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Brian Miller proved why he’s the best player in the league, in the biggest game of the year, the Championship series tied at 1-1, he scored three goals as Cherokee hung on to beat Moorestown 4-3 before a standing room only crowd at the Igloo in Mt. Laurel last night. The win gave the Chiefs their fourth straight championship and first under Coach Scott McKay, who’s has been an assistant on the other 3 championship and has stood patiently waiting his turn. Moorestown jumped out to a 1-0 lead just over two minutes in as they capitalized on a 3-on-2 break and Chris DeRose scored his third of the playoffs for a 1-0 lead. Miller wasted no time in tying the game less than thirty seconds later with Tim Schirmer getting the assist.

DeRose had another chance down low late in the period, but Jimmy Witkoski would give himself an early birthday present with a ten-bell save to keep the game tied at 1-1. Cherokee was able to generate 16 shots in the period, thanks in part to Coach McKay making a few line changes as his second line had Johnny Martino with Tim Ryan and TJ Janus and that line, although scoreless, generated a lot of opportunities. Miller put Cherokee up 2-1 midway through the second period as his brother; Boomer set him up for the go ahead goal. Moorestown came right back, this time they scored less than thirty seconds later as Mike Katz blocked a point shot and had a breakaway and his fourth goal of the playoffs knotted the game at 2-2.

Miller completed his hat trick with five minutes left in the second period on a nice shot with Boomer and Anthony Fenu getting the assists. Leading by one goal heading into the final period Cherokee got some breathing room as they broke in 3-on-2 early in the third and Fenu put home Boomers’ shot for a 4-2 advantage. Fitting for Fenu to get a goal as he becomes the first varsity player to be a part of 4 championships, a record that will never be broken, tied possibly, but never broken. Moorestown climbed to within one at 4-3 as Jack McCollough scored on the power play with about five minutes left. Then in the last three minutes Moorestown was awarded a penalty shot as Katz was dragged down from behind. With a chance to tie Katz skated in but Witkoski never flinched and held his ground and stoned Katz to preserve the win.

Notes: Cherokee becomes the first four-peat winner in SJHSHL history, after the game Coach McKay was humbled by the win and gave all the credit to his players stating “We decided to run 3 lines tonight, the kids gave a great effort, this was is no sweeter than the other 3. I was an assistant on those teams, but they are all sweet”. I’ll say that knowing Scott, although he won’t say this he has been a HUGE part of the success of the Cherokee program, and now that he is running the club himself, I’m sure all the parents would agree that that he’s been a great asset to the club. Congratulations to Cherokee and the entire organization.

Written by Mike Costantino

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