By Sean Duffy

Brooklyn, OH- It is Championship Sunday in the GCHSHL, the Baron Cups will be decided in one afternoon of fantastic high school hockey action. Our first Championship is for Baron Cup III, these teams coming out of the Blue Division.  The # 2 seeded Normandy Invaders were able to advance to the finals by beating #7 Mayfield 10-2 in the quarterfinals, and a 7-0 Victory over #6 seed Westlake in the semifinals.  The #1 seeded Orange Lions beat #8 NDCL 10-0 in the quarter finals and # 5 Chagrin Falls 7-2 in the semifinals.  These two teams have been on a collision course all year as being the best of the best in the blue division, now with the Baron Cup on the line, the question is which team will be able to have their best game of the year when it counts the most?

The Orange Lions came out fast in the 1st period scoring in the opening minute of the period on an unassisted goal from Tommy Hill, Orange led 1-0 with 14:00 remaining in the period.  Lions would notch another goal this time from Jackson Fellinger, Lions lead swelled to 2-0 with 12:17 Left in the period.   Tommy hill would score his second goal of the game  as he went coast to coast for an unassisted goal. Lions let 3-0 with 9:35 left in the period.  Normandy was able to get their legs under them after the initial onslaught from Orange, a goal from Jason Pierzchala made the score 3-1 with 4:32 remaining.  Each team had opportunities to score late in the period, however the period would end  with Orange holding a 3-1 Lead.

Normandy came out very aggressively to start the second period, attacking the Lions’ defensive zone.  That aggressiveness would pay off in the form of an Invader goal from Mic Fanz. Lions lead was now 3-2 with 9:39 remaining in the period.  The Lions then went on the attack, forcing a barrage of shots on the Normandy goal, Lions Jason Kornbluth would find the back of the net with an assist from Zach McCarren. Orange now held a 4-2 lead.  That lead would hold for the remainder of the period, and it was shaping up to great 3rd period for the Baron Cup III Championship.

The 3rd period was indeed a fantastic period to, starting with Jason Kornbluth scoring his second goal of the night, orange led 5-2. Normandy would not go away quietly closing the gap 5-3 with a goal from Lukas George with 7:59 remaining,  Jason Kornbluth would complete the hat trick with a goal making the score 6-3 with 3:42 remaining.  Normandy would pull their goalie for the remainder of the game, with an extra man advantage  they were able to score two goals. The first goal from Cody Tintelot , the other from Justin Pierzchala to cut the Lions lead 6-5 with less than a minute remaining in the game. Orange would seal the game with an empty net goal from Zach McCarren, the final score showing the Orange Lions holding a 7-5 victory over the Normandy Invaders.

The Normandy invaders finish in the runner up position for the Baron Cup III, they were led offensively Jason and Jake Pierzchala each having a goal, Mic Franz, Cody Tintelot , and Lukas George each scoring a goal.

The Orange Lions are your 2020 Baron Cup III Champions , they were led offensively by  Jason Kornbluth who had 3 goals on the night.  Lions’ also had Tommy Hill (2) , Zack McCarren, and Jackson Fellinger. Player of the game was goalie Danny Moore who had 46 saves on the night.

Congratulations to the 2020 Baron Cup III Champions: Orange Lions