Like any good sports debate, it's up for discussion. But the argument surely could be made that Thomas Jefferson is the premier program in PIHL Class AA.

The Jaguars have plenty of Penguins Cup and state championship trophies to state their case.

So, that being said, what was that last season when Thomas Jefferson went 5-17, including a nine-game losing streak to close out the schedule?

"There was a lot of disappointment last year and a lot of heartache," said Nick Santora, who was the Jaguars' freshman team coach last season and is now in his first season as the varsity coach. "They thought they were much better than the record showed.

"I think they got down on themselves after a few losses in a row and there was kind of a snowball effect.

"This year we're kind of using that for motivation. All the players who came back, they know they're better than they were last year, and they know they need to put forth the effort and have a disciplined style of hockey. If we develop the right attitude and we show up and outwork other teams, we should end up with a victory."

Santora, a Bethel Park High School graduate who won a state championship as a goalie for the Black Hawks, has hopes of ushering in that new attitude and restoring the luster to what, over the previous decade before last season, had been a model program.

"We definitely want to have a better season than last year," Thomas Jefferson captain Rob Landucci said. "Five-and-17, we're definitely out to beat that record and hopefully we will make it to the playoffs this year and be a contender and just play all out. I know we have more confidence than we had last year."

Landucci, a winger who was tied for second on last season's team in goals, sees it as his responsibility to help lead Thomas Jefferson back to where he believes it belongs, along with the Jaguars' alternate captains, winger Nick Diulus and defenseman Will Boger, both seniors.

TJ opened its season Monday with a 7-5 loss against a Franklin Regional team that is expected to be in contention for the Penguins Cup. The Jaguars were scheduled to play Bishop Canevin last night at the Mt. Lebanon ice arena.

Talented sophomores Mitchell Mosgrove and Kyle Miller figure to be two of the Jaguars' more dynamic offensive players, and identical twins Nick and Jake Blair are stalwarts.

"One on offense and one on defense, and they're probably the most well-rounded players on the team," Santora said. "Both are very capable of skating with the puck, shooting the puck and playing the body very effectively."

Colby McIntyre waited his turn after three years on the varsity team as a backup and is finally a starting goalie for TJ.

"We're looking for a big season from him," Santora said.

Befitting a disciple of Bethel Park's successful program, Santora is preaching a defense-first mentality. And the players are getting the message.

"The one thing I love about this team since coming in as head coach last spring is that they're all very close, all friends and they all get along," Santora said. "It's kind of fun. It kind of reminds me of the Penguins as far as players getting along.

"They want to represent TJ hockey, and they want to win because this school deserves a winning program. The fan following that we have from Thomas Jefferson High School ... is one of the best in Double-A."

The Jaguars are out to restore the program's lost glory.

"The No. 1 objective is to improve on last year's record and ultimately make the playoffs," Santora said. "And, No. 2, is for the players to learn some good life lessons and have some fun. And if we're lucky enough to make the playoffs, maybe do some damage. To do it, we have to play as one team with a disciplined style while being physical at the same time."

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