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Cherokee Chiefs Articles 2010-11
With another season come and gone, thought I’d reflect back on some issues we discussed at the end of last season and the beginning of this year. At the end of last season Cherokee was thinking of replacing head coach Mike Sullivan, but at the last minute decided not to make a change. And not only was it the right move, Cherokee went on to win the league championship and made the semi-finals of the Flyers Cup. As Mike would tell you, he’s got a good staff with Scott McKay and Steve Monaghan, and the kids bought into the system. There can’t be any grumblings from the board on this season, good job coaches!!
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Cherokee fresh off winning the SJHSIHL Championship continued their streak into the Flyers Cup reaching the semi-finals where they faced top ranked Council Rock South. That’s where the run ended as Council Rock South won 3-1 and advances to the finals against CB East.
Macklin Kaiser broke a 5-5 tie scoring the game winner with forty seconds left as Shawnee defeated Cherokee 6-5 to win the JVA Championship in the SJHSIHL. Cherokee entered as the favorite having lost only 2 games all season, but tonight proved to be Shawnee’s night as five different players scored to lead a balanced attack. The teams traded goals in the first period with Mike Peccini giving Shawnee a 1-0 lead but David Mazilli would tie the score in the last 3 minutes of the period.
Jason Spieker scored with fifteen seconds left in overtime as Cherokee rallied to defeat Washington Township 6-5 and win the SJHSIHL Championship before a jammed packed crowd at the Skate Zone in Voorhees in one of the best playoff games in a long time. Cole Zucker once again came up huge for the Chiefs with his third hat trick of the playoffs. Jonathan Smith had a big night for Township scoring four goals. But once again the night was about the resiliency of Cherokee, the one characteristic that this team has shown all year, no matter the score, no matter the situation, they keep coming at you.
Dan Navarra after surrendering a first period goal to Eddie Sarin, stopped 18 shots in the second period and Cherokee scored three times as they defeated Washington Township 3-1 before a packed house at Hollydell. The victory spoiled Townships anticipated celebration and they must now travel to Voorhees on Wednesday night for a deciding game in this double elimination format.
Leading 4-1 going into the third period, Cherokee had to go to a shoot-out with Jason Spieker scoring the lone goal as the Chiefs beat Shawnee 5-4 and thus advance to the Championship game on Monday night against Washington Township at Hollydell. Face-off will be at 8:00. After Casey Forte scored the lone goal of the opening period to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead, Shawnee had a chance to tie the game with a power play midway through the second period but Pat Mohnacs scored short-handed to make it 2-0. Spieker would then score on two consecutive shifts to give Cherokee a 4-0 advantage with just over three minutes left in the second period.
Cole Zucker recorded his second varsity hat trick, both during this playoff run, as Cherokee defeated Clearview 6-3 at the Skate Zone on Monday night and ended the season for the Pioneers. Cherokee moves on and will face Moorestown next Monday night at 7:10 at Voorhees. Cherokee wasted little time as they scored two goals in the first two minutes of the game. Jason Spieker opened the scoring with a blast from the right circle just one minute into the game. Just about one minute later Zucker broke in and after his shot was kicked aside, Pat Mohnacs was there to put home the rebound and before you could settle into your seat it was 2-0.
Once again SJIceHockey.com is pleased to announce our annual award recipients. This year there seemed to be more balance throughout the league and with the playoffs upon us we could be in for a few surprises. Listed below are the 2010-2011 winners:
With the second season upon us the SJHSIHL begins it’s double elimination tournament on Monday so we thought we would break down to see exactly who is peaking and who is struggling. Let’s begin with the Eastern Vikings. Tough year for Mike Pontonio to come out of retirement having coached teams in the past to multiple championships, the Vikings did not win a game this season, but in speaking to Coach Pontonio it was not for lack of effort. Don’t see Eastern advancing.
In the third annual Junior-Senior Showcase game in the SJHSIHL held at the Skate Zone in Voorhees the North came back from a 3-0 deficit and beat the South 9-5. Vincent Tascione led the North with a goal and four assists and Tyler Pedersen added two goals. Jonathan Ruiz and Jared Hand led the South with two goals each. Tascione was voted the MVP for the game.