St. Clair Shores wins MAHA 12U Girls state championship
Tyll’s late goal gives Saints 1-0 win at Arctic Edge in Canton
By Lonnie Mooneyham
In a game that seemed slated for overtime, St. Clair Shores’ defenseman Courtney Tyll broke a scoreless tie with just over three minutes to give the Saints a 1-0 win over the Ann Arbor Cougars and the MAHA Girls 12U non-national bound state title on March 9 at the Arctic Edge in Canton.
“It feels good, excellent. The girls played hard all weekend,” said an excited Saints’ coach Brian Tyll said. “It’s awesome. Unbelievable. I am very proud of all these girls”
The first two periods of play in the state final were defined by solid defense and great goaltending. Both teams played with discipline, limiting power play opportunities and odd-man attempts.
Then late in the third period, with 3:10 to go in the game, Tyll rushed the puck up the middle through the slot and flipped a backhand over the blocker of tournament MVP Hannah Fremd to score the only goal in the championship game.
“I was really just throwing (the puck) at the net,” Courtney Tyll said.
The goal was Tyll’s second of the tournament, and she assisted on six others.
“As a defenseman, she’s got a lot more assists than she does goals,” coach Tyll said about his daughter. “But she keeps throwing it at the net and you just get lucky.”
Though the goal may have been called “lucky”, Courtney Tyll’s teammate and defensive partner Sierra Kett thought it might have been fate.
“When she got that puck and skated down there, I prayed to the hockey gods that she would score, and she did,” Kett laughed. “Courtney has a lot of talent and she deserved that goal.”
The Cougars tried to counter Tyll’s goal, but with emotions running high, Ann Arbor’s Emilee Fremd took a roughing call with 1:54 left to go. Although they pulled the goalie, the penalty negated the man advantage and the Cougars were unable to get anything done offensively in the final minutes.
Still, coach Erik Penhollow was proud of who his team performed in the state tournament.
“We have been playing strong defensively all season,” coach Tyll said, “We were having a hard time scoring goals towards the end of the season, but we’ve been pouring it on lately.”
The Saints outscored their opponents 26-3 in the tournament, with four shutouts in five games, including a semifinal 8-0 victory over the Rochester Rattlers. Lauren Peterson got a hat trick in the semifinal game, and led the team with nine goals overall.
With so much offensive production going into the final game, coach Tyll was not expecting a 1-0 outcome.
“We were hoping to get some goals on the board early, to get a little breathing room, but that didn’t happen,” Tyll said. “So we kept battling. They’ve got a great team and goalie in Ann Arbor.”
Prior to the championship match up, the Cougars gave up just three goals in four games, with shutouts against Victory Honda and Belle Tire South, and beat the high-scoring Michigan Icebreakers 3-2 in the semifinals.
Tyll and his assistant coach Ted Wahby will be moving up to the 14U Saints’ team next season.
“We plan on continuing to pushing all of the girls to the highest level of competition they wish to achieve,” Tyll said.
Girls 12U Notebook
The Michigan Icebreakers were the tournaments’ second highest scoring offense. Brianna Tuuri-Cesarz led the team with six points and four goals, including a goal in the 3-2 semifinal loss against Ann Arbor. Teammate Taylor Callahan scored four points including the game-winner against Belle Tire North…Elisa Plancon led the Rochester Rattlers with two goals, including a third period, game-tying goal against Belle Tire South to push the team into the semifinals via the tiebreaker… The Rattlers’ Sabrena Camp scored the game-winning goal unassisted against Victory Honda… Belle Tire South’s Phoebe Cole scored the lone goal against Victory Honda for the team’s only win of the tournament. Teammate Chloe Whiteside led the team in points with one goal and one assist… Samantha Pappas scored one goal and one assist to lead Victory Honda in points while teammates Leah Krieger and Emily Lyons scored a goal apiece in the tournament…Leigh Farquhar scored two goals for Belle Tire North and teammate Bridget Sills scored the game-winner against the Farmington Hills Fire.
Little Caesars takes Girls 14 and Under state title
Squad rolls to 4-1 win over Victory Honda at Taylor Sportsplex
By John Raffel
The Little Caesars girl’s 14 and Under team continued their banner season by winning the Tier I MAHA state title with a 4-1 win over Victory Honda on March 2 at the Taylor Sportsplex.
Little Caesars exploded to a 3-0 lead in the first period with goals from Rachel Miller, assisted from Shannon Yoxheimer; Emily Flom, assisted by Kari Schmitt and Mackenzie Ritsema, assisted by Nicole Elmblad.
After a scoreless second period, Little Caesars got a goal in the third period from Flom, assisted by Sydney Brickey and Greer Hindle.
Victory Honda got on the board with a goal from Valerie Twigg, assisted by Alyssa West. Taylor Fairchild was goalie for Little Caesars and Sarah Modzelewski handled the duties for Victory Honda.
“I want to give Victory Honda credit,” said Little Caesars' coach John Hindle, who was assisted by Scott Yoxheimener, Scott Brickey and Ed Belcrest. “They played us tough all the way. They had our number. I told the girls we needed to do well from the first drop of the puck. And we did that.”
Little Caesars’ Flom enjoyed a banner championship game performance.
“We knew we had to come out strong,” she said. “We haven't played as well as we could against them. The two quick goals that we got in the first period really helped. We've seen this team a few times before. We knew what to expect. We wanted to get a good start against them.”
“We knew that if we used our skill and speed, we could beat them.”
After losing to Honeybaked last season in the state finals, Little Caesars worked to develop a balanced attack and a strong defense.
“We always tell the girls that scoring is important but so is defense. We focus on shutting the other team down,” Kindle said.
This season, Little Caesars is ranked No. 1 in a nationwide poll.
“We try to focus on development,” Kindle said. “That's an important aspect of a team. I think the girls like a lot of tournament action. We did well in tournaments. We came together throughout most of the year.
“We challenged the girls to work very hard in practice and tonight we got everybody's best game.”
Victory Honda's season ended at 62-14-4 under coach Greg West.
“Little Caesars is very talented,” West said. “We weren't ready for them (today). That's all I can say. Otherwise, the season has been phenomenal for us. It's been great.”
West said his team enjoyed a spirited rivalry against Little Caesars.
“In league play, we were 1-1 against them,” he said, adding that the difference in the title game “was they beat us to the loose pucks. That's how it goes when they do that to you.”
Little Caesars has had an impressive list of achievements this season and heads to the national tournament with a 55-4-2 record.
“We're the only United States team to win a Silver Stick championship,” Hindle said, adding that his team considered itself fortunate to be wearing the Little Caesars jersey.
“We thank Little Caesars for helping us have a good girls hockey program for quite a few years now.”
Players for Little Caesars include Taylor Fairchild, Corrine Walny, Shannon Yoxheimer, Abigale Belcrest, Katelyn Scott, Maryanne Menefee, Mackenzie Risema, Emily Neitzel, Sara Schmit, Colleen Kolis, Greer Hindle, Rachel Miller, Sydney Brickey, Emily Flom, Nicole Elmblad and Kari Schmitt.
Victory Honda players include Tenley Gillett, Sarah Modzelewski, Caitlyn Post, Jordon Verleye, Courtney May, Lauren Grigg, Valerie Twigg, Shannon McFadden, Alyvia Larrair, Hallee Witt, Lauren Allard, Kathlyn Lyons, Alyssa West, Breanna Peterson, Mallory Rojo, Alexi O'Connor and Elizabeth Knight.
Girls Tier I Under 14 Notebook
Victory Honda and Little Caesars tied 1-1 in their first game of the tournament… Caityln Post scored for Victory Honda and Katelynn Scott for Little Caesars…The Michigan Capitals and Honeybaked tied, 2-2. Melissa Channell and Noelle Walko scored for the Capitals while Taylor Strazzula and Erin Conway converted for Honeybaked…Caityln Post scored for Victory Honda and Katelynn Scott for Little Caesars… Victory Honda got two goals from Valerie Twigg in a 7-0 win over Belle Tire... Little Casears Abigale Belcrest, Greer Hindle and Kari Schmitt scored in a 3-1 win over Honeybaked… Jordan Verleye and Breanna Peterson scored for Victory Honda in a 2-0 win over the Michigan Capitals… Little Caesars got two goals apiece by Kari Schmitt and Rachel Miller in a 7-0 win over Belle Tire… Honeybaked got goals from Tiffany Herron, Taylor Strazzula, Taylor Machin, Gabrielle Schepp, Logan Taylor and Jordan Pardoski in a 6-1 win over Belle Tire.
Michigan Icebreakers win Girls 14U state title in double OT
Anastos’ goal gives squad 5-4 win over Birmingham Rangers in Canton
By Larry O'Connor
Michigan Icebreakers' Andie Anastos buried a wrist shot 6:21 into double overtime, securing the MAHA girls 14 and under non-national bound state title by beating a talented Birmingham Rangers team, 5-4, in the final at Canton’s Arctic Edge on March 9.
With her game-winning goal, the speedy forward summarily silenced the ringing sound left from the second period when her wrist shot from the slot was spurned by the goal post. In that period, Anastos found herself denied on a breakaway and later had a couple of chances go astray.
The Icebreakers led 4-2 at the time and a fifth goal would have gone a long way to cement the outcome.
Instead, the Rangers twice roared back twice from the two-goal deficits to force the game into overtime. Samantha Jenkins' goal for the Rangers with 5:51 left in regulation ensured the extra session.
While poetic justice deemed Andie Anastos grab the game-winner, her father and coach Tom Anastos wasn't about to quibble over bloodlines.
