Heading into the final month of the PIHL season, the Penn-Trafford hockey team sits near the top of the PIHL Class 2A standings.

Second-year coach Brian Zagorac said winning the regular season was not the main goal of the team.

That goal would be winning the Penguins Cup.

The Warriors (14-2-0, 42 points) and rival Hempfield (14-2-1, 44 points) are battling for the No. 1 seed. Both have clinched a berth in the Penguins Cup playoffs.

The Spartans have a slight lead because they have played one more game than the Warriors.

But if the Warriors win their final four games (at Armstrong on Jan. 29, at Cathedral Prep on Feb. 5, Bethel Park on Feb. 9 and Latrobe on Feb. 16) they will be the No. 1 seed.

“The first goal is to make the playoffs, which we have,” Zagorac said. “We have to take care of our business.

“Anything can happen once you get in. A couple of years ago we were the eighth seed and reached the finals.”

Penn-Trafford and Hempfield have split their games this season. The Warriors won 6-4 on Nov. 10 and the Spartans won 7-3 on Dec. 22.

That loss ended the Warriors’ 10-game winning streak.

Since that loss, the Warriors have won three in a row.

“We were shorthanded in that game,” Zagorac said. “We had injuries and a couple league suspensions. Now we’re getting everyone back.”

One player missing with an injury was junior forward Brock Bienemann, who has not played since November.

He scored eight goals and had five assists in five games.

Picking up the scoring slack were seniors Sean Goodman (19 goals and 12 assists) and Ben Zierski (6 goals and 18 assists).

“They were two seniors that were ready to step up,” Zagorac said. “Others to step up were Nico Castelli and Roman Catello. Roman has shown his leadership role.”

Other top scorers include Zack Grkman (7 goals, 10 assists), Jordan Tucek (7 goals, 5 assists), Liam Lehneke (8 goals, 7 assists), Castelli (6 goals, 2 assists), Catello (3 goals, 5 assists) and Rylan Kiste (4 goals, 3 assists).

Zagorac said a 4-1 win against Baldwin was one of the best games they have played.

“We played with structure,” he said. “Our top five scorers missed the game. I would like to see us play with that structure the rest of the season.

“We cannot afford to look ahead. We have to focus on the game in front of us. Armstrong is tough at home and then we must travel to Erie, and Prep is a physical team.

“Then we finish against Bethel Park and Latrobe, two teams fighting for better position in the standings.”

Zagorac said he expected the team would challenge for the top spots in the standings.

“I believed we would be in this spot,” Zagorac said. “We just have to finish strong and carry that through the playoffs.”

Another big reason the Warriors are a top contender is the play of their three goalies: Tyler Funk (8-2), Carson Weishorn (4-0) and Levi Driskill (2-0).

“We have three outstanding goalies,” Zagorac said.