The 2024-25 regular season saw the Mt. Lebanon High School varsity hockey team reach heights not seen in 17 years. While the Blue Devils couldn’t maintain momentum down the stretch after clinching their fifth consecutive berth in the PIHL Class AAA playoffs, they look to rebuild during the 2025-26 season.
If Mt. Lebanon is going to return to the postseason for a sixth year in a row, the team will have to overcome several key losses up front and in net. Last season’s group had its first top-two finish in the league since 2008, its highest winning percentage since 2008, and its most regular-season wins (14) since 2012—courtesy of an offense that was second in the league in goals scored and a defense that was second in goals against.
The Blue Devils will look to a large senior class to collectively replace the loss of almost two-thirds of their total goals scored (44 of 69). They’ll also need to fill the void left by two goaltenders who combined for a 2.12 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage.
Mt. Lebanon will lean heavily on two-time all-star and junior captain Xavier Bias, whose 15 goals last year were second on the team and account for 67 percent of the returning total this season. Senior forward Ben Kurta was second among returning goal scorers with five.
A veteran defensive corps is led by senior alternate captains Nathan Tran and Sam Eberhart, along with classmate Pierce Conrardy. Seniors Parker Arlet and Zach Lynam were also key players on the back end last year. This year, the coaching staff plans to use both heavily at forward and defense, hoping their puck skills and offensive instincts can help drive extra offense. Juniors Billy Varholla, Keller Dungan and Cooper Church are expected to see time on the blue line as well.
In addition to Bias and Kurta, senior forwards Graham Resler—who missed almost all his junior season due to injury—Liam Powers, Josh Lehman and Kyle Quigley return, hoping to produce in larger roles, along with junior Cam Mayer, who led the team with two goals in its first three games.
Senior Charlie Bank has performed solidly in a well-defined role early in his first varsity season, and sophomores Sean Hough and Will White have also shown the potential to be key contributors this season. The Blue Devils will also look to sophomore Ford Schmitt for a spark when he returns to the ice after football season.
Junior Sam Shinn and senior August Zentner are set to compete for time between the pipes. Seniors Cooper Whalen and Luke Sullivan, along with sophomores Tucker Klasnick and Beau Conaway, round out the roster and will battle for spots in the lineup.
The Blue Devils play two games at the Mt. Lebanon Ice Center in December: Monday, Dec. 8, against Fox Chapel and Wednesday, Dec. 11, against Peters Township. Both games start at 8:30 p.m.
