Orner Leads Eastern In Third Period

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High School Ice Hockey:
Orner Leads Eastern In Third Period
Tuesday, March 16, 2004

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

Anthony Orner had a goal and three assists all in the third period as Eastern defeated Archbishop Ryan 7-3 in first round AAA action in the annual Flyers Cup Tournament at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. Eastern seemed a little tentative early on. Ryan struck first as Marty Spellman scored to put Ryan ahead 1-0. The game plan was clear for the Raiders, be physical and intimidating and for two periods it worked as Eastern responded in non-typical fashion with retaliatory penalties. The teams combined for over twenty penalties, giving both squads numerous power play advantages.

Eastern responded with three power play goals and Ryan with two. Eastern capitalized on the power play to tie the game at 1-1 as Joey Johnston, who had his best game as a Viking, went coast-to-coast, skated behind the Ryan net and found Brandon Tunstill camped in front, and his one-timer found the net. Right off the center ice face-off, Chris Lieg gave Eastern a 2-1 lead with a slap shot just over the blue line, the goals coming eight seconds apart. Johnston capped off his dominant first period leading a 2-on-1 break and after faking the pass, went short side for a 3-1 lead after one period.

Ryan controlled the second period as they capitalized on the man advantage to score two power play goals. First Troy Buonacuore from the slot in the first twenty seconds of the period brought Ryan to within 3-2. Then in the final minute of the period, Jon Keppol tied the game at 3-3 scoring from in close. Dan Myers made several big saves including stoning Rob Fetters twice from in tight.

The third period was all Orner, after being called for an unsportsmanlike penalty late in the second period for shooting the puck after a barely audible whistle, his determination and hustle was the driving force for the Vikings. Early in the period after hustling to keep the puck in along the boards, he skated around the net and came into the slot and lifted a shot into the net to give Eastern a 4-3 lead. Next with the Vikings on the power play, his blast from the point was re-directed by Tunstill into the net and suddenly it was 5-3. Moments later, again on the power play, Orner found Rich DeMonte at the top of the slot and his slap shot put the game away at 6-3. Orner capped off his work as he set-up Sean Sullivan in close late in the game to seal the 7-3 win. Next up for Eastern is top seed Malvern on Thursday night at IceLine at 7:00.

Notes: Eastern will face its toughest opponent of the year going up against Malvern, but after facing the stick work of Ryan, should welcome the change in style. And finally, does anyone other than the players in South Jersey care about the Flyers Cup? Attendance was disappointing for the second consecutive night.

Photos by Art Redd