High School Ice Hockey:
Vikings Eliminated From Flyers Cup

Monday, March 22, 1999

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

Playing in their first competitive game in two weeks after winning the SJHSIHL Championship, Eastern started slow and lost to Conwell-Egan 7-3 in a second round game of the Flyers Cup tournament at Grundy Arena. Showing the effects of the layoff, the Vikings took more than half the period before they generated any offense. Fortunately, they only trailed 1-0. With just under five minutes to go, Adam Levenson tied the score at 1-1 with Mark Manara assisting.

The goal seemed to spark the Vikings, as one minute later Jason Knee scored with Joe Jurkofsky getting the assist and Eastern led 2-1. The lead lasted about thirty seconds as Mike Devlin scored to tie the game at 2. With just under a minute left, Devlin scored again and Conwell-Egan led 3-2. Eastern struggled all night on defense and as most coaches will tell you, never give up a goal in the last minute. Well, the Vikings gave up two goals and trailed 4-2, but Mark Manara scored at the end of the period to close the gap to 4-3.

The second period began and Conwell-Egan scored early to take a two goal lead at 5-3. The Eagles increased the lead to 6-3 on the power play that was dominating, as they kept the puck in the offensive zone for almost two minutes as LeFleur scored to ice the game. With only enough players to skate two lines, the Vikings did outshoot Conwell-Egan 35-25 but failed to score any more goals. Frank McSherry closed out the scoring in the third period for the 7-3 final.

Photos by Gary Finigan