“I just wanted us to score,” Tom Anastos said. “I didn't care who it was.”
Birmingham, which posted a 4-0 shutout of the Grand Rapids Griffins in the semifinals, outscored opponents 17-4 entering the finals.
Michigan's offense came in bursts, stunning the Rangers. Sydney Glanz, who was named Tournament MVP, scored back-to-back goals 56 seconds apart in the first period with Rachel Kirsch assisting on both. Andie Anastos also drew an assist on the first goal.
After some sharp saves by goalie Meryll Miller, Birmingham continued to buzz the net in the second period. The Rangers' Janie Obee reduced the deficit to 2-1 with a goal at 7:25 in the second frame with Heather Silcott assisting on the power-play tally. Three minutes later, Eleanor Chalifoux netted the tying goal with Abigail Dickinson assisting.
In the second period, Icebreaker goals by Natalie Pattison and Claire Slaughter came only 28 seconds apart.
Both teams continued to create goal-scoring opportunities in the third period. The only difference was the Rangers capitalized on theirs.
With 8:03 left in regulation, Karsyn Baker mounted the Rangers' second resurgence, scoring on a wrist shot along the ice. Obee assisted on the goal, which left the Icebreakers holding a precarious 4-3 advantage.
Michigan's quick start was a mixed blessing, coach Anastos said.
“The good part was that it was nice to have a lead and play from a position of being ahead,” the Icebreakers coach said. “The bad was that when the goals came so close together, all of the momentum that we gained from scoring seemed to pass by quickly.”
Both teams peppered the net during the first OT. The Icebreakers' Miller made a quick leg save to deny Chalifoux, who was camped five feet in front of the net. With five minutes left in the first OT, Megan Kaster's deft backhand attempt barely missed the Birmingham net.
The break after 55 minutes of furious action was a relief to both sides, which started to slog through the rough ice. The upbeat tempo returned for the second OT.
“The break between overtime periods and the clean ice definitely helped re-establish the pace of the game,” Anastos said. “Both teams had some excellent chances and we were just fortunate to be the one to score.”
Birmingham, whose players exploded through the neutral zone, had the most to gain from a fresh ice surface but the Michigan side capitalized.
“Birmingham was an excellent team and one of the best teams that we've played all year,” Anastos said. “That game couldn't have been more closely played. They play well as a team, competed very hard and are obviously well coached.”
Girls 14U Notebook
A three-way tie in the National Division was decided by goals against, which left Escanaba Hawks on the outside with the Icebreakers and Grand Rapids Griffins advancing to the semifinals…The Hawks beat eventual champion Michigan Icebreakers, 4-3, with Lora Kositzky scoring the game-winner… The Hawks' Erin Gregoire scored two goals in a 3-1 win over the Livonia Knights and repeated the feat against the Icebreakers… Despite having a tough tournament, the Livonia Knights' Nicole Russell scored two goals while netminders Taylor Carson Reeves and Julia King performed yeoman work between the pipes… Marissa Monforton scored two goals and Lorna Burns added one in the St. Clair Shores Saintes' 3-3 draw with the Icebreakers… Courtney Curlee, Maddie McClain and Jessica Rice scored in the Canton Crush's 3-0 win over the Rochester Rattlers… Elizabeth Kammers led the Grand Rapids Griffins with two goals in a 3-1 victory over Livonia.
Honeybaked wins Tier 1 Girls 16U state title
Team holds on for 4-3 win over Little Caesars at Taylor Sportsplex
By John Raffel
The Honeybaked girls 16 and Under squad jumped out to a 3-1 first period lead against Little Caesars in the Tier I MAHA state final on March 2 at the Taylor Sportsplex and then things got interesting.
Honeybaked added to their lead, 4-1, but then had to hang on for dear life and squeaked out a 4-3 victory and the state title over Little Caesars, which had a 24-16 shots advantage despite the loss.
Scoring for Honeybaked in the first period were Brittany Dougherty, with an assist to Sarah Connelly and Andrea Littman; Taylor Wasylk, with an assist to Andrea Littman and Kimberly Cahill, and Stephanie Lang with an assist to Wasylk.
Little Caesars got a first-period goal from Jillayne DeBus, assisted by Shiann Darkangelo.
In the second period, Honeybaked notched what would prove to be the game-winning goal from Wasylk, assisted by Lang and Nanci Crossman.
Little Caesars just kept coming and mounted a rally in the third period with goals from Sarah Gilbridge and Jillayne DeBus.
But Honeybaked held strong for the win. Goalie Lauryn Ebersole took the win for Honeybaked. Chelsea Scott was the goalie for Little Caesars.
“When we were down 4-1 after the second period and were in the locker room, I told the girls to close their eyes,” said Honeybaked coach Matt Berger. “Then I told them to visualize scoring the second goal, to smell it and taste it. Then I had them visualizing the third goal and tasting and enjoying it. I had them visualizing the fourth goal. But unfortunately, it didn't come.”
But still, Berger said his team had plenty to be proud of after the game.
“It's a good group of kids,” he said. “They work hard. They're very competitive.”
The loss put Little Caesars record at 45-15.
“Honeybaked's goalie was the difference,” Berger said. “Our girls worked hard and never stopped competing.”
For Honeybaked, Wasylk enjoyed the moment after notching two goals and one assist.
“It was awesome, it was exciting,” said Wasylk, adding that the key behind the 4-1 lead was “forechecking and forcing the other team to cough the puck up.”
As for her own scoring exploits, “my teammates set me up,” Wasylk said. “I have some very good teammates to work with.”
When Little Caesars pulled within a goal in the third period, Wasylk said her team really had to buckle down.
“We had wanted to get a couple of more goals and make sure they didn't get back in the game,” she said. “Our defense and rebounding turned out to be very important.”
“We're up 4-1, but then they got a quick one in the third,” said Honeybaked head coach Paul Moretz, assisted on the bench this season by Jeff Fleming and Todd Churchill. “We've been there before. We had that 4-1 lead and then we started making some mistakes. Little Caesars came out in the third period and capitalized on the mistakes.”
Moretz wasn't happy with the penalties that were being called in the third period.
“That took away from the flow of the game,” he said “Once we were 5-one-5, we held our own. In our semifinal game, we had only one penalty.”
This marks the second season is a row that Honeybaked is making a trip to the nationals.
“When some of these players were at the 14-and-under level, we were national runners-up,” said Moretz said, whose team has a 52-17-6 record.
“Hard work and winning the little battles was the key to getting that 4-1 lead,” said Honeybaked player Jackie Fraser said. “We've played them about five times and have beaten them every time. “I knew we could win again. But when it was 4-3, it became nerve racking.”
Girls Tier I 16 and Under Notebook
Honeybaked beat Little Caesars, 4-1, on goals from Honeybaked from Brittany Dougherty, Taylor Waslyk, Sara Connelly and Erin Cahill… Belle Tire’s Amanda Kay scored the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win over Grand Rapids… Victory Honda got goals from Melanie Stamey, Shelby Young and Airel Fors-Klein in a 3-1 win over Dearborn Brand. Robin Stockwell scored Dearborn's only goal… Belle Tire got a goal from Monicka Borowski and Little Caesars Tina Hollowell scored in the 1-1 tie… Grand Rapids got goals from Cora Turrell and Alison Shrift in a 2-1 win over Victory Honda. Haley Coolsaet scored Victory Honda’s only goal… In the semifinals Honeybaked beat Grand Rapids, 4-1, on goals from Maddie Collias, Taylor Wasylk, Monica Korzon and Stephanie Lang. Cora Turrell scored for Grand Rapids. Belle Tire lost 2-1 to Little Caesars.
Special teams help Marquette win MAHA 16U Girls state title
Mannika get the shutout as Sentinels beat Ann Arbor, 4-0, in Canton
By Lonnie Mooneyham
Marquette’s exceptional special teams play helped the Sentinels all season long.
And, along with goalie Carley Maanika, Marquette’s special teams play was the difference in their MAHA Girls 16 and Under non-national bound state championship final. Maanika earned the shutout and the Sentinels scored three powerplay goals and one shorthanded goal in a 4-0 win over the St. Clair Shores Saints to win the state title on March 9 at the Arctic Edge in Canton.
“I’m a little bit overwhelmed,” Sentinels head coach Ed Baker said. “The girls have been working extremely hard and they played their hearts out. They played smart, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
The Sentinels grabbed the lead early, when Kayla Nordquist scored the team’s first power-play goal at 9:01, assisted by Lauren Reckker and Samantha Baker.
Baker gave Marquette an insurance goal in the first minute of the second period. The Sentinels were shorthanded, and Baker was pressuring at center ice when she poked the puck away and skated in all alone and beat Saints’ goalie Kathy Ross five-hole for a 2-0 lead.
Margaret Sizemore and Reckker added powerplay goals to give the Sentinels a 4-0 final.
amantha Baker assisted on each, giving her three points on the game, and Nordquist and Carley Saint-Onge were credited assists as well.
Both teams came out strong physically, playing bodies and the puck alike. But the physical play led to penalties, and as is often the case, penalties led to more penalties.
Still, coach Baker thought the game was called fairly, and blamed the penalties on emotions and excitement.
“The refs called a good game, they kept the game under control,” Baker said. “I think it was just a high-intensity game. There was a little bit of emotion involved.”
All said and done, there were 21 penalties called and over 38 PIMs, making Marquette’s special teams play even more important.
Many of the Saints scoring chances came from fast breaks and turnovers in the Sentinels zone, but St. Clair Shores had a hard time moving the puck through the neutral zone and they were unable to really set up offensively, even with the man advantage.
