50th Anniversary Banquet: A Perfect Way To End A Historic Season

The Central Catholic Vikings Hockey end-of-season banquet was held at the Edgewood Country Club on April 16, 2023. 

Attended by more than 200 players, families and friends, the club was also honored to welcome Central Catholic High School Principal Michael Andrejko, alumni Bob Arturo, Fred Jacob and Steve DiGiacomo.

The club was especially honored to welcome Max and Susie Sciullo, the parents of Paul J. Sciullo II. At the banquet, the club honored the memory of Sciullo and presented his parents with a pledge of nearly $13,000 -- resulting from fundraising through the course of the season -- for the Paul J. Sciullo Scholarship Fund for the children of first responders. 

During the course of the evening, the coaches honored a number of players for their academic and athletic accomplishments during the course of the season.  

Finally, last but not least, the club recognized its 18 graduating seniors, the largest graduating class in club history. 

The Central Catholic Vikings Hockey Club's 50th Anniversary graduating class is also its largest ever. The February 15, 2023 senior night recognized 18 exceptional young men and talented hockey players.

The senior night events were held at Alpha Ice Complex (USA Rink) in Harmarville, PA.  The 5 pm senior recognition ceremony was followed at 6:30 pm by an all-senior scrimmage against another local program which calls Alpha Ice home, Fox Chapel Hockey. 

Due to the large number of seniors and that they are rostered multiple CCVHC teams, scheduling the ceremony prior to any regular Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL) game was not feasible.  Given that the 18-player graduating class consists of 16 skaters and 2 goalies, the idea of an "all senior" scrimmage was born.

Knowing that the club wanted to do something fun and special, CCVHC contacted Fox Chapel about a scrimmage.  "Given that all of these kids know each other, have played with, and against, one another over the years – they are all very excited," said CCVHC President Caroline West. "The local hockey community is small and a lot of good-natured chirping is already going on!"

The 18 graduating seniors are:  Beckam Alger, Douglas Burek, Riccardo Castracani, Jakob Dold, Daniel Donahue, Joel Fabian, Samuel Gaffney, Tyler Gaffney, Clayton Kepperling, Aaron Krackow, Patrick Lettieri, Antonio Moret, Ethan Pievach, Rocco Salvitti, Alex Sarkis, Dante Scalise, Joseph Silvaggio, and Dante Talerico.

These talented seniors have added maturity, strength and leadership in all facets of the program. 

Good Luck to the 50th Anniversary CCVHC Class ... the CCHS Class of 2023! 

The official senior night photos were taken by Simply Sisters Photography.  To see all of the photos from that evening and to order, go to https://www.simplysistersphotography.com/ and click on "client login." In the field under "Central Catholic High School" box, enter the following: CCHockeySeniorNight2023 to open the gallery and to access all Senior Night photos shot by Simply Sisters. To order digital files, please see: https://www.simplysistersphotography.com/Pricing/Sports-Fun-Pricing .

On February 15, 2023, we honored our Central Catholic Vikings Hockey seniors ... and all of it is on YouTube!

Highlights included

Opening Prayer - CCHS Principal Bro. Michael Andrejko, FSC, '86

National Anthem -- Vocalist Grace Gouwens, FCHS

Special Remarks - CCVHC Head Coach Bill Connelly, ‘04 Vikings Team

Ceremonial Puck Drop - Fred Jacob (A), '73 Vikings Team

In the ALL SENIOR GAME, the Vikings Hockey seniors took on the Fox Chapel Hockey Club with a 6:30 puck drop.

This broadcast and game administration featured the Vikings News Network and multimedia students at Central Catholic High School.

Livestream Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YTvTEImlss

* Link features a special interview with inagural team captain and alternate, Bob Arturo and Fred Jacob. Interview conducted by Susan Sarkis on November 21, 2022 prior to the CCVHC varsity game against Pine Richland.

Sitting in first place in the AAA division of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL), the Central Catholic Vikings varsity hockey team dispatched the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils on Monday, January 30 Alpha Ice Complex in Harmarville, PA.

