7:00pm
Union at Quigley Catholic
Propel Andrew Street at Cornell
7:30pm
Quaker Valley at Blackhawk
Beaver Falls at Riverside
Ambridge at Central Valley
New Brighton at OLSH
Lincoln Park at Moon
Sewickley Academy at Rochester
Mohawk at Freedom
New Castle at Hopewell
Ellwood City at Neshannock
South Side Beaver at Charleroi
Aliquippa at Washington
Laurel at Beaver
West Allegheny at Chartiers Valley
BOYS
Wednesday’s Scores
Central Valley 67, Ambridge 48
West Allegheny 55, Moon 53
Blackhawk 54, Seneca Valley 38
Cornell 66, Holy Family Academy 37
Sewickley Academy 87, Shenango 48
This year commemorates the 70th anniversary of when Beaver County’s first radio station, WBVP, was heard over the airwaves for the the first time on May 25, 1948. To mark the historical event, each week, another “70th Anniversary Moment” will be showcased on the airwaves and published on the station’s online feeds.
They say that in real estate, location is everything. The statement might also be true in respect to pro football. Because of where the stations are located, WBVP and WMBA have had the advantage of serving a market rich in football tradition, and football championships, specifically, NFL Championships. The stations have been a part of or carried all eight of the Pittsburgh Steelers Superbowl appearances. Considering that there are radio stations in say, Cleveland, or Detroit that are still waiting for their first chance to cover the home team on football’s biggest stage, that is quite an accomplishment.
A 1969 Advertisement from the Beaver Falls News Tribune. Courtesy of the Larry Bruno Foundation.
In addition to covering the Steelers’ championship runs, WBVP was also a New York Jets affiliate in the late sixties when home town hero and Beaver Falls native Joe Namath made history with the now famous “guaranteed” victory over the Baltimore Colts in Superbowl III. In that era, Jets games were carried on WBVP, and the Steelers games were broadcast on sister F.M. station at the time, WWKS 106.7 F.M.
Bill Fontana representing WMBA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA for Super Bowl XIV. Courtesy of Bill Fontana.
WMBA was not left out of the picture. During the Steelers’ earlier championships in the 1970’s, sportscaster and Program Director at the time, Bill Fontana, would travel to the big games and broadcast Steelers reports and provide special hometown coverage of the team on the Ambridge radio station.
Bill DiFabio takes part in a Steelers pep rally broadcast on WBVP and WMBA at the Beaver County Courthouse on January 20, 2006.
In more recent days, Superbowl coverage has become more than just one day’s worth of activities. Pep rallies and live broadcasts designed to serve as fan gatherings throughout the week leading up to kick off became a popular way that WBVP and WMBA took advantage of being part of a winning team. On January 20, 2006, huge crowds of fans gathered at the Beaver County Courthouse steps to take part in a Steelers pep rally live broadcast on WBVP and WMBA prior to the AFC Championship Game that year against the Denver Broncos. Steelers reporter Bill DiFabio attended the gathering and arranged for a live phone call hook up with a reporter from a Denver radio station that was broadcast over WBVP and WMBA and played for the crowd on site that day. Two weeks later, on February 3, 2006, a massive Steelers pep rally was hosted by WBVP and WMBA at J.R.’s Beer Warehouse in East Rochester prior to the Black and Gold’s victorious trip to Superbowl 40 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Black and Gold Pep Rally and live broadcast on WBVP and WMBA at J.R.’s Beer Warehouse. February 3, 2006.
“70th Anniversary Moments” is presented by Freedom United Federal Credit Union.
Tuesday’s Scores Pittsburgh 3, Carolina 1
Philadelphia 3, Detroit 2 (OT)
Montreal 4, Colorado 2
Boston 3, New Jersey 2
Tampa Bay 4, Nashville 3 (OT)
St. Louis 3, Ottawa 0
Buffalo 5, Edmonton 0
Dallas 6, Florida 1
Anaheim 6, NY Rangers 3
Vancouver 6, Los Angeles 2
Vegas 6, Columbus 3
Winnipeg 5, San Jose 4 (OT)
8:00pm
Toronto at Chicago
10:00pm
Los Angeles at Calgary
NBA
Tuesday’s Scores
San Antonio 114, Cleveland 102
Oklahoma City 109, Brooklyn 108
Sacramento 105, Orlando 99
LA Lakers 108, Boston 107
Golden State 123, New York 112
7:00pm
Chicago at Philadelphia
Utah at Detroit
Phoenix at Indiana
New Orleans at Charlotte
The Penguins returned home from another rough West Coast road trip (1-2-0) and won a key Metropolitan division matchup over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night by a score of 3-1 at the PPG Paints Arena.
