VARSITY NEWS

Moon Varsity Record – 8 Wins, 13 Losses, 1 Tie

Moon Loses to South Park 3 to 2

Congratulations to the Varsity team and Coach Craig on a good season.  The team finished the regular season 8-13-1.  Even though the team faced many ups and down, including numerous injuries, they qualified for the AA Penguins Cup Playoffs.  On March 3, 2008, the Tigers took on fifth place South Park.  For those that were not there to experience it, you missed one heck of a game and one heck of a performance by our Moon Tigers.  The Tigers put forth their best team effort and each member gave their heart and soul.  The result was three periods of Tiger dominated play.  Matt Reese scored two goals for Moon with assists by Nigel Crighton on the first, and Adam Freed and Cedric Brazeau on the second.   Late in the game, with Moon down by one, Andrew Ruxton put the puck in the net; however, the referees did not count the goal, and Moon ended up losing 3 to 2.  Moon outshot South Park 32 to 22.  Thanks again team for an enjoyable season!

SENIOR RECOGNITION NIGHT

MAHA held its annual Senior Recognition Night on Monday, February 25^th at the Montour game.  Seniors Cedric Brazeau, Jake Anundson, Jeremy Kronz, Nick Szelc, Zach Belgie, Misha Kleynjans and Matt Reese, as well as their parents, were honored before the game.  Congratulations guys on a good season and great careers in your Moon Sweaters.  Good luck in the future and see you on the ice at next year’s Alumni game.

MAHA Seniors

PIHL ALL-STARS

Congratulations go out to Seniors Cedric Brazeau and Matt Reese for being selected to the 2008 PIHL All-Star Team.  In addition, Junior Randy Warn was selected as a first alternate, and our own Coach Craig was named as an assistant coach for the game. 

PIHL All-Stars - Matt Reese, Randy Warn, Cedric Brazeau and Coach Craig Bioni

Captains for the 2007-2008 Season

Your Varsity captains for the season are:

Captain – Matt Reese

Alternate Captain – Cedric Brazeau

Alternate Captain – Misha Kleynjans

Alternate Captain – Randy Warn

Team Statistics

Updated Team Statistics for the 2007-2008 season are included as an attachment.

Past Games

Moon Plays Tough, But Loses to Franklin Regional 3 to 1!

Moon squared off against No. 2 ranked Franklin Regional at the Airport and they made it a very exciting game for all fans in attendance.  While it was a strong team effort, the Moon Star went out to netminder Jeremy Kronz who faced 43 shots and only let two slip into the net, one being on the penalty kill.  The game remained scoreless until about 2 minutes left in the first period when FR got one past Jeremy.  Moon bounced back with one minute to go in the second on a power play slap shot by Randy Warn from outside the blue line.  Randy didn’t even see the puck hit the twine due to a hard check after the shot.  When he peeled himself off the boards he turned to see his teammates skating back to congratulate him.  The game remained a 1 to 1 tie until FR got a power play goal with about 7 minutes to play.  Moon tried hard to tie it up once again, but FR got an empty net goal with 13 seconds to play on a good diving effort by a FR player.  While Moon was disappointed in the lose, they played a very strong game against a good FR team.

Moon Edges Thomas Jefferson 7 to 6!

On the road at the Rostraver Ice Gardens, Moon hit the ice and jumped out to a 1 to 0 lead in the first period.  In the second, Moon opened it up by adding three more unanswered goals.  However, before the period ended, TJ came back with two goals to make it a two goal game.  To open the third, Moon scored its fifth on the opening shift; however, TJ bounced back to make the score 5 to 3.  Moon once again expanded their lead to 3 goals, but here is where the momentum changed.  TJ responded with their own streak of 3 unanswered goals to tie the game at 6 all.  Moon finished the scoring on a game winning shorthanded goal by Cedric Brazeau.  Other point getters for Moon included:  Misha Kleynjans (Hat Trick and an assist), Andrew Ruxton (2 goals and 3 assists), Adam Freed (1 goal and 1 assist), Randy Warn (1 assist), Matt Reese (1 assist), Nick Szelc (1 assist) and Brandon Smitsky (1 assist).  Moon netminder Jeremy Kronz played a solid game by stopping 34 of 40 shots he faced.

Moon Beats Erie Cathedral Prep 3 to 2!

Moon gets its second win in a row when Erie Cathedral Prep visited the Airport Ice Arena.  Moon started the scoring about mid way through the first on their first power play opportunity.  Nigel Crighton walked out from the corner, took a shot on net and Chris Wagner knocked in the rebound to take the early lead.  Randy Warn was also credited with an assist on the play.  Erie tied the game on the power play with a minute left in the first.  Moon started the second period on the power play, but this time gave up a shorthanded goal.  Late in the second, Chris Wagner recorded his second goal of the game off an assist by Matt Reese.  With time ticking down in the second and Moon on the penalty kill, Beau Danforth tipped in a shot by Nigel Crighton for the game winning shorthanded goal.  Both teams played to a scoreless third period and Moon finished with its sixth win of the season.  Goalie Jeremy Kronz stopped 16 of 18 shots.

