For the second straight year and the second time in the program’s history, Pitt-Johnstown’s club hockey team could not advance past a pool-play round March 10-14 at the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament.

The Icecats lost all three tournament games to Division I schools (Colorado State University, University of Alabama and Michigan State University) and were outscored heavily, 20-5.

After winning 10 of their last 12 regular season games (12 of 14 if one was to factor in the regional playoffs that came after), they lost four straight games to end the season.

Despite disappointing outcomes, at least one player’s efforts have been noticed.

Senior defenseman, team captain and Johnstown resident Derek Grove was a second-team defenseman on the all-national tournament team after chipping in three assists.

Grove was a key component to the Icecats defensive and offensive success as a two-way defenseman.

He is the team leader in points (46) and assists (30), and was the team’s highest-scoring defenseman.

“I pride myself on being patient taking the opportunity to rush the puck, and create scoring chances when I have an opening,” Grove said.

Senior goaltender Tyler Mains said that, even though the team was not able to advance further than last season, team members have nothing to be ashamed of.

“Even though the team didn’t do as well as we have wanted to, our record shows that and we won some big games when we needed to.”

Mains said that he hopes, the team’s success in recent years will lead to a program expansion.

“Ultimately I think the goal is for the team to become a National Collegiate Athletic Association-sanctioned team,” he said.

“I would like to see that happen.”