Mr. Ice Hockey posted on February 19, 2016 23:43
Cherokee scored four goals in a ten minute span of the first period and went on to defeat Clearview 7-2 in an elimination game in the SJHSHL tournament before a packed house at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. The win put the Chiefs into the finals against Washington Township; Cherokee must beat Township twice as the Minutemen have not lost a game as of yet on the Tournament. Tonight the Chiefs got contributions from all their lines as they rotated everyone and got contributions from each line, but in particular their top line stepped up tonight with Kyle Horner leading the way with two goals and three assists, Anthony Salvatore had a goal and three assists and Boomer Miller had a goal and one assist.
Horner got the Chiefs going scoring just three minutes into the game. Miller put home a rebound midway through the period for a 2-0 lead. Just sixteen seconds later Mike Smith made it 3-0 with Trevor Ligeikis getting the assist. Salvatore would make it 4-0 as Cherokee outworked Clearview behind the net to keep the play alive and Salvatore buried his shot and the Chiefs were in control after one period. Earlier in the tournament these two teams met and the Chiefs had a 5-1 lead before Clearview would rally and the rally was on midway through the second period as Anthony Manzo put home a rebound on the power play to cut the lead to 4-1. Just about one minute later Robert Penrod would score his fourth of the playoffs to make it 4-2 and here comes the View. But Matt Bidini, who would stop 26 shots on the night, would not give up another goal. Nick Campbell would restore some order for the Chiefs as he scored with just over three minutes left in the period with Cody Sherman assisting and the lead was 5-2 after two.
Horner connected for his second of the night early in the third period, it came right at the end of a Chiefs power play and the lead was back to four at 6-2. Jake Frankenfield would score a power play goal later in the period and the Chiefs would move on. Cherokee avoided the penalties tonight and kept their cool and with contributions from every line has the formula for winning two more games, the question is can they stick to it.
Written by Mike Costantino