The team was honored to welcome game sponsor and former CCVHC Head Coach Pat McQuillan. McQuillan served as head coach of the varsity program from 1988-1992. Offering his congratulations to the hockey club on reaching the 50-year milestone, he reflected on his experience with the program: "I had the privilege of coaching Paul Sciullo during that time and it’s important to me to continue to honor his memory and legacy. Paul was my captain and he was a joy to coach."

Prior to the game, he met with the coaches and players in the locker room. He said this is the first time he has been back in a coaching environment since moving to Texas 30 years ago. It was evident from his locker room comments that "once a coach, always a coach" and he didn't miss a beat. 

Introducing Coach McQuillan, Coach Connelly reminded players that there is a lot of tradition, honor and sacrifice in playing for CCVHC, and reflected not only on Sciullo, but in the effort and sacrifice that Coach McQuillan made to travel for this one game.

Coach McQuillan graduated from Westmont Hilltop in Johnstown and played hockey in college at Penn State. He now lives in Dallas, TX. His brother, Art, still coaches in Western PA, recently taking the Bishop McCort Head coaching job after many years at Westmont.

After the handshake at center ice, the varsity team honored Coach McQuillan with a stick-tap salute.

Due to league and rink scheduling complexities, the varsity team has entered a three-week break until its next (and last) regular season game on Feb. 23 against Seneca Valley. See https://www.facebook.com/CCHSVikingsHockey for information about the team's season.

Here's the anticipated schedule:
Game 1 @ 6:00pm - CCVHC Old Timers vs Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Team 

Family Skate at ~7:15pm - Take your tots out and laugh at their wobbly feet.

Game 2 @ 8:15 - Blue vs Gold CCVHC Alumni (expect a faster pace of play!)

We are excited to announce the 2022 Paul J. Sciullo Memorial Alumni Game!

Join us for a special night of hockey, friendship, and some good old fashioned Vikings spirit in honor and remembrance of our friend and former teammate Paul.

The night kicks off at 6 pm with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Team taking on the Central Catholic Vikings Hockey Club Alumni Team. After that, at 8:15 pm, two Vikings Alumni teams battle it out on the ice.

Recently, we heard from the CCVHC varsity coach from 1988-92, Pat McQuillan. "I had the privilege of coaching Paul Sciullo during that time and it’s important to me to continue to honor his memory and legacy.  Paul was my captain and he was a joy to coach."

All proceeds from this game benefit the Paul J. Sciullo Scholarship for first responders at Central Catholic High School.

For more information or to support, please see www.centralcatholicvikingshockey.com/fundraising or contact hockey-fundraising@centralcatholichs.com.

UPCOMING CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL EVENTS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL HOCKEY PLAYERS

Eighth grade members of the Central Catholic Vikings Hockey middle school-bantam team are invited to participate in Central Catholic's annual "Viking for a Day" programming on Friday, October 14, 2022.

Some 350 prospective CCHS students will explore the school through tours and sample classes, have lunch with peers and student mentors in the McGinley Dining Hall, and learn all about Central Catholic! Students who will make up the class of 2027 are invited to attend!

All middle School-Bantam hockey players  -- 6th through 8th grade -- are invited to attend Central Catholic High School's Open House is scheduled for Sunday, November 6, 2022.

Open to all middle school-aged boys, whether or not they currently play for the CCVHC Middle School-Bantam team, these are great opportunities to find out more about Central Catholic High School as a college preparatory high school option during the hockey season.  

Please see this link --  https://www.centralcatholichs.com/pages/admissions -- for more information about fall admission events and to register.  

Mark your calendars and register now!

Please see this link --  https://www.centralcatholichs.com/pages/admissions -- for more information about fall admission events and to register.  

Mark your calendars and register now!

CCVHC Varsity Challenged Area Rivals in Annual Charity Tournament

Inquiring minds want to know  … “why didn't we have any team practices last week??”

Since 1993, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL) has sponsored a pre-season charity tournament at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmarville, PA to raise money and awareness for the St. Margaret Foundation. 

Dubbed the “St. Margaret Fall Face-off,” this tournament has served as an unofficial start to the high school hockey season in Western PA. Each year, over the course of one week in early September, 16 teams – four varsity teams in four divisions of “pool” play – face-off for bragging rights … but the real winner is the St. Margaret Foundation and all who it serves.

