Club Hockey: Panthers’ season comes to an end

The Pitt men’s hockey team saw their season come to an end in a 1-0 loss to the West Virginia… The Pitt men’s hockey team saw their season come to an end in a 1-0 loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers Sunday afternoon.

The loss came in the College Hockey Mid-America Playoff Tournament championship.

After an winning season that needed one more victory to continue, Pitt will finish 21-10-1 overall with an in-conference record of 10-5.  Instead of them, it’ll be the Mountaineers moving on to the American College Hockey Association Division 1 Tournament to face Rutgers this weekend.

“Last time we played, they scored in the last minute and it went to a shootout,” West Virginia goalie Rob Borcky said. “I’m glad it ended when it did this time.”

Despite the tough loss, Pitt couldn’t help but reflect positively on a strong season. After losing seven seniors last year and taking on a new head coach, everyone with knowledge of the situation counted Pitt out.

But, thanks to team play and a record setting season for right wing Robby McDyre (now Pitt’s all-time leader in points), the Panthers worked their way to third place in the conference and a chance to play for the CHMA title.

As a senior and captain of the squad, McDyre said he couldn’t ask for anything more from his teammates.

“I’m really proud of these guys and what were able to do this season,” McDyre said.

After beating up on both Slippery Rock University (8-1) and John Carroll University (5-1) in consecutive nights, Pitt knew they had a tough opponent ahead of them in Sunday’s matchup.

The Panthers were 1-2 against WVU in the regular season and Pitt Head Coach Stu Rulnick expected another hard fought game.

“They [West Virginia] have some great speed and they’re real physical,” Rulnick said before the game. “Last time we played we had a lot of trouble getting the puck out of our own end.”

His words would ultimately come true again for Pitt, as the Mountaineers seemed to control time on attack for much of the game and out-shot Pitt 39-24.  Although, much credit is due to Panther goalie Rob Behling who – despite taking 39 shots – only let one get by him.

That one and only goal of the game came at the 10:48 mark in the first period as Mountaineer forward Conor Frei skated across the middle of Pitt’s zone and ripped a wrist shot from about 15 feet away, glancing just off Behling’s catching glove and into the goal.

Behling was unavailable for comment after the game.

As a result, Frei was awarded with the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award, finishing just ahead of McDyre, who was named the runner-up.

Frei registered four points in two playoff games for the Mountaineers but it was his goal Sunday that was the most significant.

While presenting the awards, CHMA commissioner Pitt alumnus Andy Mecs acknowledged the quality hockey that had been played.

“It was a great hockey game for both teams,” Mecs said. “You all should be real proud of yourselves.”

Coach Rulnick also acknowledged his team’s play after the game.

“There’s nothing we could do,” Rulnick said. “We fought, this game didn’t come from a lack of effort.”

Pitt thought they had tied the score when, on a power play, early in the third period forward, Phil Trombetta found the back of the net with a mid-range forehand.

However, the referee waved off the goal because McDyre had interfered with Borcky on the shot.

“The goalie went to go change positions and bumped me then gave a nice little flop which caught the ref’s eye,” said McDyre, “It was kind of incidental contact.  I was trying to gain position and he ran into me.”

Coach Rulnick was also a bit mystified by the call.

“My guy said the goalie wasn’t in the crease,” Rulnick said. “I didn’t think interference could be called.”

Regardless of the call, Pitt kept their energy up and created chances for much of the third.  McDyre admitted he and his teammates possessed a strong sense of urgency after the second intermission.

“I knew coming into this weekend, this was going to be my last hockey game,” McDyre said. “I think we left it all out there.”