The Paul VI Panthers are having their finest season in school history in ice hockey. The Panthers, coached by Billy Harrington (first season), weigh-in with a 5-3 record and have clinched a playoff spot for the first time in school history.

The "Black and Gold" competes in the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League.

There are four "conferences" within the league. PVI, Ireton, T.C. Williams, Robinson, Lake Braddock, West Springfield and Hayfield compete in the "National" conference.

Twenty-one other teams comprise the "American", "Freedom" and "Liberty" Conferences. Bishop O'Connell competes in the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League.

The Panthers are in second place behind Robinson (8-0-1). Thus far this season, PVI has defeated Stonewall Jackson 5-2, T.C. Williams 6-0, Forest Park 5-1, Bishop Ireton 4-1 and West Springfield 11-9.

The Panthers have dropped games to: Robinson, Osbourn Park and Hylton.

Starters include: senior goaltender Ryan Diandrea, senior and junior defenders Zach Ennis and Sam Delman, junior attack players: Mike Segna, Ryan Baldini and Brendan Simpers. Diandrea, Ennis and Delman are the captains.

Other key attack players include seniors: Sean Strauch – currently injured, Scott Millard, Geoff Rixon, Brian Sperry; juniors: Pat Summers, Dave Talton, Mike O'Donnell, T.J. Schlusemeyer; and sophomore Mike Rutledge.

Other key defenders include — senior Nik Morse, junior Nick Sutton and freshmen: Eric Stiber and Tim Schlagenhauf.

Rutledge leads the Panthers in scoring with seven goals and three assists. Segna has five and three, Strauch three and three) and Schlusemeyer three and three).

Virtually every other player has one or two goals. Junior MikeO'Donnell led the JV team with an amazing 24 goals before being called up to varsity duty a couple of games ago.

Diandrea has only allowed 18 goals in 132 shots.

"The strength of our team is our work ethic," said Coach Harrington. "We stress passing and we've had a lot of good team work. In the Ireton win, we worked with a lot of heart. In our most recent win — West Springfield — we tied up their number one offensive player, and we fired on the goal as much as possible. We trailed in that game 3-0 before eventually winning 11-9. Kopsick was in goal that game. Diandrea was not eligible to play that night."

PVI plays Osbourn Feb. 7 on seniors night at Reston Ice Rink. The Panthers conclude the regular season with a game versus Lake Braddock Feb. 14 at Ashburn Ice Arena.