2006 PLAYOFFS

35th Anniversary CHE Playoffs

Round 1
Date: Friday, February 17, 2006
Location: Valley Sports Complex; New Kensington, PA
Game 1: CWRU 4 d. PSB 2
Game 2: SVC 4 d. CUP-I 2

Round 2
Date: Sunday, February 19, 2006
Location: Valley Sports Complex; New Kensington, PA
Game 3: IUP-II 4 d. CWRU 3 (OT)
Game 4: SVC 7 d. UPJ 3

#5-Saint Vincent 4 d. #4-California of PA-I 2

A tight game throughout, Saint Vincent wins on a goal in the last minute of the game.  Joe Manning (Serra Catholic HS) tapped in a rebound to allow the “Polar Bearcats” to take the 3-2 lead.  SVC added an empty net goal a couple of seconds later.  California of PA-I took a 2-1 lead going into the third period, butCraig Dolan (C Milton Wright) scored on a breakaway four minutes in.  Matt Ward (Greensburg Central Catholic) scored the first goal of the game on a breakaway in the first period for SVC.  BJ DePaoli (California HS) tied the game at one in the second period.

#6-Case Western Reserve 4 d. #3-Penn State Behrend 2

The “Spartans” grab their first ever CHE playoff victory, thanks to a hat trick from Captain Dan Pawlowski (Bishop Guertin HS).  The “Spartans” ran out to a 4-1 lead in the third period and never looked back.  Dan's first goal came on a power play in the first period.  Behrend tied the game in the 2nd period on a goal from DJ Craven (Meadville).  The turning point of the game was Dan Pawlowski's 2nd goal on a breakaway in the last minutes of the 2nd period.

#1-IUP-II 4 d. #6-Case Reserve University 3 (OT)

A thrilling game ends eleven minutes into sudden death overtime on an IUP-II goal by Zack Neubert (Knoch High School).  IUP took a 3-1 lead going into the third period, but a goal by Dan Pawlowski (Bishop Guertin HS) and David Joyce (Orange HS) in the third sent the game overtime.  IUP-II out shot Case 58-32 during the entire game, but Case Reserve goalie Rob Walls (Loveland HS) stood on his head keeping IUP-II out of the net.  Pawlowski scored one minute into the game on breakaway.  IUP-II responded in the first minute of the 2nd period on a goal by Bill Gordon (Neshimany HS).

#5-Saint Vincent 7 d. #2-Pitt-Johnstown 3

The Saint Vincent “Polar Bearcats” came out flying, scoring two goals in the first two minutes to defeat the defending CHE Champions, UPJ Ice Cats.  Saint Vincentdidn't stop, storming out to a 7-1 lead in the third before UPJ tacked on two goals late in the third period.  Matt Ward (Greensburg Central Catholic) once again lead SVC, scoring two goals and two assists.  Joe Manning (Serra Catholic) also had two goals for SVC.  Dave Woutheir (Canon McMillan) scored UPJ's first goal on a power play in the 2nd period.

Game 1: Indiana of PA-II vs. Saint Vincent 
Date: Friday, February 24, 2006
Score: Indiana of PA-II 7 d. Saint Vincent 3

Game 2: Saint Vincent vs. Indiana of PA-II
Date: Saturday, February 25, 2006
Score: Indiana of PA-II 4 d. Saint Vincent 3 

Game 3: Indiana of PA-II vs. Saint Vincent
Date: Sunday, February 26, 2006
*Game 3 was not played, IUP-II wins series 2-0

This past February at the Valley Sports Complex in New Kensington, PA, IUP-II won their 2nd CHE Championship in three years by defeating Saint Vincent in two games.  This was the third consecutive season IUP-II had appeared in the College Hockey East best-of-three Championship Series.  Zack Neubert (KnochHigh School) was named MVP of the Playoffs because of two game winning goals and six points overall in the playoffs.

Game 1: IUP-II 7 d. Saint Vincent 3

IUP-II came out of the gate quickly in the series, scoring two goals within the first two minutes.  The Indians added another goal three minutes later and never looked back to take the first game.  Bill Gordon (Neshaminy High School) was the star of the night, scoring two goals and one assist.  Jason Ferrell (Malvern Prep HS) also had two goals for IUP.  Saint Vincent cut the lead to 3-1 with a goal by Adam Petrovich (Fox Chapel).  IUP-II goalie and the 2005-06 CHE Goalie of the Year award winner Adam Schmidt (North Catholic) stopped 32 of 35 shots for the victory.  Saint Vincent's leading scorer Matt Ward (Greensburg Central Catholic) was held in check, one notching an assist on the last goal of the game late in the third period.

Game 2: IUP-II 4 d. Saint Vincent 3

The “Polar Bear Cats” of Saint Vincent looked to avenge their loss the night earlier and stormed out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Dave Glunt (Plum).  SVC out shot IUP-II 21-11 in the first period and controlled play for the first 20 minutes, but they could one get one shot past IUP-II goalie Adam Schmidt.  SVC left off where they started in the 2nd period, on a breakaway goal by Joe Manning(Serra Catholic).  IUP-II finally woke up eight minutes later on a Zack Neubertwrist shot.  The whole momentum of the game changed in the last minute of the 2nd period, when IUP-II scored two goals in the 40th minute.  Jason Ferellfinished off a 2-on-1 breakaway and slid the puck past SVC goalie Bucky Holt(Butler HS).  13 seconds later Neubert had his 2nd goal of the game to give IUP a shocking 3-2 lead going into the 3rd period.  The Indians extended the lead to two goals on score from Bill Gordon.  SVC pulled to within one on a Power Play goal by Craig Dolan (C. Milton Wright HS).  The Polar Bear Cats could not get another goal in the net and IUP-II walked away with their 2nd league championship in three years.