The McDowell Trojan varsity hockey saeson came to a close Tuesday night in Warrendale with a 3-2 overtime loss to Seneca Valley.  A very well played, hard fought and somewhat controversial win for the Raiders.  SV outshot McD 27-24.  Penalties were in (favor?) of the Trojans 22 minutes to 6 minutes for the home rink Raiders.  Can anyone say "HOMER".  Thanks to the refereeing tandem of Cogan and Miloney, the Raiders had opportunities handed to them in the overtime period.  The last penalty with 1:17 left in the 10 minute overtime was just lousy, a slashing call on a stick, with faceoff in Trojan "D" zone.  Shot fired off a deflection and in.  Congratulations to the Raiders as they move on the Mellon Arena next week.  Congratulations to the Trojan Boys as they stuck around all year and slowly moved up the playoff ladder from 12th to 6th before last night.  Junior Shane Reese and freshman Ryan Guzek scored the Trojans goals last night and senior Drew Ericson did all he could according to coaches to "give his team a chance to win."  The three game series this year between the two teams had a 2-2 tie in Pittsburgh, a 4-4 tie at the Tullio Arena and a 3-2 Trojan loss in Pittsburgh.

Just one thing--Dear Erie Times News Sports department,  What has to be done to get a bit of ERIE hockey coverage?  The Meadville Bulldogs drop down a classification to AA and you people gloat about how well the Bulldogs have adapted to AA.  No kidding, shouldn't they be able to "adapt" and perform well at a lower level?  After their playoff "upset" loss, the Times runs a huge (Top of page) article on the game and statistics and details.  After the Trojans (AAA) loss, the boys get  a 2 paragraph snip-it on the loss.  The Fort Lebeouf team wins the Lakeshore League chamionship and they get a 2 paragraph snip-it.  Jamie Plunkett, coach of Meadville (AA) hockey announces he will return for next seasaon and gets 3 paragraphs.  Does the Meadville oops, I mean Erie Times sell that many more papers in Meadville than you do in Erie?  I doubt it.  But maybe I am wrong.  Victor Fernandes was in Slippery Rock for the McDowell Girls basketball game and it got great coverage.  The hockey playoff game was played about 20 miles from there and at a later time.  You could have done a small piece anyway.    The McDowell publicity director, Michele Ericson, gave you a ton of info regarding the game, stats, times, penalties, grade of players that scored, etc knowing that the Times would probably not make it to the rink and all there is is a blurb. 
The last 3 weeks of the Varsity section had not one word about hockey.  Most of the photographs use in the Varsity and sports sections this season were shot last season.  The Tullio Arena is really not that far away.  It would have been nice if you could have made it to more than the 2 games you came to for the AAA Trojans.  Three current photos this year?  I guess when playoff time comes around, hockey doesn't count?  This is about the kids, young men and women that do alot as student athletes.  I know times are tough in the newspaper industry, but please, won't you help a bit more?  The kids (all) not just Mcdowell deserve it.
Sincerely yours,
Mark Ericson
McDowell Hockey Board of Directors

(EDITOR'S NOTE -- Mark Ericson tells it like he feels!)