Prudential Dryden Cup Winners||Sunday 9 January 2005 PA Centerpedes first tournament in southern New Hampshire||5 Feb 2005  Washington DC TV event on sledhockey,Bugs at Patterson Park Rink|| 19-20 March 2005 United Spinal Invitational||Video with Center-Pedes in action at Amelia Park|

PA CENTER-PEDES SLED HOCKEY TEAM WINS INAUGURAL

2005-2006 SEASON PNESHL DRYDEN CUP

What is the PNESHL?The Prudential Northeast Sled Hockey League was developed in 2005 for local level adult sled hockey teams from the Northeastern United States to engage in sportsmanlike sled hockey competition. The PA Center-Pedes (affectionately known as "The Bugs") have won the inaugural PNESHL title by having the best record over sled hockey teams from Maine, New York, New Hampshire and Connecticut. The PNESHL represents the first adult sled hocke league in the country. The Bugs roster includes participants from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York. Although an adult team, half of the players are under age twenty-one.

 The PA Center-Pedes are affiliated with the Pennsylvania Center for Adaptive Sport and are members of USA Hockey. The program consists of elite travel players and a group of developmental participants that are working at improvement. The program also has developed talented youth players that compete in junior and adult national teams. Two active Bug players (not on the PNESHL roster) have just returned from the IX Winter Paralympics in Torino Italy with a Bronze medal. The PA Center-Pedes coaching, administration and players have developed a winning team; they have become a dominant provider of elite caliber athletes ready for international competition. The program is represented by prior, current and future Paralympians.

PNESHL 2005/2006 Final Standings

The PNESHL is made up of the following teams: Pennsylvania Center-Pedes, Portland ME Sled Hockey Pirates, United Spinal NY Rangers, New Hampshire Wildcats and Connecticut Wolf Pack. The sled hockey teams meet at a central location in Danbury, CT for one "Game Day" each month during the December to March PNESHL season. The teams agree to game schedules that accommodate the needs of teams traveling the greatest distances thereby keeping expenses to a minimum. Results of the games are captured for wins, losses and cumulative stats. The Prudential Dryden Cup Championship is determined based on overall results. The PNESHL is a model for other teams wishing to establish leagues to follow.

“All the marbles” came down to being decided during this last game of the season. The New York Rangers had lost earlier in the day to the Maine Pirates to set up an exciting final game scenario. A victory for NY would get them the inaugural Prudential Dryden Cup. A victory for the PA Center-Pedes would get them the Cup. More interesting was the fact that a tie game would have seen Maine the season victors.  The PA Center-Pedes came out possessed and were able to somewhat control play in the early minutes.

More to read abot PNSHL: PRESS RELEASE in pdf

Both teams were playing cautious hockey, as it was such an important game. At 9:55 into the first period, after a long offensive attack by the Bugs, Jim Leatherman put what ended up being the game winning shot high over Dave White’s extended trapper. The goal assisted by Danny McDevitt was one of only seven shots in the first; all tallied by the Center-Pedes.

 Period two was a two-ended defensive struggle; both teams knowing how huge the next goal would be. Only five shots were registered between both clubs. The Rangers combination of youth, experienced veterans and a few new adults held the 9-player Bug squad at bay.

The third period provided the fans, including the Maine guys looking into the fish bowl, with the most exciting and balanced play of the match. After sever failed attempts by NY to get the puck past rookie net-minder Laura Schwanger, PA relieved some of their pressure after the puck got past Dave again during a frantic scramble in front of his net. McDevitt got credit for the goal, as he was the last Bug to touch it. A still determined NY pulled their net-minder in one last attempt, which afforded Jeremy Lubin a goal with 10-seconds left.

The hard earned victory for the relatively new Bug program left both teams exhausted at the final buzzer.