Raise the Cup: Rams defeat Crusaders for PIHL D2 title
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
The Ringgold hockey team poses with the PIHL D2 Cup after defeating Bishop Canevin, 4-3 in overtime.
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Ringgold goalie Collin Moffett looks around teammate Trent Hawk (20) as he positions himself for a save on a shot from Bishop Canevin’s Mason Glover (13) late in the third period of the PIHL D2 Championship at the UPMC Lemiuex Sports Center.
Ringgold's Philip Quattrone (92) and Trent Hawk (20) celebrate with Kenny Cadwallader (11) after Cadwallader scored early in the third period.
Ringgold's Trent Hawk (20) protects the puck from Bishop Canevin's Aiden Malay as he crosses the blue line in the first period of Tuesday's PIHL D2 Championship at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Center.
Ringgold coach Rick Kalinowski calls out instructions to his squad in the second period of Tuesday's PIHL D2 Championship against Bishop Canevin at the UMPC Lemiuex Sports Center.
Ringgold goalie Collin Moffett kicks the puck aside in the second period of Tuesday's PIHL D2 Championship against Bishop Canevin at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Centerl.
Ringgold's LJ Crouch (63) protects the puck from Bishop Canevin's Michael Parzynski II behind the Crusaders' net in the third period of Tuesday's PIHL D2 Championship at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Center.
Ringgold players celebrate after the Rams defeated Bishop Canevin in overtime, 4-3, Wednesday night in the PIHL D2 Championship at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Center.
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP – LJ Crouch heeded the advice of Rick Kalinowski and his Ringgold coaching staff when he lifted the puck over the pinching Bishop Canevin defense in overtime.
Caden Doran also followed the coach’s plan when he controlled Crouch’s pass inside the blue line and fired the puck toward Bishop Canevin goalie Dom Frizzi.
Doran’s shot found its way through bodies, namely Frizzi’s, for the game-winning goal at 9:58 of overtime to lift Ringgold to an 4-3 overtime victory Tuesday night at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Center and its third PIHL D2 title since 2018.
“Coach was telling us to shoot from the blue line high all night. I saw four bodies in front of the net and just winged it,” Doran, a sophomore at Yough, said of his game-winning goal.
“I had the adrenaline to keep going. I want this really bad. I was tired, but I wanted it in my heart.”
Kalinowski applauded Doran’s perseverance after a tough game through the first three periods.
“Caden was on the ice for two of the goals. He was mad. He was in tears. He thought he lost everything for them,” said Kalinowski, adding, “But, guess what, he scored the game-winner.”
The elation of the overtime goal overshadowed the nadir of the Crusaders’ game-tying goal with just 45 seconds remaining in regulation.
Bishop Canevin (19-2-0-0-0) pulled Frizzi for the extra attacker with 1:15 left in regulation and was able to maintain puck possession in the offensive zone. With the referee’s arm raised for a delayed penalty, Cole Evan managed to tip the puck past Rams goalie Collin Moffett for the tying goal at 16:15.
“A little bit of frustration, but you just have to forget about it. You have to move on from that,” Moffett said of his attitude after the goal.
Kalinowski called timeout after the goal to talk with his squad.
“I told them keep your composure. Alright, so we have some adversity, right? You just need to calm down, focus and regroup. We go to overtime. It’s a new game, 0-0, we start over,” said Kalinowski. “Keep it simple. Get pucks to the net. Attack the net.”
Ringgold (16-4-0-1-0) opened the scoring when Kenny Cadwallader skated across the ice from the right wing to the left and snapped a shot from the left circle past Frizzi for a power play goal at 2:43 of the first period.
The Rams’ lead doubled when Trent Hawk, who assisted on Cadwallader’s goal, chased down a loose puck thrown over the Bishop Canevin defense. Hawk was able to flip a shot over Frizzi for a 2-0 lead at 7:12 of the first period.
“I definitely thought if we got up by two, we’d win the game,” said Moffett, adding, “They’re a very good team. They lost only one game this year.”
Kalinowski knew the Crusaders weren’t about to cave in the title game.
“They’ve been the talk of D2 all season,” said Kalinowski.
Ryan Saginaw cut the deficit in half when he scored a power play goal at 12:44 of the first period.
The Crusaders tied the game with a late goal in the second period as Saginaw set up Ty Serakowski with just 31 seconds left.
Hawk set up Cadwallader for the Rams’ first goal, and the pair struck again to give the Rams the lead with Cadwallader’s goal at 4:51 of the third period.
Moffett made 35 saves.
Ringgold won back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019. The Rams were poised for a third-straight title against Carrick in 2020, but the game was wiped out with the coronavirus pandemic.
Cadwallader, a Ringgold junior, said he’ll be able to savor the moment every day.
“It means a lot. It feels really good to be champion,” said Cadwallader. “It will be nice to see it in the trophy case every time I walk past.”