After a scoreless first period, the ‘Canes struck first off of Derek Ryan’s 10th at 7:14, but the Penguins responded 49 seconds later with goals by rookies Dominik Simon and J.S. Dea 1:06 apart. The goal by Dea was his first career NHL goal in his fourth game, and after the game he spoke about what was going through his mind during the goal:
(Audio courtesy of the Penguins Radio Network)
Jake Guentzel’s 15th of the season added insurance for the Penguins at 11:02 of the third period. Nine different Penguins picked up a point each during the game.
Meanwhile, Casey DeSmith stayed hot in net for Pittsburgh. The rookie goaltender made 34 saves, and has only allowed 4 goals in his first three starts.
The Penguins return to the ice on Thursday night when they host the Minnesota Wild; pre-game on Beaver County Radio is at 6:30 for the 7:00 game.
Tuesday’s Scores
Ellwood City 53, New Brighton 34 (WBVP)
Aliquippa 68, Riverside 51 (WMBA)
Central Valley 47, Beaver Falls 46
Ambridge 66, Beaver 63
Cornell 74, Western Beaver 32
Blackhawk 66, Hopewell 37
Lincoln Park 77, Mohawk 49
OLSH 80, Shenango 57
Quaker Valley 55, New Castle 46
Holy Family Academy 78, Rochester 73
CW North Catholic 72, Freedom 36
Moon 50, Chartiers Valley 48
Washington 54, South Side Beaver 32
Union 65, Quigley Catholic 34
West Allegheny 55, Knoch 42
Nehsannock 74, Sewickley Academy 56
7:00pm
Holy Family Academy at Cornell
Shenango at Sewickley Academy
7:30pm
Central Valley at Ambridge
West Allegheny at Moon
GIRLS
Tuesday’s Scores
Lincoln Park 48, Carlynton 47
Chartiers Valley 64, Moon 38
Rochester at Ellwood City PPD
Monday’s Scores
Colorado 4, Toronto 2
Minnesota 3, Ottawa 1
Tampa Bay 2, Chicago 0
Detroit 3, New Jersey 0
Arizona 3, NY Islanders 2 (OT)
Buffalo 2, Calgary 1 (OT)
7:00pm
Carolina at Pittsburgh
New Jersey at Boston
7:30pm
Philadelphia at Detroit
Colorado at Montreal
8:00pm
Tampa Bay at Nashville
Ottawa at St. Louis
8:30pm
Florida at Dallas
9:00pm
Buffalo at Edmonton
10:00pm
Columbus at Vegas
NY Rangers at Anaheim
Los Angeles at Vancouver
10:30pm
Winnipeg at San Jose
NBA
Monday’s Scores
Houston 99, Miami 90
Atlanta 104, Utah 90
Charlotte 112, Sacramento 107
Milwaukee 109, Phoenix 105
Memphis 105, Philadelphia 101
Dallas 98, Washington 75
New Orleans 132, Chicago 128 (2OT)
Minnesota 126, LA Clippers 118
Denver 104, Portland 101
7:00pm
Sacramento at Orlando
8:00pm
Cleveland at San Antonio
Brooklyn at Oklahoma City
10:30pm
Boston at LA Lakers
New York at Golden State
7:00pm
Rochester at Holy Family Academy
Union at Quigley Catholic
7:30pm
Ellwood City at New Brighton (WBVP)
Aliquippa at Riverside (WMBA)
Central Valley at Beaver Falls
Western Beaver at Cornell
Ambridge at Beaver
Blackhawk at Hopewell
Lincoln Park at Mohawk
CW North Catholic at Freedom
Quaker Valley at New Castle
OLSH at Shenango
South Side Beaver at Washington
Moon at Chartiers Valley
Neshannock at Sewickley Academy
West Allegheny at Knoch
GIRLS
Monday’s Scores
Ambridge 38, Hopewell 28
Beaver Falls 45, Freedom 35
Beaver 42, Central Valley 26
Quigley Catholic 52, Sewickley Academy 47
Blackhawk 69, New Castle 54
Riverside 46, Laurel 42
OLSH 68, Burgettstown 37
Chartiers Valley 62, Lincoln Park 38
Rochester 61, Propel Andrew Street 17
Shenango 30, Aliquippa 25
West Allegheny 59, Montour 48
Fort Cherry 39, New Brighton 32
South Fayette 64, Moon 31
6:00pm
Moon at Chartiers Valley
7:30pm
Rochester at Ellwood City
Carlynton at Lincoln Park
6:30pm
Quigley Catholic at Sewickley Academy
Fort Cherry at New Brighton
Cornell at Union
7:30pm
Central Valley at Beaver
Freedom at Beaver Falls
Hopewell at Ambridge
Riverside at Laurel
Blackhawk at New Castle
Chartiers Valley at Lincoln Park
Shenango at Aliquippa
Rochester at Propel Andrew Street
East Allegheny at South Side Beaver
Moon at South Fayette
Montour at West Allegheny
