High School Ice Hockey:
Mustangs Run Over Eagles In Season Opener

Friday, October 8, 1999

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

Triton defeated West Deptford 9-5 in the season opener for both teams in the SJHSIHL. Mike Wanton led the Mustangs with 3 goals and Jason Reeves had 2. Bob Koch had a hat trick for the Eagles.

West Deptford carried the play early on and Doug Dehart scored in the first minute of the game to give the Eagles the 1-0 lead. Midway through the period Koch scored his first of three to make it 2-0, this coming with a 2-man advantage. The Mustangs would finally break out of the gate in the last minute of the period, on the power play with Steve Lisk scoring to end the period at 2-1.

The turning point of the game came midway through the second period and the Eagles leading 3-2 and on the power play, Mike Moroni scored a short-handed goal to tie the game at 3-3. That seemed to spark Triton and over the next five minutes, they would dominate. With Joe Bangs breaking in all alone, he made a great pass to Wanton who would score from his knees and the Mustangs had the lead for good at 4-3.

Wanton would score his third goal thirty seconds later and with a 5-3 lead, you felt Triton taking control. Koch scored his third goal with about three minutes left in the period and it was 5-4. But goals by Bud Flick and two by Reeves in the last three minutes broke the game open at 8-4. Each team traded power play goals in the third and Triton would be tied for first place with their 9-5 victory.

Photos by Art Redd