Quaker Valley’s Ian Lorang faced 50 shots in his team’s first two PIHL games this season.
The senior goalkeeper didn’t let even one slip past him while playing the full 102 minutes against the Bulldogs and Spartans.
The Quakers blanked Meadville, 4-0, and Montour, 5-0, in the first week of their Class A hockey season.
QV’s veteran coach Kevin Quinn was beaming over the quick start thanks in large part to Lorang’s performance.
“Ian’s been stellar,” Quinn said. “He is a top goalie in the league, and we expect to do well because of it. He has been so solid back there, and his confidence has grown every year.
The Quakers have been playing with less than a full squad because of injuries and conflicts with fall sports.
“We have been shorthanded to start the year,” Quinn said, “and we have had a difficult time getting everyone back and playing.”
Lorang, who shared QV’s goaltending duties last season with four-year starter and four-time all-star Landon Buterbaugh, stopped 23 shots against Meadville and 27 versus Montour.
“I’ve been very impressed with our performance,” Lorang said. “We’re down a few players due to injury, so we’ve needed a few guys to step up, and I feel like they’ve done exactly that. It really makes my job easy when everyone’s out there playing 100% for the whole game.
“I’m happy with my first two games, but it’s still early. I’m continuing to work so that I can continue to have success for the duration of a long season. We want to make a deep playoff run and compete for a Penguin Cup.”
The 5-11, 155-pound Lorang also plays AAA hockey in the offseason with the Pittsburgh Stars.
“Hockey is such a big commitment,” Lorang said. “I like to prioritize my academics in order to be successful in my AP classes and maintain my National Honor Society membership.”
Lorang is supported by a strong defensive presence on the ice with seniors Luke Koehler, Tristan Bemis and Charles D’Antonio.
“Luke Koehler is our leader back on D,” Quinn said. “He plays a lot of minutes in all situations and competes very hard every night. Luke and Ian are to off to exceptional starts. We started the year light on D, but Tristan Bemis and Charlie D’Antonio have stepped up big time. Tristan and Charlie have played solid D for us.
“(Junior) defender Jack Watson is not quite back from offseason surgery, so hopefully he gets back soon. (Sophomore) Charlie Johnson and (senior) Michael Minnock have rounded out our minutes on defense and we need all hands on deck to help us defend.”
Senior Jace Vasbinder scored twice against Montour including a shorthanded goal in QV’s first home game. Ben McHenry, a senior and integral player on the football team, and sophomore Matthias Lezama (power play) each had a goal and an assist. Senior Max Modrovich also reached the end zone.
“Ben McHenry is a key contributor and leader for us, too,” Quinn said.
McHenry, Vasbinder, Lezama and Modrovich are forwards, as are freshman Stefan Mauer and junior Kieran Cain.
Vasbinder, Modrovich (power play), Mauer and Cain did all the scoring in the season opener with a goal apiece. Lezama was credited with two assists; Vasbinder, Cain and D’Antonio each had one.
“Up front, we didn’t lose any of our forwards from last season,” Quinn said. “Jace Vasbinder, Ben McHenry, Max Modrovich, Matthias Lezama, Kieran Cain and (senior) Colin York are expected to continue to provide offense.
“Newcomers Stefan Mauer and Charlie Johnson have gotten off to great starts. We are still missing (junior) Charlie Pyle and (senior) Hunter Kronk, two key forwards from last season. Both are needed so we can roll out three very deep lines. Luca Kurumfasche, Lance Shaner, Noah Blair and Oscar Lok will provide solid depth for us up front.”
Pyle, Kurumfasche and sophomore goalie Neil Dwyer also play soccer for the Quakers.
Quaker Valley finished second in the Class A Gold Division last season behind Chartiers Valley, which suffered its only regular season loss to the Quakers by a 6-2 score.
QV didn’t lose a game for four months until suffering back-to-back losses in early February. The Quakers were led by Modrovich with 22 goals and team-high 29 assists and Vasbinder, with a team-leading 24 goals and 17 assists.
The Quakers utilized an explosive offense with an efficient defense in outscoring the opposition by 90 goals, racking up a 124-34 scoring advantage.
“We had a balanced attack,” Quinn said. “When and if we have everyone, we will be a solid team competing for a championship. I think we are motivated to erase the memories of last year’s playoff loss.”
The Quakers received outstanding netminding from Buterbaugh and Lorang last year.
Lorang allowed seven goals in seven games to post a 6-1 record, 1.00 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. He made 118 saves on 125 shots and recorded four shutouts.
“Ian’s waited a long time to be the guy for us,” Quinn said, “and with Landon graduated, he is getting the opportunity.”
QV (4-1) is competing in the 12-team Varsity A Blue Division this season along with Beaver, Blackhawk, Canon-McMillan, Freeport, Hampton, Indiana, Meadville, Montour, Moon, North Catholic and Richland.
After jumping out to the fast 2-0 start this season, the Quakers went 1-1 in their next two games with a 6-1 loss to Canon-McMillan and a 6-0 win against Beaver.
Vasbinder had three goals and an assist against Beaver and Lorang made 17 saves. Koehler added a goal and two assists while Lezama tacked on a goal and assist.
McHenry scored his team’s only goal against the Big Macs.