Moon Squeaks By Elizabeth Forward 6 to 5

Trying to get back to its winning ways, Moon jumped out to a 1 – 0 lead in the first off an unassisted goal by Adam Freed.  However, in the second Moon dug themselves a big hole by giving up 3 unanswered goals.  Late in the second, Adam scored his second unassisted goal of the night, this time shorthanded.  Misha Kleynjans tied the score off the opening 3^rd period faceoff.  John Mathe, who was playing in his first game since a shoulder injury, was credited with an assist on the play.  Moon let EF take the lead just 2 minutes later after taking 2 slashing penalties and giving them a 5 on 3 power play.  Moon tied the score for the second time when Andrew Brown backhanded a shot into the net.  Beau Danforth got the assist on the play.  However, just 20 seconds later, Moon once again gave up the go ahead goal.  Down by one, trying to tie the score for the third time, Adam Freed recorded his first hat trick of the season off the second assist by John Mathe.  With 3 minutes left in the game, Moon put the pressure on, and Chris Wagner knocked in the game winner with assists by Misha and Matt Reese.  To seal the win, Moon had to kill off a 6 on 4 disadvantage after taking a late penalty and EF pulling their goalie.  Jeremy Kronz started the game and saved 8 of 11 shots.  In relief, Zach Belgie stopped 17 of 19 shots and racked up his first win of the season.

Moon Loses to West Allegheny 4 to 1

It was Déjà vu all over again when Moon was defeated for the second time this season by West Allegheny 4 to 1.  The lone Moon goal was scored by Adam Freed who was late getting out of the offensive zone after finishing a hard check on a WA defensemen.  After a neutral ice turnover and shot on the net by Moon, the rebound bounced directly to Adam at the post for an easy tap in.  Moon outshot WA 36 to 33.

Moon Loses to Chartiers Valley 3 to 2

Moon jumped out to an early 2 to 0 lead in the first period after a power play goal by Cedric Brazeau (assisted by Matt Reese and Adam Freed) and an even strength goal by Adam Freed (assisted by Beau Danforth).  However, Moon gave up the next three goals and was unable to get the puck behind the opposing goaltender despite outshooting Chartiers Valley 44 to 17. 

Moon Defeats Kittanning 7 to 3!

In a very spirited game by both teams, Moon Varsity recorded its third consecutive win by taking it to Kittanning 7 to 3.  Special teams played a big factor in the game with Kittanning and Moon taking 14 and 11 penalties, respectively.  Moon racked up 4 power play goals to Kittanning’s 2.  This game also saw the first Moon Hat Trick of the season off the stick of Misha Kleynjans.  Other point getters were, Cedric Brazeau (2 goals), Chris Wagner (1 goal, 1 assist), Adam Freed (1 goal), Matt Reese (2 assists), Andrew Ruxton (2 assists) and Beau Danforth (1 assist).  Jeremy Kronz stopped 25 of 28 shots to register the win.  Moon outshot Kittanning 39 to 28.

Moon Over Montour 3 to 2!

The Varsity team recorded its second win in a row in a close game against rival Montour.  Moon went up 2 to 0 on back-to-back goals by Andrew Ruxton.  One of the goals came on a power play as Ruxton took a pass behind the net, walked out and from a difficult angle found a gap between the Montour goalie and the post.  Assists were credited to Adam Freed (2), Cedric Brazeau and Matt Reese.  Moon’s final goal came on a break away by Adam Freed.  Freed fired a nice wrist shot into the net for the game winning goal.  Moon’s net minder, Jeremy Kronz, stopped 26 of 28 shots to register the win.  Moon was outshot 28 to 17.

Moon Varsity Beats Greensburg Salem 9 to 2!

The Varsity team lit up the scoreboard with 9 goals to record its second win of the season.  Cedric Brazeau led the team with a hat trick and an assist.  Other point getters were Chris Wagner (4 assists), Matt Reese (2 goals), Misha Kleynjans (1 goal, 1 assist), Randy Warn (1 goal, 1 assist), Adam Freed (1 goal), Andrew Brown (1 goal), Beau Danforth (1 assist), Nick Grace (1 assist), Andrew Ruxton (1 assist), Nigel Crighton (1 assist) and Vince Traquinio (1 assist).  Jeremy Kronz got the start and stopped 7 of 9 shots he faced.  Zack Belgie went in the net in the 3^rd period and saved all 5 shots he faced.  Moon outshot Greensburg Salem 21 to 14.

Moon Varsity Loses in OT 5 to 4 against Peters Township

Moon Varsity Losses to West Allegheny 4 to 1!

The Varsity team came up short against WA in the second game of the season.  In the 1^st period both teams played to a 0 to 0 tie.  However, in the 2^nd, WA started a 4 unanswered goal streak.  Late in the 3^rd, Moon showed some life when Jake Anundson knocked in a rebound into the net.  Assists were awarded to Chris Wagner and Andrew Ruxton.  Jeremy Kronz got the start and stopped 15 of 19 shots he faced.  Late in the 3^rd period, Zack Belgie was called upon, but he did not face any shots.  Moon outshot WA 21 to 19.

Moon Varsity Beats Indiana on the Road in Opener!

The Varsity team opened the season on the road in Indiana and came away with a 2 to 1 victory.  Moon jumped out to a 1 to 0 lead off a slap shot from the point by Matt Reese.  Cedric Brazeau and Misha Kleynjans were credited with assists on the play.  In the second period, Indiana tied the game on a power play goal.  In the third, as Moon was again trying to kill a penalty, Andrew Ruxton jumped in front of a shot for the block.  Visibly hobbled by the shot to the leg, Andrew grabbed the puck for a break away, and scored the unassisted shorthanded goal to put Moon on top.  Jeremy Kronz in the net stopped 19 of 20 shots.  Moon outshot Indiana 32 to 20.