Jun 3, 2008 11:53 pm US/Eastern
Local Young Hockey Players Inspired By Penguins
MOUNT LEBANON (KDKA) ―
As the Penguins head into Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, hockey fever is running higher than ever and the hype just keeps spreading.
After Monday night's triple overtime winner, just about everyone is on the Penguins hockey bandwagon. That includes some local young athletes who say they have been inspired by the Penguins' success.
At the Mount Lebanon Ice Center, the summer leagues are underway. And on Tuesday night, the home team took on Upper St. Clair, which is the hometown of Penguins left wing Ryan Malone.
"Every time I wear an Upper St. Clair hoodie, I get asked about Ryan Malone," said young hockey player, Daniel Crockett. "He was really good. I try to be as much like him as I can."
On and off the ice, everyone is talking about the Stanley Cup Finals.
"Most everyone I know is talking about the Penguins, like this new kid who didn't know anything about hockey, now it's real big," said Evan Hanberry, a young Mount Lebanon hockey player. "Everyone's starting to talk about it."
I went to the game last night in Detroit, which was a great time," said Mount Lebanon hockey player, Alex Kirshner. "It's something that doesn't come around often, so it's exciting when it does happen."
It seems even more exciting when you're in a hockey family, like the Smee family, who have four sons who play.
"I'm pretty involved in the Mount Lebanon High School hockey program. It's amazing," said hockey mom, Betty Smee. "We have boys in ninth grade, who already made their sports decision and decided they're going to play hockey. They're good athletes; they're out on the ice, just having a ball."
Also important is learning life lessons from coaches who know what's really important.
"You get a bunch of different personalities. They have to work with each other on the ice," said Upper St. Clair coach Aric Buckholt. "You see that with the Penguins. They respect each other, work hard and it shows on the ice. That's what happens."
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