Bantam AA

Squad goes undefeated and takes championship with 4-2 win over Canton Crush

Traverse City Pepsi persevered to win all the close ones on its road to the Bantam AA state championship in Sault Ste. Marie.

Traverse City defeated the Canton Crush 4-2 in the final at Big Bear Arena on March 11 behind 29 saves from Joey Gravedoni and goals from P.J. O’Hagen, Adam Swy, Eric Rivard and Jared VanWormer.

“This feels great,” Gravedoni said. “I’ve never been a part of a state championship team. This is what we worked for all year.”

Traverse City had three one-goal victories and two overtime triumphs during the tournament.

“We were told that we weren’t good enough to win,” Traverse City coach Todd Spaulding said. “But the kids were determined to prove people wrong, and they really worked hard for it. It was a great team effort.”

Austin Hervey and Kyle Korte scored for the Crush, while goalie Stephen Zavori finished with 18 saves in the final.

“Traverse City is an outstanding team,” Canton coach Ken Gaffney said. “I was very proud of our boys. We had some quality chances. Their goaltender was the difference.”

Traverse City scored first when VanWormer passed out front to P.J. O’Hagen, who shot it past Zavori for a power-play goal at 7:11 of the opening period. Canton drew even with just 32.9 seconds left in the period when Hervey scored on a wristshot from the right faceoff circle. Traverse City made it 2-1 with a goal by defenseman Adam Swy on a shot from the point that went through a crowd at 3:22 of the second period. Eric Rivard scored a 4-on-4 goal on a backhander in front of the net at 7:14 of the second period to give Traverse City a 3-1 advantage.

Canton had four power plays during the second period, and finally broke through late in the second period during a 4-on-3 situation with a goal by Kyle Korte to get within 3-2.

“We were really trying to focus on defense. Joey (Gravedoni) played super. He came up big when we needed him.”

Canton had two more power plays in the third period, and pulled its goalie for a 6-on-4 chance with 1:32 remaining. But Traverse City put the game away with an empty-net goal from VanWormer, assisted by Devin Senchuck, with 17.6 seconds left.

VanWormer, who had a goal and two assists in the final, was playing with a heavy heart after his father died unexpectedly just a week before the tournament.

Traverse City narrowly avoided being ousted from the tournament against Grand Rapids, tying the game 1-1 when Van Wormer scored with .6 seconds left in the game. Alex Goodhue and VanWormer scored in the shootout to help Traverse City pull out the 3-2 win.

“It’s been a very emotional week,” Spaulding said. “With the passing of Jared’s dad, it puts hockey and everything else in perspective when you’re dealing with a tragedy like that. I know all the kids really wanted to win this for Jared.”

Bantam AA Notebook

Traverse City Pepsi blanked Marquette 3-0 in the semifinals, with Gravedoni posting the shutout. Swy, Connor Vazales and O’Hagen scored goals...Canton beat Summit 2-1 in the semifinals, getting goals from Christopher Sitler and Alec Gilo, and 25 saves from Steven Manser. Bryan Pike scored a goal and Chris Gagleard made 21 saves for Summitt... Marquette American Legion shut out the Soo Michigan Lakers 6-0, picking up two goals from Joel Benson and one goal each from Jake Mahoski, Dylan Etelamaki, Dallas McLaughlin and Brad Chapman...Joey Aloisio scored two goals, while Gary Neill, Mac McDonnell, Paul Scott and Steven Klisz tacked on solo markers in the Garden City Gold Wings’ 6-3 triumph over Canton. Christopher Sitler scored twice and Sean Gaffney had a goal for the Crush...Steven Manser recorded 27 saves for the shutout, and Jimmy Botti, Austin Hervey and Ryan Bauer scored goals for Canton in a 3-0 win over Marquette…Garden City dropped the Soo Lakers 6-1, as Jake Lemay scored two goals, and Paul Scott, Rohn Gaudi, Gary Neill and Robbie Cabanaw added single tallies for the Wings. Nate Fitzpatrick had a goal for the Lakers...Trevor Mattis scored the game-winner in overtime as Traverse City Pepsi outlasted the Blue Water Phantoms 4-3. Jared VanWormer, Alex Goodhue and Zach Franklin scored goals for Pepsi, while J. Lanzi had two goals and T. Jackson one for Bluewater… Brad Chapman netted two goals and Danny Dagenais also had a goal in Marquette’s 3-0 win over Garden City... Grand Rapids Griffins clipped Blue Water 9-1. Daniel McNamara and Cam Pulling pumped in two goals apiece, while Josh Kool, Aaron Barto, Sam Gallup, Matt Moser and Alex Ostrowski also had goals for the Griffins. K. Mazzola scored a goal for the Phantoms.

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