After Penn-Trafford and Hempfield Area hockey split the two meetings in the regular season, Monday’s rubber match would determine which team would win its first PIHL Class AA Penguins Cup Championship. Propelled by a spectacular effort by goaltender Tyler Funk and a three-point performance by Brock Bienemann, the Warriors edged the Spartans 4-3 at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on a snowy night in Cranberry, claiming the initial title in program history.

“It feels amazing,” said Penn-Trafford head coach Brian Zagorac. “All credit to the kids. They just fought so hard.

“It’s a victory for the team, the club, the school, everybody involved,” he continued.

Funk, who was in net when the Warriors fell in the Penguins Cup final in 2024, made 45 saves on Monday. That included numerous stellar stops against the highest-scoring team in Class AA.

“It’s time to start considering Tyler Funk a GOAT of high school hockey as a goaltender,” Zagorac exclaimed.

Bienemann, meanwhile, opened the scoring less than three minutes into the first period, as he fired a wrister from the left circle past Hempfield Area goalie Evan Saltzgiver. Just about a minute later, though, Saltzgiver got the better of Bienemann, denying him on another great chance.

As a result, that score held until nearly six minutes into the second period, when the third seed Warriors earned their only power play of the contest. It took less than 30 seconds for PT to make the top-seeded Spartans pay, as Bienemann feigned lifting the puck around the one side of the net, but instead left it for Ben Zierski to take on the other side for a wraparound marker.

“The pregame speech was that the pressure is on them. Everyone is counting us out,” Zagorac revealed. “Let’s get the first goal or two and squeeze them a little bit. Getting that first goal was huge.”

Following that tally, though, the Spartans began to slant the ice in their favor. They fired 21 shots on goal in the middle stanza, including a flurry of chances late in the period on the man advantage. Although Funk had the answers during that power play, the Spartans got on the board moments later, as Colby Herron banged in a rebound off a deflected shot from the point by Nathan Planey.

Clinging to that lead in the third, the Warriors created some breathing room, courtesy of Bienemann, who finished a one-timer from Jordan Tucek to make it 3-1 with 11:58 left.

“To win any championship in any sport, you need your best players to be your best players, and that’s what we got tonight,” Zagorac stated.

The Spartans continued to push, however, creating a golden opportunity that forced a Warriors player to touch the puck with his hand in the crease. The resulting penalty shot was taken by Guerin Gardner, who slowly approached and then placed a low shot past Funk to make it 3-2.

Penn-Trafford quickly quelled any Spartans’ momentum, though, as Sean Goodman’s wrist shot found the twine just 17 seconds later, restoring the two-goal edge for PT.

Hempfield Area scored a goal in the final minute, credited to Mats Martz, and the Spartans pushed for the equalizer, but the Warriors hung on to claim the trophy.

“This group of people is really special,” said Funk. “This bond helped us get all of the way here where we are.”

Saltzgiver made 17 saves in the loss for the Spartans, who suffered two of their four losses this season to the Warriors.

While Hempfield Area’s season ends with silver, the Warriors advance to the Pennsylvania Cup Championship in West Chester on Saturday.