The last time Meadville lost a first round playoff game at home was in 1988 to Shadyside Academy. The next year, the Bulldogs won their first Class AAA state title.

With sixteen players returning, many felt Meadville would challenge for the Penguin Cup title this year. However, after six games, the `Dogs were 3-3. Injuries early in the season kept Jim Noon and Dave Moyer out of the lineup and Justin Werle was playing football. That meant three of the five defensemen were absent early on and DJ Craven was finishing his soccer season. When those four players returned on a full time basis, things began to improve.

The team went on a 17 game unbeaten string. On their annual team trip, the Bulldogs returned to Grand Rapids for the fourth time. After losing the first night 5-2 to E. Grand Rapids HS, the team played a great game winning 1-0 over highly ranked E. Kentwood HS. Brian Bahurinsky scored the winning goal. The annual Bulldog Invitational was held in mid-January and after a 4-4 tie with Westmont Hilltop in the opening round, Meadville improved with every game. The championship game featured Meadville against three time Invitational winner St. Ignatius. The game lived up to the hype as the Bulldogs finally prevailed in double overtime 4-3 as Brian Bahurinsky scored the game winner. It was the first time Meadville had won their own tournament. Justin Werle was named MVP.

Meadville won their division for the second year in a row and opened the playoffs at home and defeated North Hills. A new playoff format awarded the top seeded teams a second home game, and Plum invaded the Rec Complex for the second round. Meadville dominated the contest moving on to the semi finals against Pittsburgh Central Catholic.

Playing at Rostraver a week later, Christian Nickerson had his coming out party as the Bulldogs defeated the Vikings 5-1, with Nickerson leading the way with three; Jeff Holabaugh had three assists and Bahurinsky chipped in with a goal. Justin Werle had the other goal as Meadville was back in the Penguin Cup final for the first time since 1999.

Meadville faced Franklin Regional in December at the Rec Complex in a game that featured several fights and multiple player suspensions for both teams. Meadville won 4-1. The two teams would meet at Island Sports Center on Neville Island for the right to go to Philadelphia for State Championship. The line of Bahurinsky, Holabaugh and Nickerson torched the Panthers for seven goals. Holabaugh and Bahurinsky recorded hat tricks and Nickerson got everything started early in the first period as the `Dogs raced to a 4-0 lead before the first period was over. DJ Craven added the other goal as Meadville won their first Penguin Cup since 1999.

One week later, Meadville was playing Malvern Prep in the Friars home rink in West Chester, PA. The championship site had been determined months earlier. This was the second time in as many trips to the state final that Meadville was playing at their opponent's home rink. That was the case in '99 when they played Conwell-Egan. Malvern Prep jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. DJ Durkee cut the lead in half, but the Friars restored their two goal lead later in the period. Christian Nickerson made it 3-2 in the second period, however, the Friars scored a short-handed goal to make it 4-2. A Justin Werle power play goal late in the second cut the Malvern lead to 4-3. Meadville started to take control of the game in the third as the Bulldogs continued to play three lines versus Malvern's two lines.

With approximately five minutes remaining in regulation, Justin Werle passed to defense partner Chris Claspy, and Claspy's slapshot tied the game at four. Two minutes later, Nickerson pounced on a rebound from Bahurinsky's shot to give Meadville a 5-4 lead. Malvern pulled their goaltender with just under two minutes remaining and Meadville played outstanding defense, not allowing the Friars any scoring opportunities. Brian Bahurinsky never came off the ice the last two minutes and won one key faceoff after another as the `Dogs claimed the programs eighth state title; seven at Class AAA.