Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Larry Marks reacts after learning his contract was not renewed.
Larry Marks compiled a record of 47-14-6 in his three seasons as head coach of the Upper St. Clair varsity hockey team, quickly amassing the third-highest win total in the program's history. The Panthers also made three straight appearances in the Penguins Cup semi-finals under Marks, and won the PIHL Class AAA Penguins Cup championship and the Pennsylvania Cup this past season. But as of Tuesday evening, he is no longer the Panthers' head coach after the Upper St. Clair Hockey Association voted not to renew his contract and replace him with varsity assistant coach Gary Klapkowski, who also served as the junior varsity head coach. "I'm in shock, I really am," Marks said. "I was really looking forward to coming back (next season), being …
The board that runs the Upper St. Clair varsity hockey team voted to have Larry Marks replaced on Tuesday night.
Upper St. Clair varsity hockey coach Larry Marks has been relieved of his duties and replaced by varsity assistant coach and junior varsity head coach Gary Klapkowski, according to reports from players. Marks confirmed the move Tuesday night when reached for comment. "I am in shock," Marks said via text message. Marks led the team to a 17-6-1 overall record and the Panthers won the PIHL Class AAA Penguins Cup and Pennsylvania Cup championships. Several of the players reacted after hearing the move, with varying degrees of emotion. "How do you fire a state championship winning coach?" asked captain and team MVP C.J. Murray on Twitter. "It's like firing a president after winning a war." "This firing is, by far, the worst thing to happen to …
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
State championship varsity team takes center stage at annual banquet.
It was an evening of celebration, reflection and farewells Tuesday night as the Upper St. Clair Hockey Association hosted its annual end of the year banquet at the Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe. Kurt Kharouf, the "voice of the Panthers" from the television broadcasts on channel 7, was the master of ceremonies for the event. "It's amazing how I keep coming back to these," Kharouf said, tongue-in-cheek. "I haven't been a parent of this organization since 2004, yet I'm still here. But when you meet the parents and the coaches here, you find out why you stay around." The coaching staffs of the freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams each introduced their members, gave remarks on the past season and presented year-end awards. The six …
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Six seniors combine for 6 goals and 10 assists in a 9-2 thrashing of Penn-Trafford.
For six Upper St. Clair seniors the night began with a walk down a red carpet draped over the ice with mom and dad by their side. A tender moment as the parents saw the culmination of many years of hard work driving their son to and from hockey practices in the early mornings. Five minutes later, the parents were escorted off the ice and with the tender moments behind them, the players began 45 minutes of brutal hard hitting. The six seniors (George Asrian, Ben Herman, C.J. Murray, Parker Philips, Michael Segerdahl and Justin Selep) combined for 6 goals and 10 assists in a 9-2 thrashing of Penn-Trafford. The win eliminated the Warriors from playoff contention, and locked up a bye in the first round of the PIHL playoffs for Upper St. Clair…
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Panthers explode for five unanswered goals in first two periods in victory over Titans.
Friday night Upper St. Clair hockey coach Larry Marks said his team should never have a problem putting pucks in the net; it's keeping it out of the net for the other team that will be the problem. Howbeit Justin Selep, C.J. Murray and Michael Sweeney took it upon themselves to light up the lamp early and often for the Panthers, allowing them to stave off a late rally by Shaler in a 7-4 victory at the Ice Castle Arena in Castle Shannon. The three forwards each tallied two goals apiece, beginning with Selep's pair for a 2-0 lead by the end of the first period. Things picked up in the second period, but not in the way either team would have liked. The two teams combined for 11 penalties in the second period, giving each of them at least two…
jack
11:41 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Parents are heavily invested in the ability of their sons to play hockey, so saying that coaches shouldn't have to deal with them is just unrealistic. Physicians don't have to make house calls, but the best ones do. Teachers don't have to take extra time with students and/or their parents to help them improve, but the best ones do. Coaches who choose to ignore a problem "inside the family" … more ›