Boomer Miller had a goal and two assists as Cherokee defeated Salesianum 5-3 to win the NJ/DE Flyers cup at Voorhees on Friday night. Cherokee used a three goal outburst in the first period to take control early, but Salesianum kept battling all night. Miller scored on a breakaway in the opening five minutes and fourteen seconds later Sam Libetti made it 2-0 on a feed from Jeremy Ambrose. At the nine minute mark, Miller found Johnny Butkus at the point and his shot found the net for a 3-0 lead. Early in the second period Salesianum would connect on the power play to make it 3-1.

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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.

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Boomer Miller had a hat trick and Cherokee controlled play for the entire game in defeating St Marks 8-1 in the quarter final round of the NJ/DE Flyers Cup played at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. The Chiefs were in control from the beginning and set a team record in shots for the game with 70. Kyle Horner opened the scoring for the Chiefs on the power play, the first of three power play goals for Cherokee, just five minutes into the game. Jake Frankenfield made it 2-0 late in the period scoring the second power play goal for Cherokee. St Marks would get a late goal to cut the lead to 2-1 after one period. 

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Washington Township scored two power play goals and killed off a two man advantage in the third period as they defeated Eastern 4-1 and advanced to the semi-finals in the NJ/DE Flyers Cup. Jeff Horner scored the only goal of the first period as he buried a shot under the crossbar on a feed from Jarret Strickon at the six minute mark of the first period. Eastern would tie the game early in the second period on a goal by Connor Riley. Defensively Township did an excellent job in shutting down top scorer Maxim Kuznetsov, who led the league with 31 goals this year, but was shutout tonight.

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Williamstown built a 5-2 lead, but had to hang on for a 5-4 win over Cherokee and the JVC Championship. Cherokee led 1-0 after one period on a goal by Ryan Deangelis. Williamstown would tie the game at 1-1 on a goal by David Marino three minutes into the second period. Cherokee would regain the lead at 2-1 at the eight minute mark on a goal by Steven Ligato. Williamstown would then score the next four goals, after Ligato’s goal. Steven Poulin would score seconds later to tie the game at 2-2. Two minutes later Jonathan Lagamba would give Williamstown the lead for good at 3-2, heading into the third period.

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Nick Carr and Jack Amon scored two goals each as Cherry Hill East defeated Shawnee 5-1 to win the JVB Championship at the Igloo. After a scoreless first period, where Cherry Hill failed to capitalize on two power play chances, David Cutler would give Cherry Hill a 1-0 lead as they capitalized on their third power play of the game. Just under five minutes later Anthony Poppalardo would score an unassisted goal to tie the game at 1-1. Amon and Carr would score goals late in the period, just about two minutes apart and Cherry Hill would take a 3-1 lead into the third period.

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As we come to an end of the 2015-2016 season had a few final thoughts and observations about this season. Does anyone remember that just a few years ago Kingsway went winless and now the last 2 years have turned that program around? They took their lumps and beatings by joining the Tier I division, but it has paid off and they have also grown their fan base. With their win on Friday night against Township, Cherokee has become one of the most successful high school programs in our region. Love them or hate them, you cannot argue with their accomplishments, winning 6 out of the last 7 titles is a feat that might not be duplicated. Coach McKay has built a strong program and his team looks even stronger for next season.

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Boomer Miller score with less than three minutes left in the first overtime as Cherokee defeated Washington Township 5-4 before a standing room only crowd at Hollydell to capture the Tier I title. Township led throughout the game as they capitalized on the power play, scoring twice. Mario Leone would score the first of his two on the night midway through the first period with both teams down a man; Jarret Strickon getting the assist and Township led 1-0. Early in the second period Donovan Haslett set-up Leone for his second of the night and Township enjoyed a 2-0 lead. Moments later Jeremy Ambrose made a nice play along the boards to keep the puck in and found Sam Libetti in front and the lead was down to 2-1.

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After three periods, two five minute overtimes and 9 chances during a shootout Mainland and Cinnaminson were still tied as Gage Grist skated to the puck at center ice, he being the last shooter and he beat Cinnaminson net minder Stephen SanMartin for the game winning goal as Mainland won 7-6 in a thriller before a packed house at Hollydell. Mainland carried much of the play through the first two periods out-shooting Cinnaminson 29-9 but as usual the case was trailing. Jake Gimbel scored the only goal of the first period as Cinnaminson led 1-0. James Lowry would make it 2-0 in the opening minute of the second period scoring on a breakaway. The lead grew to 3-0 five minutes later as Lowry would get his second of the night, again on a breakaway and Cinnaminson led 3-0.

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Rory O’Hara scored thirteen seconds into overtime as the Eastern Vikings defeated Kingsway 4-3 to win their Division Championship. Conor Riley paced the Vikings offense with three goals. In front of a standing room only crowd, Eastern scored the only goal of the first period with Riley getting the goal on a great pass from Maxim Kuznetsov. Kingsway tied the game at 1-1 early in the second period as Antonio Bene scored his first playoff goal. The Vikings would capitalize on the man advantage midway through the period as Riley connected for his second of the night and right before the horn went off to end the period, Kuznetsov won the offensive zone face-off and Riley’s shot from the point, through a screen found the net and a 3-1 lead after two periods.

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