Midget BB

Red Wings top line key in 5-2 win over Mackinaw City on March 4 in Monroe

Sometimes, one line can dominate a game to the point that it dictates the final outcome.

That was the case in the MAHA Midget BB state final on March 4 at the Monroe Sports Center, as the Summit Plastics Red Wings skated to a 5-2 win over Mackinaw City Architect Forms behind four goals from the team’s top line.

It is Summit’s second state title in a row, after winning last year’s Midget B title. Six players from that team combined with the runner-up Belle Tire team from last year to form this year’s squad.

The Red Wings’ top line of final MVP Josh Billings, Jake Nagy and Joel Putnam led the way with a combined 10 points, with Billings totaling two goals and two assists, and Putnam four assists.

“Josh played out of his mind,” Summit coach Jeff Spitler said. “He was a key guy coming in this year.”

The Red Wings took a 2-0 lead early in the first period. Billings opened the scoring 50 seconds into the game, and Nagy followed up with a goal at the 3:13 mark. Putnam assisted on both goals, and Nagy and Billings assisted on each other’s. Summit made it 3-0 midway through the second period, when Jason Spitler scored the eventual game-winning goal on a feed from Billings 6:44 into the stanza.

Mackinaw City came to life just over three minutes later, when Dale Kolatski scored on a feed from Alex VanOrman with 3:57 left in the second period to make it 3-1.

Billings notched another goal right off the bat in the third period, when he scored 33 seconds into the final stanza to give the Red Wings a 4-1 advantage. Putnam assisted on Billings’ second lamplighter of the game.

“Our whole team is basically awesome,” Billings said.

Kolatski then pumped in his second goal of the game just over five minutes later for Mackinaw City to make it 4-2, scoring on a high wrist shot at the 5:49 mark. Mackinaw City mounted a furious comeback, but Summit goalie James Griebe made several big saves to hold down the fort.

“Jimmy was the miracle man out there,” Spitler said. “He’s unorthodox, he’s like (Detroit Red Wing Dominik) Hasek, he makes crazy saves and keeps us in games.”

Mackinaw City pulled its goalie for the extra attacker late in the period, but an empty-net goal from Red Wing Trevor Martin finished things off with 56.1 seconds left in the game. Putnam and Ryan Beverin assisted.

The win marked Billings’ first state championship at any level.

“It’s amazing, the best feeling in the world,” he said.

Midget BB Notebook

Summit had to go overtime to win its semifinal matchup over Lincoln Park, winning 3-2 with Matt Maraman scoring the game-winner among his two goals and three straight Red Wing tallies… Mackinaw City had an easier go of it in its semifinal meeting with Copper County, knocking them off 8-2. Dale Kolatski led the way with a hat trick and two assists… Summit started off with a 3-3 tie with Flint Ice Mountain. Red Wing Joel Putnam scored twice, while Ken Bowen had a pair of assists in the tie. Mitch Milke led Flint with two goals… Summit then tied Mackinaw City 1-1 and beat Muskegon 11-3. Jake Nagy had four goals and two assists for the Red Wings, and Putnam and Maraman added two goals each… Mackinaw City opened up with a 5-0 shutout win over Muskegon. Kolatski scored four goals in the win, and Derek Rountree notched the shutout in goal… Mackinaw then beat Flint Ice Mountain 2-1 before cross-checking Copper County 8-2. Kolatski led again with a hat trick and two assists and Spencer McFarland notched a goal and assist… Copper County made the semifinal round by beating Livonia 4-2 and Monroe 7-4 while falling 2-1 to Lincoln Park. Joel Morin pulled off a hat trick in both wins, while Paul Pionke also did the deed against Monroe. Jake Bialy had two assists in the win over Monroe as well… Lincoln Park notched three wins on its way to the semifinal, beating Monroe 7-2, Copper County 2-1 and Livonia 10-2. Alan Siepierski had a hat trick in the win over Livonia, and Dave Balog notched two goals and an assist. Erik Volk and Kyle Doupe each added a goal and assist. Doupe notched the game-winning goal in the win over Copper County, while Brennan Clendening scored a pair of goals in the win over Monroe.

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