The Murrysville Dek Hockey League has continued to have success over the last several years, as evidenced by the 231 players who competed in the spring session, which just wrapped up with championship games in all three divisions.

The league includes players from Franklin Regional, Norwin and Penn-Trafford, as well as Gateway, Plum, Woodland Hills, East Allegheny, Latrobe, Greensburg Salem, Kiski Area, Hempfield Area, Apollo Ridge and Jeannette.

The young athletes are learning valuable skills that could help them become the future ice hockey stars for their respective teams.

Several of these young stars will take their skills to the dek this week at the Mid-West Regional Dek Hockey Tournament at the Greater Pittsburgh Dek Hockey Center in Penn Hills.

Thirteen Penguin players (ages 7 to 9) and 14 Beaver players (ages 10 to 12) will play for two Murrysville Dek Hockey teams that will compete against clubs from around the country.

"Our Penguin and Beaver teams will be competing against some of the best youth dek hockey teams in the United States," said Jeff Mauro, who will coach the Penguin team.

"This will be a great opportunity to see how the other programs from Chicago, Massachusetts, New Jersey and other places play."

The Murrysville Penguin team will open play tomorrow, Thursday, at 6 p.m. against Penn Hills.

The Beaver team will follow against Penn Hills at 7.

For more information on the tournament, visit the Web site at www.pittsburghdekhockey.com.

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