“St. Clair Shores has got an excellent team,” Baker said. “We got a lot of lucky bounces; they had a lot of good scoring chances.”
Maanika was named the tournament MVP after recording her third shutout in the Sentinels four tournament games, helping her team go undefeated through the tournament.
“She is an amazing story,” coach Baker said. “This is only her second year playing hockey. It is a testament to her work ethic and her drive and her desire to be the best hockey player she can be.”
The two teams met earlier in the round-robin tournament, where Marquette enjoyed a 2-1 win. That game was the Saints only tournament loss, and they rolled through to the finals with 7-3 and 4-1 victories.
“Our girls played hard and I am very proud of them,” said St. Clair Shores coach Mark Burlingame. “Marquette is a good team.”
“We expected a tough battle,” said coach Baker. “I’m happily surprised at the 4-0 score.”
Girls 16U Notebook
Gladwin’s Macy Schultz scored two game-winning goals for the G-force and added an assist for three points on the weekend. Teammate Alexa Tenwalde led Gladwin with four points, including three assists and the lone G-Force goal in the semis against the Saints. Gladwin went 3-0 before facing the Saints in the semis, with shutouts against Rochester and Ann Arbor… Ann Arbor Cougars’ Abbie Richardson netted a hat trick in their 4-0 win over Rochester, and Cougars’ Mackenzie Smith assisted on each of the four goals against the Rattlers and scored the team’s lone goal against the Livonia Knights… Rattlers’ Amy Henderson scored two goals and an assist and Devon Gac scored the unassisted, game-winning goal in Rochester’s 4-2 win over Livonia…Livonia’s Renee Wright scored the game-winning goal in the Knights’ 3-1 win over Ann Arbor. Teammates Leanne Ellison and Meghan Jahn also contributed goals in the win …The Michigan Icebreakers’ Cara Harm, Abby Davidson and Jessie Spaun each got a goal in the team’s 7-3 loss to the Saints
Little Caesars wins Girls Tier I 19U state title
Perry leads team to 3-0 win over Victory Honda in Taylor
By Chuck Nelson
Little Caesars kept firing away and eventually posted a 3-0 win over Victory Honda in the final of the MAHA Girls Tier I 19-and-under state tournament on March 2 at the Taylor Sportsplex.
Victory Honda netminder Brittany Zeches was the story early on, stopping everything Little Caesars could throw at her.
Zeches made a first-period save on a partial breakaway, and also made a pair of big saves early on in the second period in a great performance during the first half of the game.
Little Caesars finally dented her armor midway through the second period, when defenseman Melissa Perry cruised in from the point and put a high slapshot past Zeches after over two minutes of solid pressure in the Victory Honda zone. Brittany Toor and Kristine Horn drew assists.
Perry’s goal came on Little Caesars 22nd shot on goal. Perry scored again with 1:38 to go in the middle stanza while her team held a man advantage to give Little Caesars a 2-0 lead. Perry’s point shot found its way through a screen to beat Zeches low on the stick side, with Toor assisting.
“Our goal was to keep shooting on her and keep shooting on her until they finally let one in. Hopefully that would happen sooner or later,” Perry said afterward. “The coaches kept telling us to walk across the blue line, and that’s what I’ve been taught for a long time, and I saw an opening and went for it. It’s unbelievable; this is the second state tournament that I’ve won.”
Perry is one of nine Little Caesar’s players that will play Division 1 college hockey next season. She will play for Clarkston University.
Little Caesars outshot Victory Honda 29-6 through two periods, and 36-16 over the course of the game.
“It was a well-oiled machine, and eventually it was going to pay off for us,” Berger said of his team’s peppering Zeches with shots.
Little Caesars finished the scoring with 1:05 left in the game when Corinne Henning scored into an empty net, with Chelsea Rapin and Jill Szandzik drawing assists.
Little Caesars netminder Genevieve Lacasse earned the shutout, and drew praise from Berger for her play.
“She’s probably the No.-1 recruited goaltender in the country, she’s going to Providence on a full ride, and she’s probably going to be on the U-22 Hockey Canada team,” Berger said. “She’s an outstanding goaltender.”
Both teams head to the national tournament in West Chester, Penn., April 1-4.
“I believe that if we play to the level that we can play, we’ll do well,” Berger said of his squad, which finished third at the tourney last season.
Girl’s Tier I 19U Notebook
Little Caesars and Victory Honda met during the round-robin portion of the state tournament on Feb. 29, with Little Caesars posting an 8-0 win. Lacasse earned the shutout in goal with 13 saves, while Ashley Cottrell led the offense with two goals and an assist. Kim Theut also scored a pair of goals, while Madison Packer added a goal and assist. Britany Toor, Jill Szandzik and Chelsea Rapin also scored for Caesars… Caesar’s also notched a 10-0 blanking of Belle Tire Feb. 28. Theut and Toor both recorded a pair of goals and an assist, while Brittany Ott posted the shutout in goal with six saves. Cottrell and Packer both recorded a goal and two assists, while Kristine Horn, Julie Hersey, Rapin, Szandzik also scored. Melissa Perry notched five assists in the win as well… Caesars then beat Honeybaked, 4-2, on March 1, with Packer, Hersey, Horn and Szandzik each scoring for Little Caesars. Ott got the win in goal with 15 saves. Catlin Roach and Sara Petty scored for Honeybaked in the loss… Victory Honda started things off with a 4-3 win over Honeybaked on Feb. 28, scoring all four goals in the third period to win. Olivia Rork notched a natural hat trick, while Bailey Lane scored the other. Brooke Zaleski, Katherine Zimmerman, Kelly Salis, Britney Jeannette and Erica Pomponio added single assists. Zeches recorded the win in goal, making 23 saves. Amanda Sparks scored a pair of goals for Honeybaked, while Vanessa Worz tallied the other in the loss. Kylie Blasen, Alyssa Hoot and Haleigh Hutchinson each had an assist for Honeybaked… After falling to Little Caesars in round-robin play, Victory Honda notched a 5-1 win over Belle Tire. Stephanie Kell, Brittany Shand, Lane, Pomponio and Zaleski scored, while Zimmerman added a pair of helpers. Zeches got the win in goal, stopping 15 of 16 Belle Tire shots. Brittney Farnsworth scored for Belle Tire, with the assist to Jessia Dare.
Traverse City wins MAHA girls 19U state championship title
North Stars roar to 12-3 win over the Mid-Michigan Spirit in Canton
By Larry O'Connor
Three unanswered Mid-Michigan Spirit goals were the farmhouse rooster the Traverse City North Stars needed to roust them in the MAHA girls 19 and under non-national bound state championship final on March 9.
After Mid-Michigan staked out a 3-1 lead, the North Stars roared back with 11 straight goals to lambast the tournament runner-up 12-3 in the title game at the Arctic Edge in Canton.
“I guess we realized we had to step it up,” said Jessica Campbell, who was named tournament MVP based on her six goals and two assists in the final.
Campbell's line became the focal point during a six-goal outburst in the second period. The Gaylord High junior and linemate Devyn Fitzhenry tied the game with back-to-back goals 31 seconds apart, which came with less than a minute left in the opening frame.
Fitzhenry accounted for four goals and three assists while Courtney Fitzgerald assisted on three goals for the North Stars, who earned a final's berth by shutting out the Captains 2-0 in the semifinals.
The Stars cruised through the eight-team field, besting finalist Mid-Michigan Spirit, 7-2, in division play en route to the finals. The team also beat West Kent, 8-0; and Kentwood, 2-0; in National Division play. Goalie Jorden Garber backstopped the North Stars thoughout the state tournament.
The Spirit, buoyed by first-period goals by Danielle Drzewicki, Brittany Knopp and Bianca Williamson, sought to erase the earlier division drubbing. However, Mid-Michigan's use of the so-called Swedish Torpedo system may have been its undoing.
Under the scheme, a forward lurks outside the defensive zone waiting for a breakout pass. The strategy enabled North Star forwards to navigate freely inside the offensive zone and shoot at will.
As evidence, Campbell was able to circle back and easily roof the puck into the net after pulling it out from a goalmouth pile up. The goal came with 1:07 left in the second period and capped the six-goal assault.
“They were running the torpedo system and our girls just needed to relax,” North Stars Coach Keith Gillis said. “Once we relaxed, we were able to capitalize.”
The six goals was a career best for Campbell, who still termed the North Stars' state championship as a “team effort.” Campbell also registered a hat-trick and added two assists in the North Stars' 8-0 drubbing of West Kent on March 8.
“She always seems to be the clutch player,” her coach said. “When we get down, she seems to elevate her play. She's a true captain on and off the ice.”
The North Stars' season-long odyssey started in August when North Star members attended a team-bonding session at the Adventure Learning Center in Eagle Village. The two-day exercise involved climbing walls and teammates guiding one another through physical challenges in an effort to build unity.
“It was a great gelling thing,” Gillis said. “Some professional teams have done it, so I thought I would give it a try and it worked.”
Subsequently, those bonds followed the girls on the ice. In January, the team captured the Midland Rainbow Tournament after downing the Livonia Capitals, 3-1, in the finals and clinched the Little Caesars Hockey Association regular season crown, downing Mid-Michigan Spirit in successive games.
