Pittsburgh Hornets U12 Team lose to Dallas Ice Jets in USA Hockey Tier 1 National Championship Game 5-3

It's a sad day in Pittsburgh as the Pittsburgh Hornets U12 Tier 1 Hockey team has lost in the National Championship game against the Dallas Ice by a score of 5-3, ending their season as the runner-ups for the USA Hockey National Championship. The Hornets were down 4-3 in the third period but fought gallantly back, outplaying Dallas at the end of third period, only to have the Dallas Goaltender Frye make save after save as Dallas won this contest. It was heart-wrenching to listen to the radio broadcast as the Hornets hit the post 2x in the final 2 minutes of play that would have tied the game in regulation. The Hornets pulled the goalie with 1:10 left in the third period with a faceoff in the Dallas end, and had a flurry of shots on goal, all of which were stopped by Dallas, before Dallas iced the pucked into the empty net, and icing the 5-3 win for their team. Congratulations to the Dallas Ice Jets on a hard fought battle, the Hornets salute you.

Although the result today is disapointing for the U12 team, it has been nothing but a glorious run at the USA Hockey National Championship competitions by the Pittsburgh Hornets Hockey Organization. From the hard nose, battling hockey of the 1991 U14's in round robin play (highlighted by an amazing overtime game with Shattucks) to the Midget U16 team's brand of unselfish and power hockey in its march into the quarter final round, to the Midget Majors U18 grab for glory in winning an amazing triple overtime game and valiantly competing with essentially no rest into the semi-final round, to the 1992 U12's heartwrenching struggle in the championship game after a tremendous run through the tournament, these Hornet teams have further established the credentials of the PittsburghHornets Hockey Association as one of the pre-eminent Tier 1 Hockey Association in the United States of America.

And more importantly, these teams have accomplished these milestones doing things the right way, with clean, hard and fair play, playing by the rules and conducting ourselves with honor, with dignity, with class and always in the best interest of the young athlete, respecting our opponents and the game itself, while always challenging ourselves to be the best, both on and off the ice.

The sounds of exellence made by the Hornet organization at these USA Hockey National Championships will continue to reverberate through the amateur hockey community for a long, long time after these tournaments have ended, spreading the word about the excellence of our organization, and setting the standard for others to emulate. Well done Hornets. Well done indeed !!!