Where are they now? 2019-20 Hockey Team

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March 11, 2020. The buzzer sounds at the Robert Morris Sports Complex and the Icecats were headed to a Penguin’s Cup Championship after the Semi-Final Game.

 

Well, they were supposed to, but then the pandemic struck. The ending of a magical season. The 2019-20 ice cats were a special team. They finished the regular season with a record of 16-1-1, winning the AA Southeast division, making the playoffs, and also earning a trip to Dallas, Texas for the Chipotle National Tournament. 

 

However, this historical season was cut short when the Covid-19 outbreak shut the country down.That didn’t stop these boys from seeing what the future had in store for them after the premature end to that amazing season.  

 

Alex Walker- Forward 

 

Alex Walker is now playing hockey in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) for the Wichita Falls Warriors in Texas. 

 

Alex was a key part of the Icecat’s 19-20’s success. He finished the season with 41 points in 13 games played. 

 

A strong leader on and off the ice, he played his last highschool game that night, and he didn’t even know it. “I was super disappointed, because I know we would have brought the Pens Cup trophy home”

 

He chose to travel to Texas following his junior year for a chance to compete for a Division I scholarship. 

 

“It would’ve been nice to play that year (20-21) with my boys, but I am super glad that I got the opportunity I did,” Walker said. 

He looks to attend college somewhere closer to home because he misses being home with his friends and family, but he will be in Texas for at least two more years. 

 

Greg Irons- Goalie

Greg was the backbone of the team. Being a goalie, you are not only put on the spot in every game, you are looked up to as someone you can rely on.

 

Greg completed the season with 8 wins and a save percentage of .910.  An outstanding season however, he took a different route than hockey in college. He chose to give up hockey to focus on his career. He was accepted into Penn State University’s engineering program. 

 

“I miss it a ton,” Greg said. “I 100% made the right choice for me but I definitely miss it.” This isn’t a surprise considering how much hockey meant to Greg. 

 

“I threw something across the bus in frustration” he said when asked his first reaction to the 2019-20 season ending. Greg was a great teammate and mentor to all of the young players from the 19-20 season. 

 

Cole Ferri- Forward

 

 

 

 

Cole is attending Bowling Green State University. He is studying supply chain management while also playing on the university’s ACHA club hockey team. 

 

 Lane Ruffner- Defense

 

 

 

 

Lane was tenured to play hockey in the NAHL for the Wichita Falls Warriors. He was the first player to ever tenure to this new expansion team, but an injury kept him off the ice. Lane battled back and is now playing for the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs (NCDC) USPHL.

 

Ean Lamolinara- Defense

 

 

 

 

Ean is attending college in Cedar City at Southern Utah University. He is studying Business.

 

Darick Hrtyanski- Defense 

 

 

 

 

Darick decided on furthering his academic and athletic career at the University of Pittsburgh (Johnstown). Derrick is studying Business information systems and playing club hockey.