Girls 19U Notebook
Despite a pair of first-period goals by Joy Anderson, West Kent Hawks couldn't repel Kentwood in a 6-3 loss. Kentwood goal scorers were Christina Walter, Bridget Ross, Morgann Wood, Victoria Bujala, Andra Trapp and Ashleigh Subu… Despite having only seven skaters, the Ann Arbor Panthers came back to beat the Captains, 4-3, in American Division play March 8. ... Alisha Mulanix scored twice for the Panthers while Lauren Pennington and Andrea Pellosma added goals. Brittani Sims scored two goals and added an assists in the Captains' 8-0 win over the Iron River Ice Hawks. Brittany Knopp scored three consecutive goals and added another tally in Mid-Michigan's 7-3 romp over West Kent. Britney Rusco answered twice for West Kent. ... Sara Missias and Kristy Mallette scored in the Kalamazoo KOHA Lady Flames' 2-2 tie with the Iron River Ice Hawks March 8. Alyssa Camps and Hanna Holma replied for the Ice Hawks.... Rachel Ross and Christina Walker scored twice for the Kentwood Falcons in a 5-4 setback to Mid-Michigan March 8.
Mission takes MAHA Women’s Senior C state title
Squad beats Snipers, 2-1, in final at Taylor Sportsplex
By Chuck Nelson
The MAHA Senior C final at the Taylor Sportsplex on March 2 was a closely-played affair between two two teams who have seen a lot of each other this season.
In the end, Team Mission edged RBK Snipers 2-1. It is Mission’s second-straight Senior C title for a group that has played together for three seasons.
After a scoreless first period in which it killed off a 5-on-3 power play, RBK opened the scoring 4 minutes, 58 seconds into the second when Jenna Donnelly picked off a pass at the Mission blue line, then pumped a 35-foot wrist shot by Rose Terwilliger low on the
glove side for a 1-0 lead.
Mission answered on the power play with 3:34 to go in the second period, when Sarah Leszczynski scored on a Courtney Rosin feed.
Kimmi Zuccarini recorded the game-winning goal 7:42 into the third period, when she tapped away loose puck as Snipers goaltender Rachel Roach went to freeze it, then picked up the puck and scored around the sprawling goalie.
Roach played well, stopping 21 shots.
“Our game-plan was to play tough defense, get a lot of shots off, and have good puck control,” Mission coach Gus Martinez said. “We definitely did a good job of that today.”
Both teams are based out of U-M Dearborn Ice Arena, and have played a few close games versus one another during the season.
“This was sort of a rubber match between us,” RBK coach and captain Terry Mathews said. “We beat them once, they beat us once, we tied four times, and they just beat us so they’re one up on us now. Every game’s been within one goal, and it looks like we’ll see them at nationals too in the round-robin.”
Both teams head for West Chester, Penn. for the USA Hockey national championship tournament March 29-April 2. Mission placed third last season, and hopes it can do at least as well this time around.
“We have good talent, a good group of girls that like to skate hard together, and when we put everything together with a little heart, we’re very competitive,” Martinez said.
Women’s Senior C Notebook
The RBK Snipers and Mission tied in first round action, 1-1…Team McDonalds beat Michigan Tech 4-1 on Friday… In Saturday games, it was Mission 4, Team McDonalds 1; RBK 9, Michigan Tech 0; Mission 7, Michigan Tech 3 and RBK 3, Team McDonalds 0.
Plymouth wins MAHA Squirt A state championship
Stingrays beat Allen Park, 1-0, in double overtime in Livonia
By Sarah Zientarski
The MAHA Squirt A state tournament final only seemed like it could go on forever.
After four periods of scoreless play, Plymouth’s Riley Brass scored the game winner in the second overtime to give the Stingrays the state title with a 1-0 win over the Allen Park Huskies on March 9 at Livonia’s Eddy Edgar Arena.
“This is the first time ever as a player or a coach (to win the state tournament) and I’m numb,” said Stingrays’ head coach Dave Brass. “It was fantastic. Allen Park is a great team and I’m glad it came down to them and us.”
Brass scored the winning goal for the Stingrays when Huskies’ goalie Trevor Porter went down leaving a wide-open right side of the net.
“Brendan (Guziak) took it wide and threw it in front,” Riley said. “The goalie pushed his stick out, it came right to me and I just flipped it in the net.”
Dave Brass didn’t have a good look at the goal, but he knew right when he needed to start celebrating.
“All I saw was the puck scoot out and Riley fired it and he threw his helmet and gloves off before he even got around the net,” coach Brass said. “That’s all I saw and I almost fell back on the bench and before I knew it, everybody was out there.”
The Stingrays fired 29 shots on goal before Riley broke through with the winner. “The game today was very intense,” said Plymouth’s Anthony Solack. “It was very nerve-wracking and when we got the goal we couldn’t believe it. It was pretty exciting.”
Plymouth’s excitement ran rampant earlier in the game when they thought for a second they gained their edge late in the third period. On a power play, a shot was called a goal at first before being called off moments later by referee Jerry Heath.
”I thought it was in but it was a good call by the referee,” Dave Brass said.
The Huskies’ Jacob Cyr had Allen Park’s two best opportunities to close out the game. In the final minute of the first overtime, Cyr made a swift move around a defender, skated out in front and fired a shot Stingrays goalie Trevor McManus saved. Moments later Cyr took another shot that McManus gobbled up.
The Huskies put up 21 shots on McManus. Both he and Porter were named MVPs of the tournament.
“I thought they did a great job when they made both goalies MVPs,” Dave Brass said.
Guziak added, “Trevor was standing on his head tonight. He was great.”
Twice this season the two teams have tangled in extra periods and each team came out a victor in one. The Huskies won in an overtime tournament game in September and the Stingrays won in the Little Caesars playoffs last month.
“That’s how tight these two teams are, how close they are and how well they play each other,” Dave Brass said.
Squirt A Notebook
Plymouth’s Keegan Howdeshell and Carson Pakula had two goals each – adding an assist for Howdeshell – in the Stingrays’ 7-2 win over the Lansing Capitals… Grosse Pointe Bulldogs’ Michael French Jr. and Allen Park Huskies’ Jeremy Ross netted the lone goals in their 1-1 tie… Keweenaw Storm’s Luke Rautio scored two goals in the Storm’s 5-1 victory over the Soo Lakers… Livonia Knights’ Nolan Cloch scored the game winner as the Knights beat the Bay County Blizzard 1-0… The Knights and Storm tied 1-1 on Glynn Robitaille and Austin Mikesch’s goals, respectively… Bay County’s Zach Dornseifer had the game-winning goal in the Blizzard’s 5-4 victory over the Soo Lakers, whose Landon Hubbard had a goal and an assist… The Stingrays’ Anthony Solack had two goals and Trevor McManus had a shutout in Plymouth’s 3-0 win over the Bulldogs… The Huskies’ Matt Calhoun had the lone goal in Allen Park’s shutout of the Lansing Capitals 1-0… The Knights’ Cloch and Nathan Sudek had two goals apiece in Livonia’s 8-0 victory over the Lakers…The Stingrays shut out the Huskies 2-0 on goals by Solack and Brendan Guziak… The Capitals’ Reagan Wortz had two goals and Michael Schramm the game winner in their 3-2 win against the Bulldogs… The Blizzard’s Tyler Severson had a goal and two assists in Bay County’s 3-1 win over the Storm… The Stingrays’ Howdeshell had four goals in Plymouth’s 8-4 victory over the Blizzard.. Allen Park’s Brian Guerrero had a goal and an assist in the Huskies’ 3-0 shutout of the Knights.
Suburban Stars take Squirt AA state championship
Squad uses five straight goals to beat Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, 6-3
By David Mitchell
After taking a 1-0 lead early in the Squirt AA MAHA state final, the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies began to see Stars.
The Suburban Stars scored five unanswered goals and rolled to a 6-3 win over the Jr. Grizzlies to take the Squirt AA state title on March 2 at the Plymouth Cultural Center.
Oakland’s Austin Levering maneuvered through traffic and scored on a hard wrist shot through the legs of Suburban goaltender Sam Woznicki to give the Jr. Grizzlies their only lead of the game.
Soon after, Suburban’s Austin Alger put his team on the board when he took a pass from Kyle McCullough and skated in from the blueline and tied the game on a low shot with 8:09 remaining in the period.
Then three minutes later Alger broke the tie with a powerplay goal that gave Suburban a 2-1 lead and the Stars never looked back.
The second period began with Suburban’s Danny McGrail going off for slashing. The Stars Nick Boka was called for tripping to give Oakland a 5-on- 3 powerplay. Despite a couple of chances, the Jr. Grizzlies weren’t able to capitalize on the two-man advantage.
With 6:13 to go in the middle period, Suburban head coach Joe Jones switched goaltenders, putting in Spencer Applebaum for starting goalie Sam Woznicki.
Suburban then picked up the pace and fired 15 shots on goal, while limiting Oakland to seven shots at the other end. The Stars scored three times late in the period on goals by Jacob Pierce (with an assist by Kyle McCullough, Eric Marson (with an assist from Joey Orr) and Alger, who took a perfect tape-to-tape pass in traffic, and completed his hat trick to give Suburban a 5-1 lead heading into the final period.
“They were just outworking us, and they had a little more jump on us,” said Oakland head coach Brad Jones.
The Jr. Grizzlies responded in the third period with an unassisted goal off the stick of Marino Merlini make it 5-2 with 9:50 to go.
Alger got his fourth goal of the game with 4:19 to play in the game to give the Stars a 6-2 lead and Oakland’s Joey Savel added a goal with 45 seconds later to close out the scoring.
“I thought we played with tremendous pace throughout the game and we never let up,” said Suburban coach Joe Jones. “I felt we used our depth to our advantage, we played hard and fast, and we knew if we could do that we had a good chance to win the game.”
Alger deflected praise after his four-goal performance.
