Johnstown Trojans vs Council Rock Indians April 6, 1992

Pennsylvania State High School AA Ice Hockey Championship
Johnstown Trojans vs Council Rock Indians April 6, 1992
Played at the Civic Center, “The Igloo,” Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Council Rock Indians 4 vs Johnstown Trojans 0 – FINAL

April 6, 1992 – The Philadelphia Inquirer

Council Rock (34-8) used a top performance from sophomore goaltender Scott Prosek to defeat Johnstown (18-8), 4-0, in the AA game. Prosek stopped 29 shots and was named the AA most valuable player. “I thought we really controlled the game for the most part,” Council Rock coach Paul Gilligan said. “I thought [Prosek] played a great game. The defense left him out to dry a couple times in the third period, though. If he doesn’t play great, they would have had a lot of opportunities to do something with this game.” Eric Kratchwell, Jaret Lyons, Ross Porubski and Kevin Deitch scored goals for Council Rock.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Johnstown, GCC lose. Meadville’s victory kept the East- ern regional teams from sweeping the state finals. Johnstown lost, 4-0, to Council Rock in the Class AA game and Greensburg Central Catholic was bombed, 8-4, by Haverford in Class A. Johnstown (18-7) was stoned by the smallest player on the ice, Council Rock goalie Scott Prosek. The 5-5, 135-pound sophomore stopped 29 shots in earning the game’s MVP award and handing Johnstown its first shutout this season. The Trojans outshot Council Rock, 29-21. “Their goalie kept them in it early,” Johnstown coach Vern Campigotto said,” and their defense was like a fortress around their net when we tried to go for rebounds.” It was Johnstown’s second loss in a state final the past three years. The Trojans have never won a state title.

Johnstown Tribune-Democrat

PITTSBURGH – Each time Council Rock goaltender Scott Prosek stopped a flurry of Johnstown shots on Sunday, the Trojans’ hopes of winning the Class AA state championship became less attainable. Prosek appeared unbeatable on breakaways. The sophomore goalie resembled a wall when JHS took slap shots. And when he had to be, Prosek was lucky. As Prosek finally left the ice at Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena, he had 29 saves, a 4-0 shutout and most valuable player honors in Council Rock’s second state championship victory in as many years. “He deserved most valuable player,” Johnstown coach Vern Campigotto said. “Especially towards the end of the second period when we had a two-on-0 and he stopped them. It could’ve been a 3-1 score and we would’ve gone into the third period with some momentum.” Campigotto referred to a breakaway by Luke Curtis and Brian Wincer, just one example of an opportunistic JHS attack stalled by Prosek. Council Rock, the Class AAA champion a year ago, concluded a 34-8 season. Johnstown finished 20-7 and took state runner-up in AA for the second time in three seasons. “That’s how you want your season to end,” said Prosek, a backup goalie on the 1991 AAA state championship team. “I was really happy to have a shutout. That’s what everyone wants to do. I just worked hard.” Prosek and the Indians received a major confidence boost in the first period, when Council Rock killed a two-man disadvantage and quickly followed with a short-handed goal by Ross Porubski “We look to score short-handed,” Council Rock coach Paul Gilligan said. “If we look like we’re going to win the puck off the faceoff or off a play, we shoot out a designated player (Porubski) through the neutral zone. “When the defense gets the puck, they’re supposed to time it so that they throw the puck through the middle of the other team’s ‘D’ as our player is cutting through the neutral zone.” The play, though not executed exactly in playbook fashion, was effective. “It didn’t work the way it was diagramed,” Gilligan said. “The puck was up in the air and he had to knock it down to control it. Generally, it’s a stick-to-stick pitch.” Porubski managed to work free for a one-on-one breakaway against Grady Marion, whom he beat for the game’s first goal at 9:50. “That was one of the turning points,” Campigotto said. “They came out right after they killed the two minors, and they get a short- handed goal. That really picks up a team. Until then, we were holding our own.” Council Rock took a 2-0 lead on an Eric Kratchwell score at 12:29 of the opening period. Jaret Lyons scored on a second-period wrap-around that hit goalie Jim Mock’s pad and bounced between the post and the goalie’s leg and into the net. The Trojans split the goaltending duties by design, with Marion and Mock each playing about half a game. Kevin Deith scored at 3:50 of the final period on a pass from Brian Green near the left circle to Deitch in the slot. “Their fourth goal was a nice goal,” Campigotto said. “Out of the four goals, two were quality goals, two were the result of breaks. Council Rock was working hard, and they made their breaks.” Johnstown outshot Council Rock 29-21, but couldn’t overcome the Indians’ speed and forechecking, as well as Prosek’s performance in goal. “They were a shade faster than we were,” Campigotto said. “They were getting to the puck quicker than we were.” “We got some good quality shots and outshot them, but we couldn’t get to the second shot. They were like a fortress around their goaltender.”

“They were good,” added senior forward Brian Wincer. “They had three guys coming at us at all times.”

*RIP Brian Wincer / Johnstown Trojans, & Joe Appell / Council Rock Indians

SCORING SUMMARY

Council Rock…………………………….2-1-1–4
Johnstown………………………………..0-0-0-0
First Period: 1, Council Rock, Ross Porubski (Mike Raditz), 14:50 (sh). 2, Council Rock, Eric Kratchwell (Bob Williams, Scott Wackowski),13:29.
Second Period: Council Rock, Jaret Lyons (Mike Raditz), 10:32.
Third Period: Council Rock, Kevin Deitch (Brian Green, Eric Kratchwell), 3:50.
Shots on goal: Council Rock 6-11-4-21. Johnstown 5-15-9-29.
Power-play Opportunities: Council Rock 0 of 6; Johnstown 0 of 6.
Goalies: Council Rock, Scott Prosek (29 shots-29 saves). Johnstown, Grady Marion (13- 11), Jim Mock (8:02 second, 8-6).