The PIHL released its first playoff bracket on Friday, and a pair of Westmoreland County hockey teams learned their fate for the opening round. Norwin and Kiski Area will each compete in play-in contests next week, while Greensburg Salem will commence its playoffs the following week.

With Class A growing to 23 teams this season, the playoff bracket was expanded to 12 teams. The top two teams in each the Blue Division and Gold Division earned byes to the quarterfinals, while the third through sixth-place squads from the respective divisions will battle in cross-division showdowns on Monday and Tuesday.

Norwin will host West Allegheny at the Palmer Imaging Arena in Delmont on Monday at 8 p.m. The Knights, the defending Class A Penguins Cup Champions, finished in third in the Blue with 31 points (15-4-1).

Additionally, Kiski Area will play at home against Avonworth at the Palmer Imaging Arena on Tuesday at 9:10 p.m. The Cavaliers placed just behind Norwin in the Blue Division standings with 30 points (15-5-0), thus earning the fourth seed.

Meanwhile, Greensburg Salem finished in second in the Blue with 34 points (17-3-0), securing a spot in the quarterfinals. The Golden Lions will play at home at the Kirk Nevin Arena on March 9 at 7:15. Greensburg Salem will play either North Catholic, which is the third seed from the Gold, or the sixth seed from the Blue, which will either be Freeport Area or Shaler Area, depending on the final regular-season game on Monday. The play-in contest between the Trojans and either the Yellowjackets or Titans will occur on Tuesday at the UPMC Lemieux Complex in Cranberry.

Fox Chapel Area earned the top seed from the Blue Division, while North Hills and McDowell were the top two teams from the Gold Division. Montour, which finished second in the Gold in points for the regular season, was not eligible for the postseason.

The Class A semifinals will be held on March 15 at the RMU Island Sports Center on Neville Island, while the Penguins Cup Championship will take place on March 20 at the UPMC Lemieux Complex.