High School Ice Hockey:
Clearview Brings The Power Into Play, Stays Unbeaten

Friday, December 3, 1999

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

Clearview scored three power play goals in the third period, five overall, and remained undefeated by defeating Eastern 7-3 at Hollydell on Friday night. With the victory Clearview not only remains undefeated, but also should remain so until the last two games of the season when they play Township in back-to-back games. Eastern suffered its second loss of the season, both to Clearview and would need a lot of help to finish in first place.

As for the game, Eastern started strong despite missing their "Mike Line" of Becker, Cianfrani and Purwin. Joe Jurkofsky scored early in the first period converting a nice cross-ice pass from Marc Manara. Jurkofsky played one of his best games of the season and gave the Vikings a lead of 1-0. With Clearview on the power play, Manara scored short-handed to make it 2-0. The Clearview players seemed tight and Eastern was skating with confidence. Finally with twenty-three seconds left in the period, Patrick Sullivan lit the lamp with John Meenan and Mike Gooch assisting to cut the lead to 2-1.

Eastern responded early in the second period as Manara scored his second goal to put the Vikings up 3-1. Over the next five minutes, Eastern controlled the play with John Schallenhammer generating shot after shot. But Jaret Weissenbach would close the door and the Vikings would not score again. With just over six minutes left, Gunnar Fox made it 3-2 with Sullivan and Ryan Arnold assisting. Two minutes later Arnold tied the score at 3-3 on the power play with Sullivan getting the assist. And with nine seconds left in the period Meenan gave Clearview the lead at 4-3 with a blast from the point.

The third period was probably the worst officiated period of the season as there were many questionable calls. The game deteriorated and lost its excitement. Dave Gooch, Tom Corson and Joe Hiddeman all scored on the power play for Clearview to make the final 7-3.

Photos by Art Redd