10/11 Recap: Skate Safe (Semi)

Metropolitan vs. Mid-Atlantic | Skate Safe America

Just one week after the Minor Division took the spotlight, the PIHA Semi-Pro Division stepped into the limelight with a full day of cross-divisional action at Skate Safe America. Saturday’s festival featured 12 teams — 6 from the Metropolitan Division and 6 from the Mid-Atlantic Division — each playing four games as part of a grueling but thrilling showcase.

The result? A 20-game marathon of hockey that was fast, physical, and deeply competitive. Emerging stars made their mark, offenses came alive, and teams left with a clearer picture of what they’re made of. Here’s a full breakdown.

Empire State Labeda Legends: Three Wins and a Scare

Empire State began the day with a clinical 4–0 shutout over ISCA Revolt, asserting themselves as one of the event’s early favorites. After a surprising 4–1 loss to Moriches in their second game, they regrouped in dominant fashion — dispatching the Marple Gladiators 5–2 and absolutely dismantling the Philadelphia Barons 11–2 in their final game.

The Legends showed incredible offensive depth. Michael Tardino (4G, 4A) quarterbacked the offense with control, while Aidan Ryan (6G, 1A) delivered big-moment scoring, including two game-winning goals. Joe Salavec and Doug Sheeler added key secondary contributions, giving Empire State the look of a legitimate contender in the Semi-Pro landscape.

East Coast Rebellion: High-Octane Offense, Narrow Losses

The Rebellion split their four games but were arguably the most electric team in the building. After a confident 5–2 win over Marple to open, they cruised past Fusion Blizzard 5–2 and exploded for an 8–4 win over the Barons. In their final game, they pushed New Jersey to the brink before falling 6–5 in overtime.

Their forward trio of Troy Power (6G, 4A), Ryan Cotcamp (4G, 5A), and Andrew Cetola (2G, 6A) wreaked havoc all day, combining for 27 points. This was a team that played fast and creatively — and if they can improve on the back end, they’ll be one of the most dangerous lineups in the Mid-Atlantic.

Marple SK Labeda Gladiators: A 2–2 Day That Ended with Authority

The Gladiators endured a rough start, dropping their opening matchups to East Coast (5–2) and Empire State (5–2). But they flipped the script in the afternoon, dismantling Moriches 6–1 and then routing Fusion Steel 8–1.

Jaylend Powell (6G, 1A) provided explosive offense, including a crucial game-winner, while Eric Wakefield and Brian Beatson each added 7 and 5 points, respectively. Corey Kosick also contributed six points from the back end. Marple’s late-game surge was among the most dominant stretches of the festival — a sign they may have found their form.

New Jersey Assault: Resilient, Deep, and Dangerous

New Jersey may have had the best all-around day. They opened with a thrilling 6–5 OT loss to the Snipers, then rebounded with a blowout 8–1 win over Fusion Steel. After edging Suffolk 2–1 in a tight battle, they closed the day with an emotional 6–5 OT win over the Rebellion.

Chris Connor (6G, 3A) led the charge from the blue line, with major support from Matt Morelli, Tom Russo, Trevor Cear, and Matt Criscuolo, all of whom posted six or more points. Jordan Black quarterbacked the offense with five assists. New Jersey looked like a veteran team built to win — balanced, disciplined, and clutch.

Moriches Sting: Solid Early, Faded Late

Moriches began the festival with two wins — knocking off Empire State 4–1 and Fusion Blizzard 4–2. But their final two matchups saw them fall flat, losing 6–1 to Marple and 4–2 to the Barons.

Dylan Koski (5G, 2A) led the way offensively, while Michael Luzopone added a four-goal day. Though inconsistent at times, Moriches showed they can beat anyone when they’re on — the key will be maintaining that energy across all four matchups in future events.

Suffolk Sting: Grounded, But Gritty

Suffolk leaned on defense and goaltending to grind out a 2–2 day. They opened with a 2–0 shutout over the Barons and picked up a crucial 5–1 win over the Snipers. Tight losses to New Jersey (2–1) and ISCA (3–2) revealed both their floor and ceiling — low-event hockey that wins or loses by one play.

Josh Weger led the scoring with 4G, including a shorthanded goal, while the Sting’s overall defensive play stood out. While not flashy, Suffolk plays a playoff-ready style that keeps them in every game.

Long Island Empire Snipers: OT Kings, Late Stumbles

The Snipers earned back-to-back overtime victories in their opening two games — a 6–5 thriller over New Jersey and a 4–3 win over ISCA. But they couldn’t maintain the magic, falling 5–1 to Suffolk and 5–3 to Fusion Blizzard to end the day.

Vinny Pontrello (3G, 4A) had a strong showing, but the Snipers will need to improve their defensive structure to avoid late-game breakdowns in tighter contests.

Fusion Steel: Inconsistent but Talented

Fusion Steel split their first two games, topping Fusion Blizzard 7–5 and then falling 8–1 to New Jersey. A 6–2 win over ISCA showed their ceiling, but an 8–1 loss to Marple in the closer revealed defensive issues that need addressing.

Josh DiBlanda and Matt Hawkins each posted 8 and 7 points, with Brady Marszalek chipping in five assists from the point. Steel has scoring depth — but consistency remains elusive.

Fusion Blizzard: Flashes of Brilliance

Though they finished 1–3, Blizzard were fun to watch, and PJ Breslow (8G, 2A) was electric — leading all scorers on the weekend. They dropped games to Steel, Moriches, and East Coast, but bounced back with a 5–3 win over the Snipers to salvage their day.

Cody Zajaczkowski added five points from the blue line, and there’s enough offensive punch here to compete — the question will be whether they can get more team defense and goaltending support.

ISCA Revolt: Close Calls, Close Games

ISCA played in three one-goal games, two of which went to overtime. They fell 4–0 to Empire State in their opener but responded with strong performances against the Snipers (OT loss), Fusion Steel (6–2 loss), and a gritty 3–2 win over Suffolk to end their day.

The scores suggest a team right on the cusp of being dangerous. While no players cracked the top-20 in points, ISCA’s structure and compete level were noticeable.

Philadelphia Barons: Rough Day, One Highlight

The Barons were overwhelmed in several contests, dropping games to Suffolk, East Coast, and Empire State. However, they closed the day on a high note with a 4–2 win over Moriches — a bounce-back effort that speaks to the team’s character.

Pat Foy led the offense with five points, and they’ll look to build on that momentum heading into their next showcase.

Division Breakdown: Metropolitan Takes the Day

Out of 20 total games, the Metropolitan Division edged the Mid-Atlantic with 11 total wins (including two in overtime), compared to Mid-Atlantic’s nine. While the final tally was close, Metropolitan teams delivered more multi-win performances, with Empire State, New Jersey, and Suffolk leading the charge.

What’s Next?

With Minor and Semi-Pro festivals now complete, the 25th Anniversary PIHA season continues with full regular season play and the highly anticipated return of the Pro Division. If these opening festivals are any indication, 2025–26 promises to be a season filled with parity, passion, and playoff-caliber intensity from the start.