HIGH SCHOOL GAME OF THE WEEK: PITTSFORD VS. PENFIELD CENTRAL
Feb 6, 2025By Ryan J. Harr
For the next several months the Rochester Americans will be front and center of the local high school hockey scene as part of a weekly series that features the latest news and notes, scores and stats of select Section V games around the Greater Rochester Area.
This week’s High School Game of the Week features the Pittsford Panthers (13-3-2) facing the Penfield Central Patriots (5-10-2) on Thursday for a 6:00 p.m. contest at Tim Horton IcePlex.
The Panthers have posted a 7-0-1 mark in their last eight games while posting four shutouts and holding their opponents to one goal or less in seven contests since Jan. 17. Overall, Pittsford is third amongst all Section V in with (13) while being tied for second in points (28).
Over the last 12 meetings between the two schools since the 2012-13 campaign, Pittsford owns a 7-4-1 record while outscoring and outshooting Penfield 38-29 and 344-274, respectively. In each of the last four games, the winning team has scored at least four goals while the losing team had two or fewer goals.
Last February against the Patriots, the Panthers trailed 2-1 after the first period before responding with three unanswered goals to claim a 4-2 win. Additionally, Pittsford built a 3-0 lead during the 2023 tilt against Penfield before logging to 4-1 victory.
David Pollard (24) tops all Pittsford skaters in points while he is tied for first in assists (12) with Drew Ricketts. Keegan Ahern paces the club with 17 goals while he joins Pollar with 20 or more points (21). Along with Ricketts (19), Charles Hezel (16), Peter Yarovinsky (13), and Simon George (12) all reached double figures in points this season. Evan Weiner (3), Casey Reagan (2), Adam Pollard (2), Ethan Daley (2), Kelan Ahern (1), Ryan Munzinger (1), Luke Albano (1), Max Erskine (1), and Griffin Rizzi (1) complete the goal-scoring list.
Goaltenders Aden Brown (7-1-2) and Wilson Szydlo (2-1-1) have handled majority of the duties in the goal crease for the Panthers this season as they show a 1.82 and 1.61 goals-against-average, respectively. Hayden Shelton has made 45 saves in three appearances whereas Aiden Stauffer has yet to make his season debut.
Head coach Rory Foster leads the Panthers while being joined by assistant Tom Maier and goaltending coach Luke Lovelys. Patrick Irving is the athletic director for Pittsford.
Since starting the slate 2-2-0, Penfield has posted a 3-8-0 mark, which includes three straight defeats, since the start of the new year. During the three wins, the Patriots has outscored the opposition 16-4 while they have also been held to three goals or less in nine of their 11 games over that span.
Angelo Latore leads all Penfield Central skaters in goals (12), assists (20), and points (32) while both he and Rory Gately (20) are the only two Patriots to reach the 20-point mark. Thomas Obstarcyk (18), Nick DiCataldo (12), Jack Reichard (12), and Nathan Quonce (10) all have double figures in points. Wesley Maksymiu (3), Ried Rivero (3), McAllister King (3), William Dorritie (1), George Marron (1), Owen Harris (1), Jace Wilkins (1) and Mikayla Mrysymiu (1) each have found the back of the opposition’s net.
Emmett Muroski (4-4-1) and Delaney Rivero (1-5-1) have handled nearly all the goaltending duties while Brendan Williams (1-0-0) has made 22 saves in two appearances.
Nathan Miller serves as head coach for Penfield while being joined by goalie coach Justin Niebel and assistants John Romano, James Sergeant and Jordan Romano. Jen Parton is the athletic trainer for the Patriots.