Squirt B

Bulldogs take seesaw game over Flint, 5-4, to take title at Lapeer Polar Palace

The game was in the balance right down to the final minutes, but when the final horn was blown to signal the conclusion of the MAHA Pee Wee A state championship game, it was the Grosse Pointe Bulldogs who were crowned champions.

The Bulldogs took the state title with a 5-4 win over the Flint Icelanders on March 18 at the Lapeer Polar Palace.

Despite a scoreless first period, the two teams played hard to make for a close and exciting finish.

In the second period, Brandin Thelen of the Bulldogs opened up the game's scoring at 14:54 after taking a pass from teammate Frank Saputo and putting the puck past Flint goaltender Evan Cline.

The Bulldogs weren't able to keep the lead for long. Less than a minute and half later, Flint's Micky Montaps scored on a pass from Dan Olson to tie the game up at 1-1.
Flint struck again just about three and a half minutes later when Brett Bond put the puck past Grosse Pointe goaltender Joey Lopez to take the 2-1 lead. Nicholas Mitter and Dione Potila were credited with assists.

Trailing midway through the second period, the Bulldogs regrouped and scored two goals to close out the period with a 3-2 lead. With about three minutes left in the period, Vinnie Scarpaci scored an unassisted goal to put the Grosse Pointe team back in the game, tying it up at 2-2. The Bulldogs then took the lead late in the period when Saputo took a pass from Thelen and put it between the pipes to go up 3-2.

In the third period, the Flint team got right back into it with a quick goal after neither team was able to score after about six minutes of play.

At 8:39 of the third, Bond scored his second goal of the night on a pass from Austen Griggs. Bond went top shelf over Lopez's glove hand to get the goal and tie the game up at 3-3.

The game didn't stay tied for long though, as the Bulldogs answered right back about a minute and a half later.At 7:06 of the third, Thelen scored his second goal of the night when he took a pass from Scarpaci and stuffed it between the open pads of Cline.
With a 4-3 lead, the Bulldogs struck again with a minute left, as Saputo went in on a breakaway and scored his second goal of the evening.

As time dwindled down in the third, with Icelanders, trailing 5-3, went into desperation mode. With less than a minute left the team pulled Cline from the ice in favor of an extra skater. The move paid off for the Icelanders, as Zac De Simpelare was able to score a goal with just 40 seconds left in the contest.

With the score at 5-4, the Icelanders kept Cline on the bench and six skaters on the ice. The team skated hard and kept the pressure on, but Grosse Pointe was able to hold out for the win.

"It was a really tough game for us," Grosse Pointe head coach Robb McIntyre said. "That team just gave us all we could take. You have to tip your hat to them. They never gave up."

Flint's coach Bruce Lundeen said he was happy with his team's effort, even in the loss.

"Hey, we played a great team and we stuck around all game with them," he said. "We get a few more bounces go our way, and we are champs. It's just that simple. But you can't be upset with the effort. Both teams played hard, and at this level, that's all you can ask for."

Thelen had three points on the night, including two goals to be named the game's MVP.

Pee Wee A Notebook

In the first game of the tournament, Kensington Valley defeated Allen Park handily as Jake Pacholski and Joel L'Esperance each scored a pair of goals for Kensington. Allen Park's lone goal came from Jake Castonguay and was assisted by Jack Doberk.

The Flint Icelanders beat Grand Rapids, 4-2, as Nicholas Mitter scored two goals and an assist for Flint, while Tom Zelenka scored both goals for Grand Rapids… Lakeland defeated Bay County, 6-1, after scoring three goals in each the first and second periods. Dylan Larkin, Jesse MacIntyre and Austin Sereno each scored two goals a piece for Lakeland, while Jacob LaPorte tallied three assists. Clint Dobrinski scored the goal for Bay City… Grosse Pointe beat Grand Rapids, 2-1, on Ryley Maher’s game winning goal with about 11 minutes left in the third.

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