As Fall sports are ending this season, winter sports are beginning including Hockey. Moon Area Varsity Hockey Team has become an exciting part of our school and brings students together from all over. Our Moon Hockey team is known for their hard work and dedication off and on the rink. The team competes every week ready to improve and represent the school with pride.

Moon Hockey had a strong season last year with 18 wins and 4 losses overall. In their PIHL class A blue division, they went 16-2, securing 1^st place in the division. They had a strong goal differential scoring 96 goals and only allowing 46 goals in during the regular season. Main parts of last year’s season were 2 wins against Avonworth, one on the road winning 5-3 and another their home matchup beating them 4-1 later in the Season. This led them to a run-in playoff for the first time since 2017, however losing in the semi-finals. During the Quarterfinals last season, Moon beat out North Hills 3-2 in overtime to advance. The winning goal occurred from a penalty shot by Landon Watson with 3:46 left in OT. However, Moon’s season came up short when they ended up losing to Avonworth 6-2. Avonworth was a strong team in the PIHL bracket and was able to consistently score goals each period which led to a devastating turn for Moon. However this season Moon Area Varsity Hockey is ready to compete and earn a Penguins Cup Title, which has never been done by Moon in Class A before.

This year, Moon’s season has started strong with the record of 6-3 with their most recent loss in shoot out to North Hills with the score of 4-3. During the North Catholic game both teams were very competitive allowing for it become an equally matched game. This proved as the game went into overtime and then shootout. Leading to 19 rounds of shootout allowing every player on both rosters to shoot. With goals Gio Thompson (#74), Maximus Gergely (#46), and Peyton Whartenby (#5) and a strong performance from goalie Carson Releya with 21 saves. The team this year is led by their top players Junior Clayton Foster with 8 goals, Junior Jordan Rieke with 6 assists, Senior Captain Max Gergely locking down on defense, and Senior goalie Tyler Zeigler with a .906 save percentage and has a 2.0 goals-against average. After making semifinals last season expectations are high as they are looking to win their first Penguins Cup Title which they have been so close to in past years.

Their next big game is against Quaker Valley on November 24^th at Robert Morris Ice Rink so come out to support the team in their huge matchup. The Tigers have been working so hard this season, and with all the talent on the team, it feels like this could be the year they finally win it all So come out, support the team, and be part of the excitement and watch Moon Hockey have one of their best season yet.