoon, I sat down with Moon Area senior defenseman and captain Shane Handlovitch.
Like most kids who play at the high school level, he started playing hockey when he was 6-7 years old. He credits his older brother for introducing him to the sport. Shane is a stay at home defenseman and will rush the puck whenever he has an open spot or lane. But he’d rather throw his weight and block shots. He’s been with the team since his freshman year, and they’ve been great and memorable for him. This season he’s added the title of captain. “Being the captain is a big responsibility,” he said. “You have to get the team motivated before every game, keep everything positive and keep a level head.” Just like any other hockey player from any other team or league, Handlovitch has his pre-game routine. “I warm up on my own for a bit and then we warm up as a team by playing soccer. Get dressed and listen to music in the locker room,” he said. Handlovitch also plays for the Pittsburgh Predators triple A team. His season got off to an unexpected start when he suffered a concussion. He said it was a difficult road but managed to get through with some rest and recovery. “It started out with a lot of rest until I was able to skate again,” he said. “The first time I tried skating, it was bothering my head, so I had to take more time off just to rest. By the end it took me three to four practices just before I got cleared for contact and then another practice or two after getting cleared to come back and play.” Handlovitch is optimistic about the team this season and thinks the Tigers should set their sights high. “I want the team to win the championship this year,” he said. “It’s been something we’ve been looking for every year but got knocked out in the first round; but with this group of guys, we will at least be able to move to the championship round with also a good chance of winning.” Handlovitch is considering playing for the Islanders Hockey Club in Boston or a team in the North American Hockey League to play in Juniors. He’s also considering and speaking with a coach from Kent State University. The Moon Tigers won their sixth straight game, beating the Trinity Hillers Monday night by a score of 6-1.
During the first period, Tigers forward Shawn Hytla opened the period for the Tigers with his eighth of the season; a shot past the left leg of Trinity goalie John Popielarchek at 4:40 of the first period. Half way through the first period, Tiger forward Matt Lowry had a chance to shoot five hole on Popielarchek but was denied. In the second period, the Tigers lit the lamp three times. Forward Zach Wildasin started the scoring with a heavy wrist shot over the shoulder of Popielarchek, assisted by Alex Angevine, to give Moon a 2-0 lead. A few minutes later, Tiger forward Rich Doyle netted his first of the season to make the score 3-0. Logan Zarin wanted to be a part of the scoring series and netted his second of the season, allowing Moon to end the period with a 4-0 advantage. The Tigers outshot the Hillers 22-9 in that period. The third period got a little crazy when a Tiger player took down a Trinity player. Then seconds later, Tiger forward Marc Pelkington was taken down by Hiller forward Tyler Piatt. The referees called a penalty on Piatt for head contact. Parents were not thrilled with the call and things got heated between a Trinity parent and the ref. As a result, two Trinity parents were ejected from the game. After the confrontation was resolved, the play continued. Trinity forward Jacob Snyder put his team on the board with his second goal of the season to make it 4-1. “We didn’t get the puck out of the zone. Snyder has a nice shot.” Said Konecsni about Snyder's goal. “I was screened, and the puck snuck behind me.” The scoring magic wasn’t over for the Tigers. Logan Zarin ripped one past Popielarchek to net his third of the season and second of the night. The score remained 5-1 for the majority of the third until Tiger forward David Pawuk scored a shorthanded goal with a few minutes left to make the final score 6-1. “I saw the puck was getting dumped in and I tried to stay high because there weren’t any attackers, and I was waiting for a clear out, '' Pawuk said about his power play goal. “Luckily, my defenseman saw me and went to the middle of the ice, shot it and it went in.” The Tigers are first in the PIHL varsity D2 division. Assistant coach Dean Ferrari believes the reason for their success is staying simple and keeping momentum. “We keep our game simple, everyone is moving their feet,” said Ferrari. “We have our lapses where we stand around for a bit, but for the most part we keep moving and we are usually first on the puck.” Tiger forward Shawn Hytla is ranked number four for the Division 2 scoring leaders with eight goals and goalie Konecsni is ranked number 1 for leading goalies with a GAA of 1.47. The Tigers are first in the Division with 12 points. They are away Thursday night at Carrick. ![]() Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Robert Morris University Colonials ended their game with a 5-5 tie against the Holy Cross Crusaders Friday night. The last time the Colonials played the Crusaders was March 11, 2017, when the Colonials won 3-2 in the AHC Quarterfinals. Goals were scored by Dan Leavens, who scored twice and Brady Ferguson of the Colonials. The Colonials are 10-5-1 overall, 4-2 at home and 6-3-1 on the road from the years of 2010-2017 against the Crusaders. Goaltenders in net were Francis Marotte for Robert Morris and Paul Berrafato for Holy Cross. Both Marotte and Berrafato allowed five goals throughout the game. Marotte made 27 saves and Berrafato made 34. Marotte faced 6 in the first period, 11 in the second, 9 in the third and 1 during overtime. Berrafato faced 14 in the first, 11 in the second, 4 in the third and 5 in overtime. With those numbers, RMU pressured Berrafato in the first and had chances. The two goalies were tied with saves in the second. Both teams weren’t shooting much in the third and RMU was all over Holy Cross in overtime. During the first period, Brady Ferguson netted his fourth goal of the season on a power play. Brady was ranked 45th on the USCHO list of power-play goals and 17th on shorthanded goals going into this game. He makes plays and hit holes but he’s not a nasty, physical player. He has tendencies where he can get there but he’s mostly a delicate and graceful player. The magic started in the second period when both teams were pressuring each other, getting physical and trying to find ways to put the puck in the net. TJ Moore from Holy Cross stole the lead by going top shelf on Marotte to make the score 2-1. When the Crusaders were on the power play, leading goal scorer, Scott Pooley snuck one behind Marotte at 10:23 left in the second to make it 3-1. Colonial left-winger Matthew Graham scored his second of the season and made it 3-2. Right after Graham’s goal, Holy Cross defenseman Frank Boie poked the puck between the net and Marotte’s leg to make the score 4-2. Luke Lynch of the Colonials netted his 6th of the season to play catch up with the Crusaders 4-3. When you are physical, strong and gritty, that’s when the goals are scored and that’s exactly what Lynch did and that’s why he’s been so successful and ranked 14th on the USCHO list of goals. With 16.5 seconds left in the second period, Alex Tonge bets Berrafato and scored his third of the season to tie the game at 4. The opening of the third was a great and memorable one for sophomore Alex Robert who netted his first collegiate goal and first of the season to steal the lead from Holy Cross to make it 5-4. With three minutes left in the third period, Laffin of the Crusaders scored his second goal of the night to tie the game at 5 which would go into overtime. At the end of regulation, heading into overtime, both teams were getting physical and throwing bodies around. Both teams were trying to get goals past each goaltender, but bodies of players were getting in the way and the game ended in a 5-5 tie. “This is a step in the right direction,” Coach Schooley said. “I liked our effort, I liked our energy, I liked our compete level. It’s a step in the right direction offensively, yes, but defensively, you can’t give up five in a game and expect to win. You score five and you should win a hockey game.” |
Archives
April 2018
Categories |