The Pitt-Greensburg Bobcats Club Ice Hockey Team brought home the 2020 College Hockey East M4 Division Title after a hard-fought game that went into three overtime periods against the St. Vincent College Polar Bearcats. The Bobcats advanced to the March 1 championship game after a 3-2 victory over Case Western University earlier in the weekend.
Pitt-Greensburg, which plays at the Division III Club level, jumped out to an early 2-0 lead against Polar Bearcats in the first period, with goals by Michael Sedlak and Josh Jones. St. Vincent battled back and tied the game at 2-2 midway through the second period. From then on it was a goaltenders’ duel with each team’s goaltender playing incredibly well through the third period, as well as the first and second overtime periods. Pitt-Greensburg goaltender Sean McDonald ended the day with 95 saves.
In the 3rd overtime period, freshman defender Tyler McCarty-Cogis found himself alone in the slot and wired a shot high and hard over the St. Vincent goalie’s glove, ending the game and bringing the CHE Championship trophy back to Pitt-Greensburg after its absence of six seasons.
“It was a long and testing season for the Pitt-Greensburg squad who began the year without a goalie, graduated two key players at the mid-semester break, and battled injuries all year,” said Coach David Ulishney. “All of the adversity faced galvanized this group and prepared them for the challenge of the playoffs.” Helping Ulishney with coaching duties were Assistant Coaches Jarred Kimmick and Zachary Frantik. Zachary Bernstein served as goalie coach, and Scott Lesnak was the team’s equipment manager.
Ulishney noted the contributions of team captain Dakota McIntyre and his assistant captains Brad Wallace and Mike Sedlak. The coach also recognized the administrative staff for their support, referencing Linda Wagner, administrative secretary for Student Services, and Al Thiel, director of the Student Center and Student Involvement, for their ongoing assistance.
Pitt-Greensburg Bobcat hockey team history highlight:
In 2014, the Bobcats won the 2014 CHE Open Division Championship against Carnegie Mellon University and the Community College of Allegheny County to go on to the National Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Championship Finals, winning the 2014 NCHA Founder’s Cup in a match-up against UC San Diego. Pitt-Greensburg finished as the NCHA runner-up for the 2014-2015 season, losing to St. John Fisher College. The NCHA disbanded after the 2017 season.