“It was my teammates, I had a lot of help,” said Alger. “I give the credit to my teammates, my coaches and my dad.”
Squirt AA Notebook
The Grizzlies defeated Plymouth, 8-2, and the Stars took care of Flint EMHA, 6-1, in the semifinals… The Lansing Capital’s Charlie Hudson and Allen Park Huskies Justin Metropoulos each scored in a 1-1 tie…The Flint Icelanders got goals from Bobby Lynch, Jack Kopacka, and London Bonenfant in a 3-3 tie with Plymouth. The Stingrays goalscorers were Jonah Gorski, Trevor Coykendall and Josh Smith…The S.S. Marie Woolever Blades beat Marquette, 3-1, on goals from Chase Meehan, Ashton Calder and Jordan Houghton. Marquette’s only goal came late in the third period off the stick of Tanner Carriere… Marquette’s Ethan St. Germain scored twice and Carriere added a goal in the Sentinels 3-3 tie with Plymouth. James Baldwin, Noah Saad and Andrew Brace scored for the Stingrays…Flint’s Shane Dunsmore had a hat trick in a 6-0 win over S.S. Marie. Jack Kopacka also scored twice and Spencer Stark once for the Icelanders… Suburban’s Eric Marson had two goals and Austin Alger and Danny McGrail each had one in the Stars 4-4 tie with Lansing. The Capitals got goals from Kaleb Peterson, Nick Wilson, Andy Walker and Anders Staky… Oakland’s Garrett Hall and Conner Inger had hat tricks to pace the Grizzlies to a 10-1 victory over Allen Park. The Huskies goal was scored by Josh Metropoulos… Plymouth’s Gorski had a hat trick in an 8-2 victory over S.S. Marie, who got goals from Stephen Hillock and Cole Lussier… Flint got two goals and an assist from Bobby Lynch in their 4-1 victory over Marquette. The Icelanders Nathan Rieman, and London Bonenfant also each had a goal. Marquette’s only goal came from Jake Phillips.
Compuware takes Squirt AAA Major state title
Squad uses quick goals to edge Belle Tire, 3-2, in Taylor
By Chuck Nelson
While there weren't many shots on goal during the MAHA Squirt AAA Major state final on March 16 at the Taylor Sportsplex, Compuware pulled out a 3-2 win over Belle Tire.
Belle Tire opened the scoring as Dominic DiMambro used a quick deke to his backhand before sliding the puck between the pads of Compuware netminder Tyler Copp with just under two minutes left in the opening period. Ryan Moore drew the lone assist on the goal, which was scored one second after a Belle Tire power play expired.
Compuware hit the post with 43 seconds left in the first period and Belle Tire hit the post in the second period. Both goatenders played well in the contest, with Belle Tire’s Chris Grake stopping 10 shots and Copp making 12 saves.
"He wanted to play goalie," Compuware coach and father Andy Copp said. "He was a skater first, and he was pretty good. But he really liked playing net, he had a lot of success and just stuck with it."
In the latter half of the second period Compuware took a 2-1 lead with a pair of 4-on-4 goals. David Keefer tied the game 1-1 at 7:59 when he corralled a loose puck, wound up and drilled a shot past Grake low on his glove side. Jake Gingell assisted.
Twenty seconds later, Compuware took a 2-1 lead when Chaz Thomas sped up the left wing, cut to the net and deked around Grake for an unassisted tally while Compuware had Copp pulled while awaiting a delayed penalty call on Belle Tire.
Coach Copp said that getting the first one was huge for his team.
"We started off kind of slow, and in our semifinal this morning we played four overtimes. I think that played into it,” he said. “Once they scored that goal, we turned it up a little bit, then when we got our goal, we got a little momentum and that really picked the kids up.
"We've got so many offensive weapons on this team that we can score goals, but we're a very momentum-oriented team. If we're feeling good and playing good, then we'll play dynamite. Getting that first goal was huge, because it really lifted their spirits, and then we got the next one right away, so that was key."
Compuware made it 3-1 7:53 into the third period when Jack Meacham added another unassisted goal. Belle Tire closed the gap to 3-2 with 1.6 seconds left in the game, when Steven Fredrick snuck a low wrist shot past Copp on the stick side. Copp's plan while in net is a simple one.
"Our team doesn't give up many shots, and when I get a lot of shots, I just wanna keep them out of there," he said afterward.
Squirt AAA Major Notebook
Compuware advanced to the final by following up an opening-game 1-1 tie with Honeybaked with wins over Victory Honda and Southfield before edging Little Caesar's in the semifinal round… Jack Meacham scored the game-tying goal for Compuware in the team's 1-1 tie with Honeybaked. Nick Fernandez scored for Honeybaked with David Cotton and Garrett Jenkins drawing assists. Tyler Copp made 17 saves for Compuware, while Jorgen Johnson turned aside 16 shots for Honeybaked… Compuware then posted a 2-0 shutout win over Victory Honda, with Meacham and Brody Stevens scoring. Jared Dempsey recorded the shutout in goal… Kevin Klima scored for Southfield in an 11-1 loss to Compuware… Compuware nipped Little Caesar's 4-3 in the semifinal as Alex King, Jake Gingell, Warren and Keefer each scored a goal. Jordan Galloway had a pair of goals for Caesars and Gregory Allotta the other… Belle Tire opened up with a 4-2 win over Victory Honda, with Ryan Moore and Steven Fredrick each finishing with two goals and an assist. Stephen Campeau and Jeremy Bourque scored for Victory Honda, with Evan Rochowiak adding a pair of assists…Belle Tire then continued with a 4-2 win over Southfield as Moore finished with two goals and two assists to lead the way, while Fredrick added a goal and a pair of assists. Austin Koleski also scored for Belle Tire. Klima led Southfield with a goal and assist, while Conner Dolson also lit the lamp. Belle Tire then posted an 8-2 win over Honeybaked as Dalton Messina led the way with a hat trick and assist, while Fredrick totaled two goals and two assists and Moore a goal and four helpers. Dante Trapiss and Koleski also scored for Belle Tire, while Honeybaked got goals from Sam Miletic and Luke Morgan.
Honeybaked takes MAHA Squirt Minor AAA crown
Rheaume-St. Cyr backstops team to 1-0 win over Little Caesars
By Chuck Nelson
Little Caesar's spent most of MAHA Squirt AAA Minor state championship game at the Taylor Sportsplex on March 16 carrying the play in Honeybaked's zone, but Honeybaked stood firm behind a collapsing defense and the play of goaltender Dylan Rheaume-St. Cyr to claim the title with a 1-0 win.
Both Honeybaked coach Tony Esser and Caesars coach Frank Scarpaci agreed that Honeybaked's defense was one key to the game.
"We played a lot of the game down in their end, and I give them a lot of credit," Scarpaci said. "We're a pretty offensive team, but they really took away the front of their net. I give Honeybaked all the credit because they really wanted this, we just couldn't get the puck through to the net. And a lot of the rebounds were getting jumped on quick and we weren't getting sticks on them, it was just one of those days."
Little Caesars kept the play in Compuware’s end in the opening period but couldn't dent the armor of netminder Rheaume-St. Cyr, son of Manon Rheaume, the only woman ever to play in a National Hockey League game.
Honeybaked also had some good chances during a late period power play, but Little Caesar's goalie Justin Devorsky was also up to the challenge.
Honeybaked scored the only goal of the game 50 seconds into the second period, when Anthony Esser took a nice cross-ice pass from Luke Cowan and fired a shot at Devorsky, who sent a rebound back to Esser. Esser then buried the rebound for a 1-0 lead that held up.
Coach Esser credited his team's defensive play.
"Our defensemen forced the play outside and made the smart play getting out of the zone," Esser said. "Everybody just really clamped down and played a heck of a game.
“Our only goal was the result of a second-effort from Anthony Esser. He followed his shot to the rebound and buried it. It just goes to prove that when you play everybody, when everybody gets a chance, the kids all progress and it's an awesome way to finish a season."
Rheaume-St.Cyr made several nice saves in the contest, including a big pad save with 1:56 left in the second period, and a pair of butterfly saves in the third period. Honeybaked also hit a pair of goalposts, one in each the second and third periods.
Devorsky also made his fair share of good saves, including a butterfly save with Honeybaked on the power play with 3:50 to go in the second.
So did Rheaume-St.Cyr's mother, a Honeybaked assistant coach and no stranger to playing in high pressure games, give her son any good advice before the game?
"Usually I would tell him things like that, but I knew today he knew what to do, so I told him to go ahead and do it," Rheaume said afterward.
Squirt AAA Minor Notebook
Honeybaked made the final by downing Belle Tire before tying Compuware and Little Caesar's during pool play, then advancing to the final after a 2-2 tie with Victory Honda in the semifinal. The team started off with a 3-1 win over Belle Tire, with Anthony Esser netting a pair of goals for Honeybaked and Filip Stankiewicz the other. Jay Keranen finished with a pair of assists. C. J. Ramsdell scored for Belle Tire with Alec Mahalak assisting… Honeybaked and Caesars skated to a 2-2 tie as Matthew Kovach and Max DiCicco scored for Honeybaked, while Hayden Taylor lit the lamp twice for Little Caesars… Honeybaked then tied Compuware, 4-4. Esser scored a pair of goals to lead Honeybaked, while Luke Cowan and Jacob Skolnik added single goals. Compuware got goals from Avery Hill, Rex Moe, Joseph Mancinelli and Logan Cockerill… Kovach and DiCicco scored for Honeybaked in the 2-2 semifinal tie with Victory Honda, while Brandon Kruse and Adam Olsen scored for Victory Honda… Little Caesar's tied Victory Honda 3-3 before the 2-2 tie with Honeybaked, then grabbed a 9-1 win over Belle Tire before edging Compuware 1-0 in the semifinal round. Derek Daschke scored a pair of goals from Mitchell Lewandowski to lead Caesar's in the 3-3 tie while Jeffrey Bishop also scored. Cooper Zach, Justin Brandt and Kruse scored for Victory Honda… Lewandowski led Little Caesar's in the win over Belle Tire with a hat trick and two assists, while Daschke added a pair of goals. Brendan Mosher, Sean Day and Bishop also tallied for Caesar's. Alex Bigelow scored for Belle Tire… Lewandowski scored Caesar's only goal in its semifinal win over Compuware.
