Every year, Norwin High School Hockey team makes its run for the Penguin Cup. This 2023-2024 season, NHSH fought harder than ever before. As many of the players experienced Penguin’s Cup victory in the 2021-22 season, their incentive to hold the cup for a second time was higher than ever. Will NHSH be able to roll its way to triumph for a 2nd time in three years?
Beginning in 1981, The Penguins Cup began to determine the regional champions from Western Pennsylvania. Run and managed by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League, the tournament consists of over 80 high school hockey teams. The teams compete to play in the championship game, which is held in three divisions: A, AA, AAA. Norwin is currently competing in the AA division against teams like Franklin Regional, Penn Trafford, Hempfield, and multiple other schools.
On March 4, Norwin faced Fox Chapel in their first playoff game. The Knights headed into this game with an 11-7-0-2-0 standing, landing fourth place in their division in the regular season. Knowing that Fox Chapel sat right below in the 5th spot, the Knights knew to be prepared for a fight.
Late in the first period, Fox Chapel put one away against the Knights, pushing them to come out with fire in the second period. With 12 minutes left in the second, assistant captain Dominik Costantino scores to tie the score at 1-1. Leaving the second period with a tie, both teams skated out with aggression and confidence to take home the win in the third. Looking for a second goal on a power play, Fox Chapel got one shot off, but scored nothing. However, Fox Chapel was still able to score early in the third period, setting the Knight down 2-1.
With little time left, Norwin knew they had to work harder than ever to get the lead. Norwin received a fourth power play at 5:39 left in the third for interference against Fox Chapel. Thirty-eight seconds into the play, Aaron Varrati scored, timing the game 2-2 with assists from Dominic Cerilli and Dominik Costantino. Cerilli and Costantino also took part in helping Zach Singleton put another puck away less than a minute later, making the score 3-2 for the Knights. Singleton’s goal was his first career varsity goal, and it certainly played the most major role in the Knight’s win.
“It’s never too late to score your first and make it count in a big way,” said junior Dominic Cerilli.
As the clock ran down, fans became anxious at the one-point difference in the game with less than 4 minutes remaining. At 2:57 left, Zayn Zeravica ensured the Knights lead with a goal with assists provided by Costantino and Colin Czekaj. Senior Captain Alex Thomas, division AA’s leading goal and point finisher of the regular season, topped off the Knight’s win with an empty net, leaving the game at 5-2.
Unfortunately on Tuesday March 12., the Knights playoff run ended when the team faced Penn Trafford for their semi-final game at the RMU Island sports center. Penn Trafford filled the final spot to qualify for playoffs, sitting 4 spots below Norwin in the regular season. However, the Penn Trafford Warriors defeated Norwin 6-3, placing them as finalists to play in the Penguin’s Cup game.
