Undefeated Armstrong Arrows Advance to National Tournament

by Jonathan Weaver

The 19U Tier II Armstrong Arrows girls are on their way to the national championship in Lansing, Michigan.

Already an elite team due to an undefeated regular season, the Arrows swept last weekend’s USA Hockey Mid-American Tier I and Tier II Girls District Championships held at the Belmont Complex, and will be one of 12 teams at the national championship starting Wednesday, March 25.

The girls have been ranked as high as No. 1 in the country according to MyHockeyRankings.com. They are currently ranked 4th.

Armstrong Arrows won Friday 6-0 against rival Steel City Selects, Saturday 5-1 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and finally Sunday 4-3 in a shootout against the Erie Lady Lions.

According to Assistant Coach Homer Foster (who grew up as an Arrow), it is the first Arrows team that will play for the national championship.

“This team has done well over the last couple of years – this year especially when they went undefeated, 22-0 in the local Pittsburgh league, and last weekend, qualified for the national tournament,” Coach Foster said.

“It’s been a fun year for the girls – they’ve worked really hard to get here. It’s a big commitment.”

The community-based team, sponsored by Rosebud Mining, played in several national tournaments – such as in Toronto (Canada), Detroit and Cleveland – beginning in July.

The team of 17 women is mainly made up of high school students, including two from the Armstrong School District

Last year, the 19U Arrows came in second place locally before losing in the district championship finals held in Culver, Indiana. A total of 11 girls returned from last year’s team.

“I think this year’s team is playing better as a team overall. This is the second year together for a lot of girls, so that makes sense that they’re more comfortable with each other and know each other a little better. Last year, we had one superstar (Annie Katonka, of Mount Lebanon) but this year, it’s more of a team effort,” Coach Foster said.

Coach Foster, of Kittanning, has a daughter, Natalie, on the 19U team and also has a 14-year-old son, Andy, who is on the Arrow bantam team.

Sherine Diffendal, 17, is a senior at Montour High School and has been an Arrow for the past two seasons. She is the captain of this year’s team and plays defense.

“All of us work really well together,” Diffendal said.

Diffendal has been to the national tournament three times before – on Team Pittsburgh twice and the Steel City Selects once – but never won it.

“I don’t think there’s a feeling to describe that – that’d be like a dream,” Diffendal said.

Hannah Oliver, a senior at Ford City High, competed one year on the school’s junior varsity team – before the 19U Arrows became more competitive. She scored in the shootout Sunday to lead to the victory.

“(To win nationals), we need to have good communication. When we get the puck moving and pass a lot, that’s when we get the dirty goals and are able to be a successful team,” Oliver said. “We’re really quick, and we have to use that to our advantage.”

Coach Tori Hendrickson played for the Arrows and the Ford City varsity Sabers hockey team before she graduated high school in 2012. She played with the three local athletes – Oliver is a family friend she has known since she was young - and played under Head Coach Larry Montebell.

“I think having a female on the bench and at practice to look to helps some of them – it kind-of breaks that coaching barrier and they open up a little more. It’s been a good experience for me, too,” Coach Hendrickson said.

Coach Montebell started the team eight years ago while his daughters were on the team. He liked the team’s chances in Lansing for the national championship.

“We had a really good season,” Coach Montebell said. “We’ve played against top 10, top 15 talent all year, and did not lose all year.”

Commissioner Bob Bower – who dropped the ceremonial puck at the beginning of the tournament – was impressed by the athleticism he saw on the ice, but also how the tournament enhanced the local community. It was the first year the Belmont Complex hosted the championships.

“They originally wanted (to play) at Robert Morris University, but they wanted (the) Belmont Complex – Belmont because of the history with hockey and the Montebell family carried a lot of weight,” Commissioner Bower said.

“It’s a big boost to our economy. Not only did they buy our food, sleep in our hotels, they got fuel and had to visit our stores for supplies if they forgot anything at home,” Bower said.

Bower added that fans came from those states as North Carolina, New York, New Jersey and Maryland

Miss Armstrong County sang the National Anthem.

The Mid-American district is one of 12 in the United States and is made up of teams from Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and the state of Indiana. Last weekend, each district around the country had their district playoffs.

Teams at nationals will be divided into four pools and have their own champions based on points accrued – similar to Olympic-style play. The top eight teams advance before the top two play in the national finals Monday.