Iron Mountain wins Squirt B MAHA state title
Four goals in third period gives Iron Kings 5-1 win over Traverse City
By Lonnie Mooneyham
Head coach Tyler Stoner of the Iron Mountain Bink’s Coca Cola Iron Kings had trouble expressing his emotions after his team defeated Traverse City Bill Marsh, 5-1, in the Squirt B MAHA state final on March 2 at the Southfield Civic Arena, so he resorted to humor.
“I really don’t have any words to describe it. I’m going to Disney World,” Stoner chuckled.
After a tight two periods, the Iron Kings lit the lamp four times in the third period to take control.
“We are kind of a team of destiny,” Stoner said. “Things have just happened the right way for us. We’ve come from behind, I would say in half our games. We never quit, never say die.”
Though Traverse City’s aggressive start gave them a few good scoring chances early, it also left the team short-handed twice in the first period. After being unsuccessful on the first power play, the Iron Kings’ Justin Rock tallied the game’s opening goal just 17 seconds after Andrew Froese’s second penalty. The goal came off of a wide shot by tournament MVP Reid Pietila that bounced off the backboards and ended up right in front to a well positioned Rock, who put it up and over Traverse City goalie Brendan LaCharite.
But Traverse City’s Froese answered back. On his second shift out of the penalty box, Froese stole the puck near center ice and skated around two Iron Kings’ defensemen to beat goalie Joseph Berglund and tie the game, 1-1.
After a scoreless second period, the Iron Kings recaptured the lead quickly in the final period as Jordon Wadge jumped on teammate Chris Roell’s rebound and stuffed it past LaCharite in what would be the game-winning goal.
With a good skating attack and a tiring Traverse City team, the Iron Kings tallied three more goals in the period, including one more by Wadge and two by Pietila, to take the state title. Roell ended the game with three assists on the night.
The game was a lot closer then the 5-1 final would indicate, but down the stretch, Traverse City simply couldn’t stay with the Iron Kings.
“They’re a great team, they played us hard,” Stoner said. “We’ve been a second half team with three lines, the kids are fresh and we wear them down. Everybody’s playing and contributing.”
The final was the second time over the weekend that the Iron Kings faced off against Traverse City, the first being a 5-4 comeback victory for the Kings after Traverse City opened with two unanswered goals.
“It came down to a tiebreaker for them to get in (to the championship game) and I didn’t want to see them again,” Stoner said.
The Iron Kings made the semifinals by going 3-0 in the round robin, and beat the Capital Centre Pride 3-2 to clinch a finals’ birth.
After winning the MVP award and scoring ten of his team’s twenty goals in the tournament, Pietila remained modest and recognizes that despite his high-scoring output, hockey is always a team sport.
“It feels good to be on this team and to win the state final,” he said, adding that goalie Berglund deserved plenty of credit as well.
Squirt B Notebook
Pietila’s ten goals included the game-winner against the Capital Centre Pride in the semifinals and Iron King goalie Joseph Berglund allowed just eight goals in five games and had a shutout against the Kensington Valley Federals…Traverse City’s John Peters scored a hat trick in the semifinal game against the Woodhaven Leafs’ and teammate Andrew Froese scored a tournament total of ten points, including a hat trick against Kensington Valley and the game-winning goal in the semifinals…Woodhaven Leafs’ Jon Szczepaniak scored two hat tricks in four games, including one in the semifinal loss to Traverse City. The Leafs’ Bryce Matulonis totaled seven points, including a goal and three assists against the Novi Cougars… Capital Centre Pride’s goalie Leonardo Zea recorded a shutout against the Novi Cougars to help his team reach the semifinals… Kensington Valley Federals’ Jakob Vaughn scored a hat trick and Brenden Stanko had a goal and two assists in a win over Traverse City… Novi Cougars’ Patrick Murray scored two goals in a win against Dragon’s Red Wings…Bay County Blizzards’ Cole Rechsteiner had a goal and an assist in a victory against Kensington Valley and the Blizzards’ Kevin Reminder scored two goals in a loss against Traverse City… Dragon’s Red Wings’ Pearce Baker scored two goals and added an assist in a loss against Woodhaven and Red Wing Cody Burns had a goal and an assist in a loss against Novi.
Midland wins MAHA Pee Wee A state title
Swartz’s goal gives North Stars, 2-1, overtime win over Livonia
By David Mitchell
After trailing for most of the MAHA Pee Wee A state final, the Midland North Stars saved their best for last.
Midland forward Jake Swartz scored midway through the first overtime to give the North Stars a 2-1 come-from-behind overtime victory over the Livonia Knights and the Pee Wee A state title on March 9 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.
“I was cutting in front of the net and I found the rebound sitting there and I was able to knock it in,” said Swartz. “It feels like nothing I’ve ever felt before, it’s amazing to win the championship.”
The North Stars trailed until the last minute of regulation when Tyler Angers scored a powerplay goal from a scramble in front of the net to tie the game, 1-1, with 55 seconds left in the game.
“I just knew we were going to win,” said Angers, who was named tournament MVP. “I didn’t know if I was going to win this award, but it all feels really good.”
Livonia’s Luke Otto opening the scoring in the first period when he knocked in a rebound after Midland goaltender Derek Striker stopped a point shot from the Knights’ Megan Keller.
Livonia kept the pressure on but couldn’t solve Striker again. Knights’ goalie Bryan Abell also was terrific, stopping several shots to keep the North Stars off the board.
Both teams had eight shots in the middle period, but neither team could cash in on their chances.
The Knights held their one-goal lead until late in regulation when Midland coach Greg Walters called timeout with 1:21 left in the period and pulled Striker for an extra attacker. After Abell made a save, Otto was called for crosschecking with 1:12 left in the game. On the ensuing 6-on-4 powerplay Angers picked up a bouncing puck in front of Abell and fired it in to tie the game with 54.8 seconds left on the clock.
Again both teams had scoring chances in the 10-minute overtime and again both goaltenders came up big before Swartz’s heroics ended the game.
“They made a goal at the beginning of the year and they did it, they won the state championship,” said Walters. “This was a total team effort and I’m just proud of every one of them.”
Pee Wee A Notebook
Midland had 36 shots on goal in their 10-3 semifinal win over the Grand Rapids Griffins… Livonia rolled to a 5-1 win over the Ann Arbor Wolves in their semifinal… Grand Rapids got two goals from Cullen Hoffman, and one goal each from Kyle Buhrmann, Mike Behm, and Cam Fisher in a 5-3 win over St. Clair Shores. The Saints goals came from Tyler Creagh, Kenneth Stamper and Justin Misiak…Traverse City Pepsi beat Calumet, 4-1, on goals from Paul Heger, Caleb Breithaupt, Reilly Detar and Trevor Apsey. The Lions lone goal came from Madison Labyak… Grand Rapids edged Westland, 2-1, on goals by Nick Allen, and Cam Fisher. Jonny Segasser scored the only goal for Westland… Ann Arbor held off Traverse City, 3-2, as William Bernicke had two goals and Cal Stripling one. Jalen Chatfield, and Derek Schrank scored for Ann Arbor…Livonia got past St. Clair Shores 3-2. Livonia had goals from Dominic Lutz, Luke Otto, and Michael Sinclair. Kenneth Stamper, and Justin Misiak each had third period goals for the Saints…Midland shut out Calumet 10-0 with hat tricks by Tyler Angers and Sam Brushaber. The Northstars also had two goals from Travis McNally, and one goal each from Jake Swartz, and Matthew Lee… St. Clair Shores skated past Westland 8-5. St. Clair Shores had two goals each from Kenny Cervone and Trevor Pode and got one goal each from Tyler Creagh, Justin Misiak, Ryan Smith and Max Schemansky. Charlie Supernois scored two goals, and Jacob Stanley, Brock Becker, and Matt Hudie each chipped in a goal for Westland…The Ann Arbor Wolves topped the Calumet Lions, 9-2. The Wolves had two goals from William Bernicke, and goals by Conner Lang, Alex Trouba, Michael Savage, Zack Hummell, Cal Stripling, Teddy Darr and Bruiser Freatman. Calumet had goals from Casey Markham and Madison Labyak… Livonia and Grand Rapids skated to a 3-3 tie. Livonia had goals from Kyle Witherspoon, Evan Gibboney, and Devin Kelly. Grand Rapids scoring came from a hat trick by Kyle Buhrmann… Midland shut out Traverse City 3-0 with goals by Andrew Healey, Travis McNally and Sam Brushaber.
Grosse Pointe wins MAHA Pee Wee AA state title
Bulldogs down Kensington Valley, 4-1, in final in Byron Center
By Philip Colvin
While familiarity can sometimes breed contempt, the competition between the Grosse Pointe and Kensington Valley Pee Wee AA squads is one of respect.
