Mike Vukovcan Playoff hockey will be returning to Pittsburgh this weekend as the Pittsburgh Penguins will take on their longtime rival Philadelphia Flyers.
Speaking of hockey, Vikings Sports Now has some exciting news about a local hockey player from Hopewell.
Hopewell HS 9th grader Brelyn Smith is goaltender for Team South, a high school girls ice hockey team in the PIHL, which runs scholastic hockey teams across Western Pennsylvania and nearby areas.
This is a girls hockey league started in 2022 and consists of players from Grades 9-12. This league was created because of tremendous interest as well as to give girls their own league instead of having to play on boys’ team.
As mentioned, Smith plays for Team South, and over the weekend, she competed in her first PIHL game. Team South defeated Team East by the score of 4-1. Smith was tremendous in net as she faced 24 shots, allowing just 1 one (.958 save percentage).
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This was Smith’s first win as a goaltender in the PIHL league. Way to go Brelyn!
Just a little more information regarding this girls’ league. Teams are regional “co-op” teams with players coming from different school districts. The season runs from April through June, consisting of a regular season, playoffs and a championship.
While this is her first season in the PIHL, Smith isn’t a rookie to the sport as she’s played competitive hockey for several years with Tier 1 girls AAA team, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite and the Mt. Lebanon AA boys’ team.
Hopewell’s Brelyn Smith
Smith not only has played but has played well as last season, she was selected for the USA Hockey 15’s Developmental Camp. After a nationwide district tryout, 24 goalies were selected to attend this camp at Miami of Ohio University. Smith finished that camp with a .915 save percentage and 1.50 goals against average.
Following the PHIL season, Brelyn will be playing for the Florida Alliance 16u girls Tier 1 AAA team, where she’ll compete at showcases and tournaments across the country.
Smith’s ultimate goal is to place NCAA hockey after graduating from Hopewell High School, where she currently holds a 3.9 GPA.
Congratulations on all of your success Brelyn and good luck this hockey season. Vikings Sports Now is looking forward to following your career!
