The 2024-2025 season for the Shaler Area Ice Hockey team was a fun one to say the least. With four seniors on the team and a lot of older talent amongst them as well it looked like they were poised to win a lot of games and be one of the best teams in the division set to make a championship run.
Senior Forward Darius Melecki was the leading point scorer for the Titans this season playing in all 20 regular season games and tallying 45 points, 22 goals, 23 assists, and averaging 2.25 points a game. Senior captain Defenseman Jake Skerlong had a great scoring season while being a defenseman having 31 points in 20 games while scoring 15 goals, and averaging 1.55 points a game.
“As a senior, this season meant everything to me. We had a great group of guys, and we left it all on the ice every single game. I wouldn’t trade these memories for anything,” senior forward Brendan Fitzgerald said.
After the 2023-2024 season Shaler lost their starting goaltender in a senior who graduated so this year the crease belonged to a junior who has barely played during the Varsity games. Jackson Fox was solid in his first year being the starter having a .901 save percentage and allowing two goals a game. When Fox was not in net for the Titans, senior Jack Clark would be behind the pipes and did well for the amount of play time he received, with a .833 save percentage.
Before the season started Junior forward Matt Stelitano injured his wrist and missed 12 games to start the year. While only playing in 8 games he was still an impact player with the puck scoring 8 goals, while also having nine assists on the year. With 7 juniors on the team this season the Titans were an older and more mature team then years in the past. Stelitano was one of five juniors to score at least 10 points throughout the season.
While the team was primarily juniors and seniors, the team still had a lot of talent in the freshman and sophomore classes. Freshman forward Colby Colamarino was a bright spot when it came to the freshman scoring 5 goals and 4 assists on the year. Colamarino cycled in and out with junior forward Dylan McGuire who scored one goal on the season.
“Being a freshman on this team was an unreal experience. The older guys really took us under their wing. Getting the chance to contribute and help the team win some games was an amazing feeling. I can’t wait to keep building with this group,” Colamarino said.
The Titans also had five players make the annual PIHL All-Star game including, Seniors Jake Skerlong, and Darius Malecki. As well as Forward Blake Whiteman, Forward Chase Irwin, and Goalie Jackson Fox.
The Titans finished the season on a six- game winning streak and had a record of 18-5 before heading onto the playoffs to face Indiana in the first round of Penguins Cup Class “A” First Round. The Titans beat Indiana 2-0 advancing them to play the Mars Planets.
The Titans final game against Mars was a close one the whole game. At the end of the game the Titans lost a close game 5-4 losing in the final 10 seconds of the game.
“To finish the season the way we did, battling until the final seconds, just shows the heart of this team. I’m proud of what we accomplished,” Fitzgerald said.
