Pittsburgh Forge
Encyclopedia
The Pittsburgh Forge are a defunct Junior A Tier II ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, which played in the North American Hockey League
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
. The team was founded in 2001 by Kevin Constantine
Kevin Constantine
Kevin Lars Constantine has coached hockey teams in the NHL, IHL, and numerous major junior hockey leagues. He is coach of HC Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss National League A.-Playing career:...
, a former coach of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
. They played at the Island Sports Center. The team compiled an 80-24-8 record in the first two seasons. The Forge were finalists in the Robertson Cup Tournament during their inaugural season, the first expansion team to do so. During their second, the Forge set a national Junior A record with 43 wins and won the NAHL's regular season championship. In two seasons with the Forge, Kevin's clubs amassed an overall record of 80-24-8 and advanced 18 players onto scholarships with Division I college hockey programs. 2002-2003 National Champions and scholarship schools:
Dylan Reese-Harvard,
Randy Bauer,
Chris Lawrence-Michigan State,
Matt Zeman,
Mike Handza-Denver,
Erix Trax-Robert Morris,
Jim Gehring-Mercyhurst,
Brandon Warner-Michigan State,
John Dingle-Ohio State,
Denis Kirstien-Mercyhurst,
Ryan Webb,
Daniel Shildorfer,
Joe Federoff-Alabama Huntsville,
Devin Ekis-Pittsburgh
Ben Camper-Colgate,
Josh Coyle-Union,
Jace Buzek- Robert Morris,
Gabe Rehak,
Tom Biondich-Robert Morris,
Andy Brandt-Wisconsin,
Josef Fotjik,
Mike Mannina,
Sean Berkstresser-Robert Morris,
Peter Mannino-Denver,
Matt McBride