It's no secret that the key to having a successful varsity program in any sport is the training athletes get through feeder programs.

Whether it's through a Midget football league, little league baseball and softball or youth soccer, feeder programs are the backbone to fielding a competitive and championship caliber varsity squad.

That's why Monday's PIHL Junior Varsity Championships are cause for optimism for two teams.

The Panthers varsity squad has established itself as a powerhouse in Class AA over the last few seasons, including last month's run to the Penguins Cup championship game.

A Tier II championship victory for the junior varsity shows that the program is committed to maintaining a winning tradition.

The Warriors varsity squad also advanced to the playoffs this season, and word is the P-T eighth-graders, freshmen and sophomore players that brought home a Tier I junior varsity championship will provide an even brighter future.

Penn-Trafford's freshman hockey team also advanced to the PIHL semifinals in its tournament.

It's hard to find better hockey feeder programs in the region, not just with the local freshman and junior varsity teams, but also with the Allegheny Badgers and Westmoreland Eagles amateur teams for the youth players.

Many of these teams have been featured in our Faceoff section over the last 13 weeks, and it's more than likely several of those player's names will appear in these pages again in the near future.

Bill Hartlep can be reached at starsports@gatewaynewspapers.com.