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Ford City cruises in PIHL Open Class quarterfinal
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By Bill West
Published: Sunday, February 24, 2013, 10:24 p.m.
Updated: Monday, February 25, 2013
The Ford City hockey team lived up to its status as the PIHL Open Class Chiefs Cup favorite during a quarterfinal win at the Belmont Complex on Sunday night.
Ahead by six goals after the first period, the No. 1 seed Sabers (19-2-1) cruised to an 11-1 victory over No. 8 Carrick (5-17) and advanced to the Chiefs Cup semifinals for the sixth season in a row. They'll play No. 4 Hollidaysburg (15-5-1) at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at the Belmont Complex.
Eric Lindey finished with a team-high five points (two goals, three assists), Robert Kinsey had four (one goal, three assists), and Josh Oliver, John Phelps and Jesse Valasek each added three points.
“Having to play down the stretch to win the section and get the No. 1 seed really made a difference for us,” coach Glen Kilgore said.
The team Ford City will host Tuesday delivered the Sabers a 5-3 loss on Nov. 29. Hollidaysburg, a 6-5 double-overtime winner in the quarterfinals, features the Open Class' top two regular-season scorers, William Power (61 goals, 44 assists) and Brandon Ritchey (41, 55).
Kilgore welcomes the opportunity to play a second home game in the playoffs — the Sabers, a No. 1 seed last season, suffered a semifinal upset.
“I think definitely playing at home at the Belmont is advantage for any team who plays there,” Kilgore said.
Bill West is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at wwest@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BWest_Trib.
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