Mr. Ice Hockey posted on March 17, 2016 23:49
Boomer Miller scored three goals, two coming in the deciding third period as Cherokee defeated Delaware Military Academy 7-4 and advanced into the NJ/DE Flyers Cup final. They will face #2 seed Salesianum at the Skate Zone in Voorhees at 8:50 on Friday night. Coming off an easy win against St Marks, Cherokee was in for a different match-up tonight as DMA offensively created many opportunities in the opening period, some due to defensive turnovers and Matt Bidini was sharp in goal for the Chiefs as was his counterpart in nets for DMA, Julia Emmerich.
DMA drew first blood as Markus Cook scored in the first two minutes of the game. Cherokee would tie the game at 1-1 at the ten minute mark with Sam Berger scoring on a backhander from in tight on the short side. We ended the period tied at 1-1 and even in shots with eleven. Derek Golembrosky, who led DMA with three goals, would give his team a 2-1 lead just under five minutes into the second period but that lead was short-lived as Sam Libetti would tie the game at 2-2 putting home a rebound of a shot by Berger. Seventeen seconds later DMA would retake the lead as Golembrosky converted a feed from Colin Emerich.
Cherokee would respond just over one minute later with Miller getting his first of the night on a pass from Kyle Horner and once again we were deadlocked at 3-3. With just over three minutes remaining in the second period Libetti would set up Jeremy Ambrose and the Chiefs had the lead at 4-3. That lead would last fourteen seconds as Golembrosky completed his hat trick and we were tied at 4-4 entering the third period. Miller gave the Chiefs the lead for good as he was sent in by Ambrose and after the initial stop, Miller stayed with the play and banged home the eventual game winner. With the lead the Chiefs needed to make sure they did not give up a quick goal, which they did not, but did commit two straight penalties, but they shut DMA down and Matt Bidini made several big saves, especially denying Golembrosky down low to keep the one goal lead. Miller would connect on the power play with three minutes left on a feed from Libetti and a 6-4 lead. Anthony Salvatore would add an empty net goal to finish the scoring and the Chiefs survived.
Notes: Cherokee can become the first team to win both the SJHSHL title and the NJ/DE Flyers cup and should they beat the Sallies tonight, they will need a better effort defensively and try and limit the turnovers.
Written by Mike Costantino