March 28, 2002
The Red Raiders toasted Eastern, 7-2, for the A crown. They will play for a state championship.
Radnor won its first Flyers Cup title last night with a 7-2 thumping of Eastern at the Face-Off Circle in Warminster. The victory gave Radnor (24-1) the Class A title. Eastern, located in Voorhees, completed its season 8-9-1. Radnor already had an automatic berth into the Pennsylvania state championship game because Eastern competes in New Jersey. The Red Raiders will play two-time and defending state champion Serra Catholic, of McKeesport, at noon Saturday at Rostraver Ice Gardens in Belle Vernon, Pa., for the Class A state crown. Radnor, which outscored its last two Flyers Cup opponents, 20-2, wanted to make history by winning its first title in the prestigious ice hockey tournament. The last time the Red Raiders had appeared in a Flyers Cup title game was 1995 when they lost to Unionville in the Class A final. “We were aware we never won a Flyers Cup, and I wouldn’t have been happy without winning this,” said Radnor senior forward John Brennan, who had four assists last night, and was selected MVP of the tournament. “We wanted this game so bad, no one thought ahead about the state championship.” Radnor took command quickly, scoring three first-period goals, then added three more in the second quarter. Eastern goaltender Danny Meyers braved wave after wave of Radnor skaters in the first period as Radnor had 16 shots on goal. The Vikings failed to get a shot on goal in the opening period. Sophomore Ed Devine led Radnor with three goals. He scored the first goal of the game with 13 minutes, 24 seconds left in the first period. He added his second score at 10:36. Lee Sinkow made it 3-0 at 8:21. Eastern didn’t get its first shot until 13:04 remained in the second period. Sean Sullivan pulled Eastern within 3-1 with 12:19 remaining in the period. But Radnor pumped in three straight goals Devine scored his third, Sinkow notched his second and Brad Dowlin also connected for a 6-1 lead. Chris Brennan, John’s younger brother, finished the scoring for Radnor with a third-period goal. Radnor outshot Eastern, 30-4, over the first two periods and 41-7 for the game. Meyers finished with 34 saves for Eastern. Brad Tunstall added the final goal for the Vikings.
Radnor………3-3-1–7
Eastern……….0-1-1–2
Goals: R-Ed Devine 3, Lee Sinkow 2, Brad Dowlin, Chris Brennan. E-Sean Sullivan, Brad Tunstall.
Saves: R-Jim Danner 3, Matt Dowlin 3. E-Danny Meyers 34.
By Joe Santoliquito
The Philadelphia Inquirer
