After a difficult 2025 season and the graduation of 14 seniors, 2026 could be a rebuilding year for the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils varsity hockey team.
New head coach Josh Werner, along with returning assistant coaches Tony Attanucci and Dave Hornack, is ready to face the challenge head-on.
During a preseason off-ice meeting, Werner and the players established three nonnegotiables for the upcoming season: Be on time. Respect your teammates, opponents, officials and the game. Work hard on and off the ice.
The priorities reflect Werner’s belief that high school hockey is about more than wins and losses.
“Hockey is a wonderful sport that can teach young athletes to learn valuable traits that come in valuable throughout life,” Werner said.
Returning players and newcomers alike appear to be buying in. Offseason workouts, summer league play and a preseason tournament have helped kick-start the Werner era.
It is a fresh start for coaches and players.
“Clean slates from last year to this season mean every player will have to earn playing time and trust,” Werner said. “I believe in building a team with strong defense, and that doesn’t succeed without tremendous effort by the entire team.”
Werner said one of the challenges of being a first-year coach is getting to know each player beyond what he sees on the ice.
“It’s easy to see how well they skate but seeing how they adapt and cope with bumps in the road, that takes some time,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do to get back into the playoffs, but that is definitely a goal this season.”
Werner and his staff bring decades of playing and coaching experience to the program.
Werner spent eight seasons coaching Latrobe’s varsity hockey team and also has collegiate coaching experience at California University of Pennsylvania, now PennWest California. He hopes to bring a winning formula to Mt. Lebanon.
Returning assistant coach Attanucci played for West Virginia University’s ACHA Division I program and has extensive coaching experience, including stops at Buffalo State University and with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U16 team.
Hornack has been a fixture in the township and at the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center for nearly 40 years. A longtime presence in the Pittsburgh hockey community, he brings decades of experience and steady leadership to the program.
The Blue Devils will be led by several returning players.
PIHL all-stars Xavier Bias, who recorded 14 points last season, and goaltender Sam Shinn, who appeared in 18 games, return to the lineup. Senior Cameron Mayer led the team with 16 points in 2025, while junior William White recorded 14.
“On the back end, we have returning varsity players (Cooper) Church, (Henry) Mitchell, (Keller) Dungan and (Will) Norton who will help with our emphasis on team defense,” Werner said. “We are also looking for some players to step into bigger roles this year. Players like (Burk) Moore, (Jonas) Eger, (Tucker) Klasnick and (Beau-Arthur) Barlow will be leaned on to make an impact throughout the season.”
The regular season begins Oct. 1 at North Allegheny. Mt. Lebanon’s home opener is Oct. 8 at 9:10 p.m. against Central Catholic.
The full schedule is available at pihlhockey.com.
Only time will tell whether the Blue Devils can improve on last season’s 3-17 record, but one thing appears certain: They will be expected to show up on time, show respect and work hard — on and off the ice.
2026-27 Varsity Roster
Beau-Arthur Barlow sophomore, forward
Xavier Bias senior, forward
Cooper Church senior, defense
Beau Conaway junior, forward
Keller Dungan senior, defense
Jonas Eger senior, forward
Sean Hough junior, forward
Cameron Keefer freshman, forward
Gen Kitani junior, forward
Tucker Klasnick junior, forward
Cameron Mayer senior, forward
Henry Mitchell senior, defense
Burk Moore freshman, forward
Garrett Noll junior, goalie
Will Norton junior, defense
Quin O’Brien junior, forward
Cooper Saracco senior, defense
Sam Shinn junior, goalie
Declan Sowerby freshman, forward
Henry Spier freshman, defense
William White junior, forward
Regular-season schedule
Thursday, Oct. 1 at North Allegheny, Baierl Ice Complex, 9:10 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 8 vs. Central Catholic, Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, 9:10 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Peters Township, Printscape Arena at Southpointe, 9 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 22 at Pine-Richland, Baierl Ice Complex, 9:10 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 29 vs. Penn-Trafford, Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, 7:10 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 12 vs. Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, 9:10 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 23 vs. South Fayette, Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, 7:10 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 30 at Seneca Valley, Baierl Ice Complex, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 10 vs. Greater Latrobe, Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, 7:10 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 17 at Thomas Jefferson, Ice Castle Ice Arena, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 7 at Central Catholic, Alpha Ice Complex, 8:20 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 14 vs. Peters Township, Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, 9:10 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 21 at Greater Latrobe, Kirk Nevin Arena, 9:15 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 28 at South Fayette, Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, 7:10 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 1 at Upper St. Clair, Ice Castle Ice Arena, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 4 vs. Seneca Valley, Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, 7:10 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 8 at Penn-Trafford, Palmer Imaging Arena, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 11 vs. Pine-Richland, Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, 9:10 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 18 vs. Thomas Jefferson, Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, 7:10 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 25 vs. North Allegheny, Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, 9:10 p.m.