This year, preliminary games began on Tuesday, Sept. 6 and ran through Thursday, Sept. 8. After 30 preliminary games – all of which were held at Alpha Ice Complex – the winner of each “pool” will advanced to the semi-finals and championship game, which will be held tomorrow, on Monday, Sept. 12 at 5 pm and 9 pm, respectively.  To accommodate 30 games over three days, most of the practice ice time for amateur and school teams who call Alpha Ice Complex home is “blacked out” to accommodate the needs of this long-running PIHL charity tournament.

This year, the Central Catholic Vikings Hockey Club has been placed in “Division D” and faced Baldwin, Greater Latrobe and Mt. Lebanon in preliminary round play.  The team won its first game against Baldwin and lost the next two.

In other divisions, Group A comprised Canon McMillan, Pine-Richland, Shaler, and Thomas Jefferson. Group B included Armstrong, Butler, Bethel Park, and Upper St. Clair. Group C consisted of Seneca Valley, Franklin Regional, Mars, and defending tournament champion, North Allegheny.

Last year, North Allegheny defeated Mt. Lebanon, 5-4, in overtime for its 8th St. Margaret Fall Face-Off title. The 2020 tournament, unfortunately, was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Through this tournament, PIHL raises several thousand dollars annually for the St. Margaret Foundation, giving it the means to “help St. Margaret patients with the essential needs not covered by insurance yet are necessary to heal, remain independent and have hope.” For more information about the foundation’s programs, please see: https://www.stmargaretfoundation.org/

ROLL VIKES!!

JV TEAM WINS DAMIEN BEARLEY PRE-SEASON TOURNAMENT
Topples Tier 1 Rival PR Rams, 2-1

Wearing their "throwback" jerseys to honor the late Paul J. Sciullo II and commemorate the club's 50th Anniversary, the CCVHC Junior Varsity-1 team defeated Pine-Richland 2-1 on Sunday, Sept. 18 to claim the 2nd Annual Damien Bearley Memorial Tournament Championship. 

In July 2021, Damien Bearley died in an automobile accident shortly after graduation.  Bearley, a 2021 Franklin Regional graduate, played many years for Franklin Regional Hockey and the Allegheny Badgers.  

Just in time for the 50th Anniversary Season, the CCVHC Middle School-Bantam team will be issued new home and away game jerseys. 

Thanks to an anonymous gift from a CCHVC benefactor, the team will be able to wear these jerseys for the entire 2022-23 season! 

These jerseys were designed by CCVHC Head Coach Bill Connelly to have the same clean "look and feel" of the Junior Varsity and Varsity jerseys ... but with a smaller range of sizes appropriate for 6th to 8th graders. 

Until this year, the jerseys used by the Middle School team were "well-loved" by the junior varsity and varsity teams that preceded them.

In order to reduce Middle School hockey families' hockey-related expenses, the Club loans both jerseys, practice jerseys, and an equipment bag to players to use for the season.  Home and away game socks are given to each player, as well.  The only apparel / equipment that team members are required to purchase is a CCVHC hockey shell and a gold helmet (for skaters, if the player doesn't already have one).

Middle School-Bantam team games will begin in mid-September. 

VARSITY TEAM
Beckam Alger
Evan Benscoter
Douglas Berthold
Nathan Cox
Jakob Dold
Anthony D’Orazio
Joel Fabian
Samuel Gaffney
Tyler Gaffney
William George, Jr.
Noah Hritz
Patrick Lettieri
Griffin Lewis
Josh Moline
Ethan Pievach
Rocco Salvitti
Alex Sarkis
Dante Scalise

JUNIOR VARSITY-1 TEAM
Dante Albanese
Benjamin Balla
Judah Brophy
Douglas Burek
Riccardo Castracani
Aaron Daley
Daniel Donahue
Jay Donahue
Benjamin Jackson
Lukas Jesso
Nicholaus Jesso
Clayton Kepperling
Aaron Krackow
Brayden Lewinter
Jack Marcello
Antonio Moret
Jake Ochwat
Cain Phillip
Thomas Puhalla
Adam Sarkis
Joseph Silvaggio
Matthew Weber
Aaron Williams
Christian Zavacky

