The Ice Cats have had a tough schedule in this 2023-24 season, but the boys have stepped up to the challenge, leading to a solid overall year. The Cats have a 13-6 record, giving them the 3rd overall seed going into the AA Penguins Cup Playoffs and on route to a state championship.
The team has one game remaining this season where they will travel to the 2nd seed South Fayette. Although this is an exciting game featuring two top seeds in the division, the result will not affect seeding for playoffs. The Cats have already secured the 3rd seed as they can not move up or down in the standings no matter the results in the remaining games this season.
Being the third seed, Latrobe will host their first-round playoff game at Kirk S. Nevin Arena against the 6th seed, which is not yet determined. The Fox Chapel Foxes currently hold the 6th seed, but the Penn Trafford Warriors and the Hempfield Spartans are still in contention for this spot. The Ice Cats are 5-1 collectivly this season against those teams, but they can not overlook any of these teams as there is not an easy game in such a competitive division this season.
For the Cats to find playoff success they will need to stick to the play style that has found them success all year, strong team defense. The defense in 23-24 has been very effective for the team, and they are able to combine that with a fast transition offense to create scoring chances. The defensemen this year have also found a good spot in the offense recording a large number of points.
One defenseman who has been hitting his stride recently is junior Bryant Dumnich. Dumnich has recorded 5 of his 10 points this season in the team’s past 5 games. Being hot heading into the postseason is a big advantage for Dumnich. “Heading into the playoffs is where we need to be better on defense and offense. We are going to be facing teams that will be in a sink-or-swim situation. We have to capitalize on rebounds more and move the puck faster to win in the playoffs.”, Dumnich said.
Another key aspect of Dumnich’s game is his physicality. He plays with an aggressive style and leads the AA division in penalty minutes. Being physical in the playoffs where nerves and tensions will be high can give the team an edge. Dumnich said, “Being a physical player is something the team likes to feed off of. When I see my team is not being physical, I know I have to throw some bigger hits. I’ve always loved being physical, it’s a big part of my game, and it makes the team want to be more physical.”
Another player on the team who has been strong defensively this season is junior Kaleb Trice. Trice’s role in the playoffs will be amplified as defensive play is such a big part of playoff hockey. “We are top three in goals against which will be important as long as we can put pucks in the net. If we can hold the top teams to two or three goals I think we can definitely find success.” Said Trice.
Junior Defenseman Robert Rossi has also played a big part in the team’s success this season. Rossi plays a strong transition game as contributes in the offensive zone and quickly move back to make a play on defense. Rossie has tallied 3 goals and 6 assists this year. Rossi also plays on the top defensive pairing with senior captain Louie Amatucci. Playing with a smart, veteran player like Louie can make things smoother on the ice. Rossi said, “Playing with Louie makes my gameplay very strong. He always educates me when a mistake is made and always pushes me to my best capabilities.”
Rossi and his fellow defenders have a big task ahead of them in the playoffs. As the season closes the whole team looks to continue getting better to make sure they are ready for the postseason. “During the postseason our defense needs to be very strong and strategic. We need to tighten up our gaps and play our hearts out.” Rossi said.
The Cats need to stay on top of their game offensively and continue to be strong defensively to make a run in the upcoming Penguins Cup playoffs. The team has handled adversity very well all season long and they will need to keep a positive mindset through these playoffs to find success.
