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High School Ice Hockey:
Henderson Scores Four as Cherokee Wins Game 1

Monday, March 4, 2002

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

Pat Henderson scored four goals as Cherokee rallied from a two goal deficit to beat Washington Township 7-5 to take game 1 of the best of three championship series in the SJHSIHL. Mike Duczkowski led Township with two goals. Township had the lead at 4-2 late in the second period on goals by Chris Keyser, Joe Pelle, Duczkowski and Nick Martorano surrounded by two from Henderson. But momentum switched when Townships' Pelle was called for a penalty and after disputing the call received an additional minor and a game misconduct. Bill Connolly scored on the man advantage in the last ninety seconds of the period and Cherokee was to within 4-3 heading into the final period.

Two minutes into the third period Henderson flew down the right side and his blast from the top of the circle found the far corner and his goal tied the game at 4-4. Two minutes later on the power play, Brandon McCarthy broke in on a 2-on-1, faked a slap shot, and as the defenseman went down to block the puck McCarthy skated around him and his slap shot found the back of the net to give Cherokee a 5-4 lead. Township struck right back as Duczkowski was all-alone in front and slid the puck short side to tie the game at 5-5. But Henderson scored the game winner when he planted himself in front and Connolly made a great pass from the corner and Henderson just directed the puck into the net to give Cherokee a 6-5 lead.

Sean Zahacewski iced the game scoring on a breakaway thirty seconds later and Chris Sabol made that lead hold up and Cherokee is one win away from its first Championship.

Notes: Coach Schauffele went back to Seczech in nets after Straga was key in the win over Cinnaminson. After taking over for Seczech in the third period it will be interesting to see who starts in game 2. Sabol, after a slow start, stopped thirty-five of forty shots. With his misconduct penalty, Joe Pelle will miss the rest of the series. And finally for you Township fans, for the last six years the team that has won game 1 of the championship series has gone on to lose the series. Game 2 is Wednesday night at Voorhees.

Photos by Art Redd

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