The Bulldogs didn’t have much luck against the Rebels during the season – losing four times and tying once. But at the MAHA state tournament, Grosse Pointe beat Kensington Valley in the round robin and then again in the final, 4-1, on March 9 at the Southside Community Center in Byron Center to take the Pee Wee AA state title.
“It’s always a battle,” said Grosse Pointe assistant coach Doug Rahaim. “They had gotten the best of us this season. They are a quality, well-coached team that plays hard. We want to beat them on the ice, but they are friends as well.”
The Bulldogs gave up five powerplay goals and lost their first game of the tournament, 5-3, to Allen Park.
“After that we just decided that we didn’t want our season to end,” said Rahaim. “So we talked about winning every period and making the season last.”
Grosse Pointe then needed an overtime, 2-1, victory in a must-win game against Grand Rapids to propel them into the semifinals, where they beat Flint, 3-0. Bulldogs goaltender Joey Lopez shutout Kensington Valley, 5-0, in the round robin and also beat the Griffins in overtime.
Goaltender Walker Bass got the start against Flint in the semifinals and was in net for the final.
“Walker had shut out Flint two weeks before in the LCAHL playoffs, so our head coach Robb McIntyre said “let’s go with him,’” said Rahaim.
And when Bulldogs and Walker whitewashed Flint in the semifinals, “Robb said “’let’s go with Walker again.’”
In the final, both teams were scoreless in the opening period but the Rebels jumped to a quick 1-0 lead just 1:16 into the second period on a powerplay goal from Shane Switzer off a pass from Corey Schueneman. With the lead, Kensington Valley turned up the heat and kept the pressure on the Bulldogs, who took a penalty with 3:06 left in the middle period.
But Grosse Point’s Brandon Thelen scored a shorthanded goal, creating a turnover at center ice and finishing in close with a deke to tie the game, 1-1.
“Brandon’s goal really lifted our kids up,” said Rahaim. “We got re-energized.”
Between periods the Bulldogs coach’s – McIntyre and assistants Mike Linenberg, Steve Scarpaci and Bob Scarfone - challenged their players.
“We told them ‘its down to a 15-minute season, what are you prepared to do?’” said Rahaim.
Grosse Pointe responded with two goals in the first three minutes of the final period to open a 3-1 lead over the Rebels.
Thelen got credit for the first one, when just after a Kensington Valley penalty expired his shot deflected off a Rebels defenseman’s stick into the net. Just 45 seconds later Thelen went in on another breakaway on Kensington Valley goalie T.J Miller, who stopped him. But teammate Bryan Bisilico swooped in and knocked in the rebound to give the Bulldogs a two-goal lead. Grosse Pointe defenseman Trent Johnson closed the out the scoring with a seeing-eye shot from the point that went with just over eight minutes left in the game.
Thelen’s shorthanded goal that tied it 1-1 “was the turning point of the game,” said Kensington Valley coach Tom Miller. “We never seemed to recover from that.”
“The kids played hard and it was a story of some missed conversions – we had some 2-on-0 and breakaways - that we couldn’t seem to finish,” said Miller. “It was a classic Kensington-Grosse Pointe game. The Bulldogs will be represent Michigan well at the National tournament.”
Pee Wee AA notebook
Flint’s Cam Hite, Travis Welch, Zac DeSimplelare, Nicholas Mitter and JJ Lewis scored in the Icelanders 5-1 win over Chelsea. Garrett Brewis scored for the Chiefs… Allen Park’s Kyle Makowski, Ben Geierman, Brendon Kearney, Michael Maiden and Jack Dobek scored in the Huskies 5-3 win over Grosse Pointe in the round-robin. Bryan Basilico, Zack Pittman and Jack Stander scored for the Bulldogs… Cadillac beat Keweenaw 4-1, on goals from Spencer Graham, Levi Rowan, Tyler Thomas and Dane Moore. The Storm’s goal came from Raymond Brice… Grand Rapids’ got goals from Justin Cover and Luke Gagnon in a 2-1 win over Allen Park. Timothy Lyons scored the lone goal for the Huskies…Keweenaw’s Levi Erkkila scored twice in the Storm’s 6-4 win over Chelsea. Kevin Shand had two goals for the Chiefs in the loss… Kensington Valley’s Michael Yuhasz scored twice in the Rebels 5-1 win over Allen Park. Maiden scored the Huskies goal… Brett Bond and Austin Sereno each scored twice in Flint’s 6-1 win over Keweenaw. Bryce Johnson scored for the Storm in the loss… Chelsea’s Joel Cochran scored all five of the Chiefs’ goals in a 5-0 win over Cadillac.
Honeybaked rolls to Pee Wee AAA Major state title
Squad takes quick lead and beats Belle Tire, 8-2, in final
By John Raffel
It's a record that Honeybaked's Pee Wee AAA team is very proud of, although beating Belle Tire was all that mattered on March 9.
Honeybaked jumped out to a 3-0 lead and defeated Belle Tire, 8-2, in the MAHA Pee Wee AAA Major final at the Taylor Sportsplex.
Honeybaked is 65-3-2 and had a 5-1-1 record against Belle Tire during the 2007-08 season.
“We were very nervous about this game,” Honeybaked coach Mike Hamilton said. “We beat them 7-1 earlier in the tournament during the round robin. I hoped we could get off to a good start. We knew coming into the game that our goal was to score first. We knew if we did, it might raise some doubts in Belle Tire's mind. We knew scoring first would be important.”
And scoring first is just what Honeybaked did, and in a big way.
Honeybaked, which had a 38-18 advantage in shots on goal, had three goals in the first period, scored by Taylor Fernandez, assisted by Jason Cotton; Alex Talcott, assisted by Alex Robert and Eric Israel and Tyler Gernhofer, assisted by Matt Cimetta and Robert.
Honeybaked had an unassisted goal in the second period by Talcott and another goal by Evan Allen, assisted by Robert and Cimetta.
Belle Tire scored in the second period off the stick of Mitch Jones, assisted by Grant Rushlau to make it 3-1, but could never get any closer.
“Everyone has been on the same page for us with our passing and shooting and trying to stay out of the penalty box,” Talcott said. “I'd say it's similar to what I did in Saturday's game. I wanted to finish things out on a good note.”
That's exactly what Talcott and his teammates did.
In the third, Honeybaked got goals from Fernandez, assisted by Craig Pefley and another goal by Talcott, assisted by Evan Allen and Israel.
Cody Cowart scored for Belle Tire in the third, assisted by Ramon Lopez.
“We wanted to hold them off early on, but that first period killed us,” said Belle Tire coach Jeff Torolski.
Talcott was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship game.
“We've stepped up for our big games,” Talcott said. “At nationals (early April in New Jersey), we should do very well.”
Max Grant was goalie for Belle Tire and Ian Jenkins for Honeybaked.
His team's depth, Hamilton said, “has helped us to win a lot of games in a short period of time. That way, we have three good lines, nine good forwards, and six solid defensemen. That way, we can wear a team down very well.”
It's been a championship season for the team in more ways than one. Honeybaked also has won tournaments at the Honeybaked Invitational, the Belle Cup tournament and the Pee Wee world championships in Quebec. Honeybaked has also won three straight state titles. But title No. 3 was a challenge.
“It took us while,” Hamilton said. “By mid-November, we turned the corner.”
But right now, Hamilton and his players are looking at the national scene.
“I would have to think we have a very good shot at winning nationals,” Hamilton said. “If we continue to play well, then we've got a very good shot.”
Coming into the season, “we knew we had a strong team on paper. The key was if we could come together as a team. And they've done that,” Hamilton said.
Pee Wee AAA Major Notebook
In other state tournament games: Honeybaked 3, Little Caesars 2 in overtime and Belle Tire 2, Victory Honda 1 on day one; Belle Tire 3, Little Caesars 2 and Honeybaked 5, Compuware 1 on day two; Honeybaked 7, Belle Tire 1 and Victory Honda 3, Compuware 2 in overtime on day three; Little Caesars 4, Compuware 1 and Honeybaked 3, Victory Honda 1 on day four; and Belle Tire 5, Compuware 2 and Little Caesars 4, Victory Honda 3 on day five… On day one, Taylor Fernandez had one goal and two assists for Honeybaked. Grant Rushlau and Hunter Gatza had one goal and one assist apiece for Belle Tire… The next day Gatza had two goals for Belle Tire and John Hayden had two goals for Honeybaked… On day three Craig Pefley had one goal and one assist for Honeybaked while Tyger Howat made 28 saves in Compuware's setback… On day four Alex Johnston had two assists for Little Caesars. Matt Cimetta had two assists for Honeybaked…. On day five Tyler Motte had one goal and two assists for Little Caesar. Gatza scored three goals for Belle Tire.
Victory Honda takes Pee Wee Minor title
Late goal gives squad 2-1 win over Belle Tire
By John Raffel
It was Victory Honda's turn to celebrate after a 2-1 victory against Belle Tire in MAHA Pee Wee AAA Minor state final on March 16 at the Taylor Sportsplex.
Victory Honda’s Jacob Turowski broke a 1-1 tie with the winning goal for Victory Honda on the powerplay, assisted by Zachary Tavierne and Darby Llewellyn, with 2:05 to play in regulation.
Victory Honda, who held a 26-20 shots advantage in the game, got its other goal from Llewellyn, assisted by Tavlerne and Ian Fagan, in the second period. Belle Tire's goal came from Damien Chreck, assisted by Hunter Kosnik and Christopher Brown, midway through the middle period and tied it, 1-1.
Cody Gibson made 19 saves for Victory Honda, while Cooper Seedott had 24 stops for Belle Tire.
