2 days Ago
Five local players are high school hockey all-stars. Neshannock’s Kent Jones, Brady Liguore and Sam Mezzanotte will join Wilmington’s Justin Girman and Alex Rodgers in the PIHL’s Division 2 all-star game on Jan. 26 at the RMU Island Sports Center.
The Lancers continue their dominance in PIHL D2, where they became the first program to win back-to-back D2 titles (2021, ’22). After losing in the first round in 2023, Neshannock reclaimed the crown last spring and became the PIHL’s first team to win three D2 titles. Neshannock (8-3-1) remains one of the favorites this year as the team leads the D2 White Division with 23 points.
Mezzanotte, a senior forward, leads the squad with 14 goals and eight assists for 22 points in 12 games. “He’s been our leading scorer this year and set our program record for most goals in a game with five in a game against Gateway in October,” Neshannock coach Mark Multari said. “He had a hat trick a couple weeks ago against Sewickley Academy.
He is our go-to guy if we need a goal.” Jones, a senior defenseman, has a goal and six assists. “He was an all-star last year and is a leader on this team,” Multari said.
“He’s been around for two championships and been a solid defenseman for us. He’s on our top power-play unit and kills penalties for us. He’s a great leader.
” Story continues below video Liguore, a senior forward, has six goals and seven assists. “We had him two years ago, but he went away to play junior hockey in New England last year. We’re glad to have him back with us,” Multari said.
“He played defense for us two years ago, but we have him playing forward this year since we lost so much up top from last year. He’s filled in well and put up some numbers. We sometimes move him back to play a little defense to help in certain areas.
” Meanwhile, Wilmington has struggled a bit with a 1-9-0 mark. Girman, a senior defenseman, has two goals in 10 games for the Greyhounds. He is the team’s captain.
“He’s a great leader. He works really hard and does everything we ask,” Wilmington coach Scott McKee said. “He buys into the program.
He is a great player and a great asset for the team.” Rodgers, a sophomore forward, has a team-best five goals and two assists in 10 games. “He’s a very talented kid and he does all the right things for us,” McKee said.
“Whenever you’re able to put up some points on a team that’s struggled a bit, that’s a positive thing. He will be a good asset for us for years to come.” ncsports@ncnewsonline.
com.
