Photo Credit: Phil Andraychak
By Edward Sheets
Greater Johnstown defeated Bishop McCort 7-3 and Westmont Hilltop defeated Richland 5-1 to open the first Tomahawks Cup on Sunday night at the Cambria County War Memorial. The Crimson Crushers and Rams will meet in the consolation game on Monday night at 5:30 p.m., while the Trojans and Hilltoppers will play for the first Tomahawks Cup title at 7:30 p.m.
In game one, the Trojans got on the board first, as Tre Pridgen scored 2:15 into the first period. Jeremy Shaffer added the assist on the goal. The Crimson Crushers tied the game later in the period, on a power-play goal by Chris Miller at 9:36.
Greater Johnstown responded with second period power-play goals by Vince Walters at 2:18, and Devin Smith at 10:22 and 11:19 to take a 4-1 lead. Bishop McCort’s Danny Formica cut the deficit to two with a goal just 24 seconds later, but the Trojans responded with goals by Jordan Lonsinger and Smith in the final 33 seconds of the period to take a 6-2 lead into the locker room. In the third period, Smith scored his fourth of the game, to make it 7-1, before Connor Bunn scored to set the final score at 7-3. Lukas Enos earned the win, while Boston Bradley took the loss.
In game two, the Hilltoppers jumped out to an early lead, thanks to Adam McQuillan’s two goals in the first five minutes of the game. Brandon Leech, Ty Rickabaugh, and Michael Lamison each added an assist on the goals. Stephen DeMarco made it 3-0 with an unassisted goal at 11:48. Lamison extended the lead to four on a power-play goal 2:20 into the second period, with Leech providing the assist.
Richland got on the board later in the second, as Jason Edsall scored a shorthanded goal at 12:58. Early in the third period, the Hilltoppers made it 5-1, as Rickabaugh scored to earn his second point of the night.