High School Ice Hockey:
Clearview Dominant In Win Over Eastern

Friday, February 18, 2000

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

Mike Gooch had three goals, Pat Sullivan and Dave Gooch each scored twice to lead Clearview over defending champion Eastern 11-4 in game one of the SJHSIHL semi-finals. You could not have scripted a better game plan as Clearview blanketed Eastern's top two players in Cianfrani and Becker, as every time they touched the puck they were either knocked off the puck or double and triple teamed. That strategy, along with Jarret Weisenbach, who was there to make a big save when needed and the special teams, were the keys for Clearview.

Eastern took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period as Joe Jurkofsky was left all alone in the slot. Three minutes later Mike Gooch, who was arguably the best player on this night, would tie it at 1-1 on the power play as he blasted a shot from the point through a screen. Clearview took over the game in the second period scoring four times, three of which came in a span of two minutes. After Gooch scored his second goal at the ten-minute mark to give Clearview the lead for good at 2-1. Sullivan, Dave Gooch and Dan Cargill all tallied to break the game open at 5-1.

Gooch's goal was short-handed, one of two scored by Clearview, along with three power play goals as they were clicking on all cylinders. John Schellenhammer scored in the last thirty seconds of the second period to make it 5-2. Sullivans' short-handed goal in the first minute of the third seemed to deflate Eastern. Goals by Ryan Arnold, Rob Coble, Gunnar Fox and the Gooch brothers put the game out of reach. Eastern's Becker and Adam Roy lit the lamp to close out the scoring at 11-4. If Eastern doesn't re-group and play better defense, their season will be closed out on Monday.

Photos by Art Redd