High School Ice Hockey:
Clearview and Township Part 1, Ends in a Tie

Friday, January 21, 2000

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

Joe Gori scored on the power play with just over six minutes remaining in the game, as Washington Township and Clearview played to a 3-3 tie in front of a standing room only crowd at Hollydell on Friday night. With the tie, Clearview maintains a one-point lead over Township in SJHSIHL Tier 1, with each team having two games remaining.

Both teams came out cautious, playing good defense, and it seemed the period would end scoreless. But with just over a minute remaining, Clearview scored after a good keep at the point by Dante Laspata. Joe Hiddeman banged home the rebound and it was 1-0. With just twenty-four seconds left in the period, Buddy Andersen flew up ice and tied the game for Township at 1-1. That goal seemed to ignite the bench, and with one second left, Steve Brown gave Township the lead on a feed from Gori and Joe Pelle at 2-1.

Clearview seemed to have the better of Township in the second period, and capitalized on the power play scoring two goals. First, Gunnar Fox tied the game at 2-2 with Mike and David Gooch assisting. Then with a two-man advantage, Mike Gooch gave Clearview the lead at 3-2 as the puck just trickled over the line.

Early in the third period, Gori skated in alone but was stoned by Jared Weisenbach, who played with the flu, and was close to leaving the game a few times but refused to leave the ice knowing the importance of the game. Township looked like it had tied the game at the nine-minute mark, but the whistle had blown and the goal was disallowed. Then, on the power play with less than seven minutes remaining, Gori skated from behind the net and deposited the rebound into the short side to tie the game at 3-3. Clearview ended the game on the power play but never got a good shot on net. Part 2 is next Friday night at Hollydell, get your tickets early.

Photos by Art Redd