High School Ice Hockey:
Clearview Defeats Eastern In SJHSIHL Opener

Monday, October 4, 1999

By Mike Pontonio
SJSports Special Correspondent

Mike Gooch notched a hat trick to lead Clearview over defending champion Eastern 7-5 in the league opener at the Coliseum on Monday night. With Eastern scoring the first two goals, one short-handed by Mike Cianfrani and a power-play goal by John Schellenhammer the defending champs picked up where they left off last year but Clearview would score the next 5 goals. After Gooch's second goal tied the score at the end of the first period, Ryan Arnold scored early in the second period to give Clearview a lead it would not relinquish.

When Mike Cargill scored to make it 5-2 the Vikings charged back and goals by Bob Ianni and a power-play goal by Mike Becker cut the lead to 5-4 entering the third period. With the momentum seeming to shift to the Vikings they kept the pressure on and finally tied the game on the power-play as Becker scored his second of the game and it was 5-5.

Despite out-shooting Clearview 21-4 in the third period the Vikings could not get another one by Weisenbach and John Meenan scored the game winner for Clearview and Pat Sullivan added an empty net goal for the 7-5 final.

Clearview is coming off a season where they made the semi-finals and won with defense and goal tending, if they can get some consistency in the scoring area they could position themselves as a favorite.