The Connellsville hockey team set some lofty goals this winter.
Winning a PIHL Division 2 championship was high on the list of priorities, but those hopes were derailed in early March when the Falcons were ousted by Burrell in the postseason.
Going after a national championship was incorporated into the plans back in late December, and that opportunity begins Wednesday morning at the 2026 Chipotle USA Hockey High School National Championships in Plymouth, Minn.
“It’s quite an honor to come halfway across the country to play the sport these kids love,” Connellsville coach Jason Boone said. “Hockey is a sport that includes a lot of travel, but to do this is something special.”
Connellsville will compete in Division 1A and begins play in the USA Division at 9:45 a.m. against the Missoula (Mont.) Bruins. On Thursday, the Falcons face St. Joseph (Ind.) at 8:30 p.m., and then they conclude pool play against Frisco (Texas) at 4:15 p.m. Friday.
There are 16 teams in the division, and the top two teams from each of the four pools will advance to the quarterfinals.
“We were very direct with our players about our goal, and that is to play Sunday in that championship game,” Boone said. “We need two wins out of those three division games, and our focus will be on team defense, shutting down our opponents and insulating our goalies.”
Connellsville’s roster is composed of players from several nearby school districts, including Mt. Pleasant and Southmoreland.
Juniors Michael Bevan (goalie), Alex Boone (forward) and Joey Roadman (defenseman) attend Southmoreland. Senior forwards Logan Hause and Nico Pisula, junior forwards Presley Overly and Bennett Stull, freshman defenseman Aiden Pletcher, sophomore forward Mason Maak, senior defenseman Nolan Wojnar and senior goalie Nick Daniels-Nimick attend Mt. Pleasant.
PIHL representatives reached out to Connellsville around Christmas to gauge its interest in playing in the national tournament thanks to a strong start. Once the Falcons’ commitment became official, the program began fundraising for the trip, which is a considerable expense.
“When we told the kids they were going, that’s probably the most excited I’ve ever seen a group of kids,” said Boone, who is the superintendent at Southmoreland. “This is a five-night say in Minneapolis, and that doesn’t factor in travel. Some families are flying; for others, it’s a two-day drive. Add on food and drink, it can easily become some people’s vacations. We’re very cognizant of that, which is why every dime we fundraise will go back to the families to help pay for this trip.”