JUNIOR VARSITY-2 TEAM
Benjamin Balla
Giona Blasiole
Jacob Capezzuto
Benjamin Cox
Alexander Donihi
Nikolas Halaburka
Phineas Hammer
Colton Jackson
Thomas LaVelle
Aidan Morgano
Luke Nuzzo
Ben Pasquarelli
Thomas Puhalla
Eli Rabinovich
Nathan Radkowski
Anthony Smith
Dante Talerico
Gavin Watson
William Wolf
James Zdarko

MIDDLE SCHOOL-BANTAM TEAM
Felix Aderholt
Henry Barmen
Shane Berthold
Nicholas Boden
Collinson Burgwin
Ryder Jackson
Jacob Litz
Brendyn McGurk
Garrett Noll
Luca Petraglia
Zachary Price
Isaac Sarkis
Dominic Schork
Timothy Shannon
Malachi Stahlsmith
Jeffrey Stipetic
Santino Strobel
Massimo Sunseri

*A few spots are still available on the middle school-bantam team for BY 2008-2009 players. Please see, https://www.centralcatholicvikingshockey.com/22-23tryouts for more information. 

Just in time for the 50th Anniversary Season, the CCVHC Middle School-Bantam team will be issued new home and away game jerseys. 

Thanks to an anonymous gift from a CCHVC benefactor, the team will be able to wear these jerseys for the entire 2022-23 season! 

These jerseys were designed by CCVHC Head Coach Bill Connelly to have the same clean "look and feel" of the Junior Varsity and Varsity jerseys ... but with a smaller range of sizes appropriate for 6th to 8th graders. 

Until this year, the jerseys used by the Middle School team were "well-loved" by the junior varsity and varsity teams that preceded them.

In order to reduce Middle School hockey families' hockey-related expenses, the Club loans both jerseys, practice jerseys, and an equipment bag to players to use for the season.  Home and away game socks are given to each player, as well.  The only apparel / equipment that team members are required to purchase is a CCVHC hockey shell and a gold helmet (for skaters, if the player doesn't already have one).

Middle School-Bantam team games will begin in mid-September. 

Coach Bill Connelly has served as the head coach of the Central Catholic Vikings Hockey program for 14 years. A 2004 graduate of CCHS, Bill is a 6 time All-Star representative on the bench for Class AAA.

Bill is also an Assistant Coach with the Men's Ice Hockey team at Chatham University (UCHC-NCAA DIII), where he has coached over 100 games.

Bill has also served as an evaluator for the MidAm District Select Camps, a coach for Salt City Prospect Camps, and as a coach for the Liberty Bell Games in Fort Lauderdale.

Coach Mike Johnson is the head coach of the CCVHC junior varsity -1 team. Prior to joining CCVHC six years ago, he was the Head JV Coach and Varsity Assistant Coach at Chartiers Valley. 

A 2003 graduate of South Fayette High School, Coach Johnson captained the school's inauguaral ice hockey team.  He attended California University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a degree in psychology.  

Coach John Beiber, '91, is the head coach of the Junior Varsity -2 team. 

A Level 4 USA Hockey coach, Coach Beiber brings 15+  years in coaching experience (from Mite to 18U AA) to Central Catholic Vikings Hockey Club. In addition to coaching for CCVHC, he is the current head coach of the Steel City Ice Renegades (SCIR) 14U-2 team.

From 2012-2015, he was the assistant coach for Deer Lakes Hockey Club's middle school and junior varsity teams.  He served as the registrar for SCIR from 2011-2018. From 2007-2021, he served as the vice president and coach of Young Foxes Hockey, a independent developmental hockey program.  

Coach Josh Aderholt is head coach of the the CCVHC Middle School team. 

Coach Aderholt is a Level 4 coach and lifelong player, including as a founding member of the University of Virginia's team (ACHA) in 1994. He has been coaching since 2015, and currently is an assistant with two Steel City Ice Renegades 14U teams and with Young Foxes Hockey. 

Coach Aderholt has lived in Pittsburgh for more than 20 years. He grew up in Wheeling, WV, where he graduated from The Linsly School.