Andrew Siess spent seven years learning the finer points of coaching as an assistant under Mike Bagnato.
This season, he finally has the opportunity to put all that he’s gleaned into practice after replacing his mentor behind the North Allegheny bench.
“It really is one of the most humbling experiences and it’s just been great,” Siess said. “Being under Mike for seven years, I kind of had an idea how he did things. It was a little sink-or-swim there at the beginning, handling four teams, 12 coaches and 80 kids in the program. Thus far it’s been enjoyable leading the charge.”
Bagnato made the decision to walk away prior to the season after a solid run with the Tigers. He led the team to consecutive PIHL Class 3A Penguins Cup titles in 2019 and 2021 – the only teams in the highest classification to win consecutive titles since Bethel Park won three in a row from 2001-03 – and would have had a shot in 2020 were it not for the COVID-19 stoppage during the playoff semifinals.
“I feel like I needed a break from all of the grind of the coaching thing,” Bagnato said. “I miss the competitiveness of games. I miss the preparation that goes into the games and the games themselves. But I’m one of those guys who is all-in and spend a lot of time watching tape, preparing for practice and running a company is a 24/7 job and I thought it was a good time for me to cut loose.”
Bagnato may not be running the show; he hasn’t really left, either. He still gets to many North Allegheny games and provides input for the coaching staff. He just doesn’t have an official title.
Even so, it’s not like he left the cupboard bare when he turned over the reins to Seiss. North Allegheny (9-3-3) enters the week tied with Seneca Valley (10-3-1) for first place in Class 3A. The Tigers have one of the best two-way defensemen in the PIHL in senior captain Trey Gallo, who is second on the team with nine goals and 23 points.
“Trey has been having a great year,” Siess said. “He’s a phenomenal leader, he’s an all-star and having a player like that makes my life a little easier.”
Playoff bound
With just about six weeks remaining in the regular season, there are several teams that have clinched a spot in the PIHL Penguins Cup playoffs, which are set to start on March 6. Not surprisingly, the only classification not to have a team lock up a postseason berth is Class 3A, where all 11 teams still have a mathematical shot of qualifying for the tournament.
In Class 2A, which like Class 3A has 11 teams all in one division with the top eight moving on, first place South Fayette (11-1-1) and No. 2 Armstrong (11-2-0) are now playing for seeding as they have their places clinched. Latrobe (9-4-1) will clinch with either a win or an overtime loss against Meadville on Monday.
Things are a little different in Class 1A with two divisions and no interdivisional play, with the top six in each division qualifying. With that in mind, Gold Division-leading North Hills (14-0-1) has earned its place in the postseason. Fox Chapel (13-1-0) has all but clinched a spot out of the Blue Division and only needs to pick up one point in its final six games or for either Shaler or Freeport (both 6-7-0) to lose in either regulation or overtime in any of their final seven games to lock up a spot.
An Erie feeling
Over the years, teams in the Erie area have fared well in the PIHL. Cathedral Prep was the last school from the northwest corner to win a Penguins Cup title when it went back-to-back with a win in Class 2A in 2015 and Class 3A in 2016.
This season, Cathedral Prep is once again among the contenders in Class 3A as the Ramblers (8-6-0) currently sit in fifth place in Class 3A. McDowell (10-3-1), which lost to Norwin in the Class 1A final in 2022, is in second place in the Gold Division right behind Fox Chapel.
But it’s not just how the teams are doing. They also have standout individual players. Cathedral Prep forward Brayden Sprickman currently leads Class 3A with 22 goals and 32 points, just ahead of Upper St. Clair’s Aaron Stawiarski (13 goals, 15 assists, 28 points). McDowell’s Nico Catalde (24-24-48) is second in the entire PIHL in overall scoring behind Hempfield’s Nick Bruno (23-27-50), while Trojans teammate Braeden Martin (18-25-43) is second in Class 1A behind Catalde in scoring.
Rankings
Records through Jan. 15
Class 3A
1. Peters Township (10-3-0)
2. Seneca Valley (10-3-1)
3. North Allegheny (9-3-3)
4. Central Catholic (9-5-1)
5. Upper St. Clair (7-4-1)
Class 2A
1. South Fayette (11-1-1)
2. Armstrong (10-2-0)
3. Penn-Trafford (8-4-0)
4. Bishop McCort (8-4-0)
5. Latrobe (9-4-1)
Class 1A
1. North Hills (14-0-1)
2. Fox Chapel (13-1-0)
3. Greensburg Salem (12-1-0)
4. McDowell (10-3-1)
5. Quaker Valley (9-2-1)
First Published: January 15, 2023, 9:58 p.m.
