Sivonen Leads Eagle Outburst, 7-2 Over Tigers

Saturday, October 30, 1999
by Alison Richards

Buffalo, N.Y. -- The second game of the evening at the Punch Imlach Showcase featured the first-ever meeting between the Niagara Purple Eagles and the Princeton Tigers. The Eagles, coming off a 2-1 defeat to St. Lawrence, did not seem fazed by their recent loss as they walked away with a 7-2 victory.

Niagara's Chris Sebastian scored the first goal of the game unassisted, while later in the first period senior forward Mikko Sivonen scored with assistance from Thomas Clayton and Mike Isherwood.

The Princeton goals were both scored in the first period, as freshman forward George Parros notched the first, with assists by Chris Corrinet and Dave Bennett. The second goal was from senior defenseman Darren Yopyk, with assists from Shane Campbell and Brad Parsons.

In the second period, four goals were scored by Niagara, first by Isherwood on assists from Sivonen and Chris MacKenzie, then rookie Randy Harris, with assists from John Heffernan and Sebastian.

The third was by Peter DeSantis, helped by Kyle Martin and MacKenzie, and the fourth was Sivonen again, with assists from Clayton and Isherwood.

Martin rounded out the scoring in the third with assists from Sivonen and MacKenzie.

Despite the margin, Princeton coach Don Cahoon was not overly worried by the loss. The Tigers, according to Ivy League rules, were not allowed to start practice until Oct. 15, putting Princeton a little behind on practice time compared to the other teams at the Showcase. That leaves the Tigers still working to find themselves -- "learning how to fly," as Cahoon put it.

Sivonen was named MVP of the game, and credited part of his performance to Isherwood, his three-year teammate. "We click together -- it gives us a good advantage," said Sivonen.

Next week, Princeton will host the St. Lawrence Saints on Nov. 5, while that same day the Eagles go on the road to Bemidji State for their first CHA game.

Alison Richards is a CHA game reporter for U.S. College Hockey Online.