Turowski, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the title game, said it was sheer determination that produced his game-winning goal.
“We were working hard around the net,” Turowski said. “We won all the little battles.”
But the biggest battle was won by Turowski for the winning goal, as he took a pass from Tavierne and put a shot past Seedott.
“The puck came to me,” he said. “I shot it. It was a good game for us.”
Victory Honda Coach Rick Osburn, whose team improved to 40-18-4, had an unwavering confidence in his team.
“My kids were very loose. They love to play the game and were playing good hockey,” he said. “They knew if they went hard to the net what they could do. They went out and executed.”
When it 1-1 late in the game, but Osburn was still confident of victory.
“I was never nervous,” Osburn said. “Belle Tire is s good team and beat us most of the time this year. When we focused, we got the job done.”
In the end, Victory Honda's defense did the truck.
“It's our first state championship,” Osburn said. “Team defense was the key today. Our 1-2-2 forecheck and our forwards coming back helped us.”
Osburn praised Turowski not just for his scoring excellence but also for his leadership.
“He's quite a kid,” Osburn said. “Our goaltending was outstanding too.”
In this division, the state champion does not go to a nationals.
“We need to do this again next year because then we can qualify for nationals,” Osburn said.
Pee Wee AAA Notebook
Belle Tire, in its 7-0 win over Dearborn Brand, got two goals and two assists from Jared Gardner… Honeybaked got one goal and two assists from Tyler Hayes in a 5-3 win over Compuware and while Victory Honda got two goals from Matthew Sorlsho in a 6-3 win over Little Caesars…Belle Tire got a goal and assist from Austin Flores in a 5-2 win over Little Caesars. In Victory Honda's 7-7 tie with Honeybaked, Dakota Joshua got a goal and assist. For Honeybaked, Jacob Drinkard and Taylor Bommarito had two goals apiece….Compuware got two goals from Ronnie Hein in a 4-0 win over Dearborn… Little Caesars’ Anthony Scarsella had two assists in the 3-1 win over Compuware… Victory Honda, in its 14-goal outburst, got five goals from Collin Smith and three goals from Matthew Sorlsho… Honeybaked got two goals from Roman Gaudet, in its win over Belle Tire…. In the semifinals, Belle Tire’s Jared Gardner had one goal and one assist in a 5-0 win over Honeybaked. Victory Honda got a goal and an assist from Logan Gestro in their 4-3 win over Little Caesars.
Ice Mountain rolls to MAHA Pee Wee B state title
Warriors beat Manistique, 7-3, in final at Hudsonville
By John Raffel
All season long the Ice Mountain Warriors relied on a deep and varied offensive attack.
And in the MAHA Pee Wee B state tournament, the Warriors used that scoring depth to roll to five straight wins, including a 7-3 win over the Manistique Vikings, in the final on March 9 at the Georgetown Ice Arena.
Ice Mountain fired out to a 4-0 lead in the first period. Garrett Gormley scored Georgetown's first two goals, assisted by Travis Flowers on the first one at 12:27. Gormley scored again at 7:43, assisted by Nick Peterson for a 2-0 lead.
The Warriors Brandyn Matte added two more goals at 5:44 and 1:13. He was assisted by Kelly O'Reilly on the third goal and by Michael O'Reilly on the fourth goal for a 4-0 lead.
Nathan Rahn finally put Manistique on the board at the 10:02 mark of the second period when he scored, assisted by Ryan Ramey. But Iron Mountain responded with a goal from Tyler Donnelly just over two minutes later, assisted by O'Reilly to take a 5-1 lead after two periods.
O’Reilly made it 6-1 with 12:33 left in the third period assisted by Evan Satterlee.
But Manistique didn’t give up. The Vikings Justin Delilse scored with five minutes left in the game and Ryan Ramey made it 6-3 just two minutes later. Nick Peterson assisted on both goals.
O'Relly scored his second goal at 2:31, assisted by Matte, finish the scoring.
“We got contributions from everybody,” said Ice Mountain coach Mike Rutherford, who was assisted behind the bench by Wes Koons, John O'Reilly and Tony Fritz. “The kids played well together. We scored a lot of goals.”
His son, Ivan Rutherford, handled the goaltending duties.
Flint had met Manistique in round-robin play.
“We came back and beat them 4-3,” Rutherford said. “We were opportunistic the entire tournament.”
Getting scoring from multiple sources and having success at regular season tournaments helped the Warriors at the state tournament.
“We won a Silver Stick tournament and went to a tournament to Niagara Falls in January,” Rutherford said. “We've played some good competition.
“We have a big spread in goal scoring. Any good team I've ever had, that's been the key behind the success. We have some good players. We divide it all up.”
Michael O'Reilly came up big for the Warriors in the tournament.
“He's grown a lot. He had a good playoff,” Rutherford said.
Louie Linck was head coach for the Manistique Vikings in the central Upper Peninsula. He is assisted by B.J. Tiglas and Blaze Ayotte.
“For the tournament, we were 3-2, losing only the two games to Flint (Ice Mountain),” Linck said, whose team left the tourney with a 36-4 record. “We had a very strong tournament. We had a couple of lapses but came through them. In the championship game, I think we got tired. Anytime you go into the state tournament, it will be tough. Our kids skated hard. We came out and played well.”
Linck liked the way his team performed throughout the tournament.
“The kids skated great,” he said. “We weren't used to not having a zamboni break. That was just a mental thing.”
The key behind the 36-4 record “has been all about all the kids,” Linck said. “We were very dedicated and put in a lot of effort during practice. I've had these kids for three years. It's a very dedicated bunch. They play well together. That's the key. We had good chemistry and teamwork.
“We have our strong points and a lot of talent. These kids work hard to make everyone better.”
Pee Wee B Notebook
Jacob Dillon’s first of two second period goals broke a 2-2 tie and helped Kentwood to a 8-5 win over Livingston. The Falcons Trevor McCoy and Bailey Rietman also scored twice in the win. Brett Daavettila, Emmet Sturos, Brett Pietila, Adam Daavettila and Alex Lynch scored for the Lightning… Michael Way had a hat trick and Brandon Johnson had two goals in Monroe’s 7-5 win over Mt. Clemens. Tyler Hay had a hat trick for the Lightning in the loss… In a battle of Lightnings, Livingston’s Austin Polucanovich and Brett Pietila each had two goals in a 6-6 tie with Mt. Clemens. Tyler Hay had a hat trick and Mark Schumacker scored twice for Mt. Clemens… Lawton Mitchell, Seth Muzyl and Harrison Quaal scored for Gaylord in a 6-3 loss to Ice Mountain… Ryker Barber scored Grand Valley’s lone goal in a 12-1 loss to Manistique… Seth Muzyl had a hat trick, Skye Pieffer scored twice and Sam Black had a single goal in Gaylord’s 6-3 win over Grand Valley. The Stars got goals from Adam Boelkins, Jacob Blok and David Brown in the loss.
Midland wins MAHA Bantam A state title in Calumet
Bloomberg and top line key North Stars win over Lansing
By Zach Kukkonen
Because bantam players have difficulty growing playoff beards, the Midland North Stars did the next best thing.
Nearly all the team dyed their hair before the MAHA state tournament, an idea thought up by Midland captain Kyle Schempp, and the North Stars defeated the Lansing Capitals, 5-0, on March 2 in Calumet to win the Bantam A state title.
“They had a big hair-dying party over at Kyle’s house,” Midland head coach Jim DeLong said. “They dyed them all up, now we’re going to shave them all.”
Nick Mammel led the way for the North Stars, picking up a hat trick including the eventual game-winning goal. Mammel and his fellow linemates Hayden Ray and Schempp caused havoc all game long, hitting every Capital in sight and contributing to four goals.
“When we put those three behemoths together, it’s been that way all season,” DeLong said. “Mammel’s a wonderful talent, he’s got a lot of skill and this week he stepped up.”
Neither team scored in the first period, despite many near misses. The Capitals hit the crossbar with their opening shot, and had multiple quality chances to light the lamp. Midland was also busy, but Lansing goalie Chad Catt was up to the task. Catt stopped a salvo of shots early and stoned Mammel on the doorstep late in the period to preserve the 0-0 tie.
The second period was a different story, however. Only 3:52 into the stanza, Mammel gave the North Stars a 1-0 lead with a laser shot from the point that got past Catt. Lansing responded with some prolonged pressure, but Midland came right back with its second goal, as Steven Jackson put in a rebound off a shot by teammate Sami Abdelaziz to get a two-goal lead heading into the final period.
“A couple things broke down,” Lansing head coach Jay Meyer said. “We had some difficulty clearing our own zone, we had some difficulty on the forecheck. And they really capitalized.”
After Schempp leveled a Capitals defenseman, teammate Chris Leibinger grabbed the loose puck, went in on a breakaway and deposited the puck over Catt’s left shoulder to make the score 3-0. Mammel added two insurance goals to seal the championship for Midland.
“It was an outstanding victory,” DeLong said. “We played as a team, forechecked well and backchecked well.”
Midland goalie Sam Bloomberg came up big when he was needed, made 17 saves to get the shutout and earned his coach’s praise.
“He’s an outstanding goalie, he’s an excellent player,” DeLong said. “It doesn’t surprise me that he gets shutouts, he normally puts himself in a position to succeed. He’s got a bright future.”
Despite the loss, Lansing cannot be too disappointed with its second-place finish. In the semifinals, the Capitals defeated a tough Port Huron team that actually beat Midland earlier in the tournament. Meyer knows his team gave its all and should be proud of its accomplishment.
“We’re so proud of our kids, we weren’t expected to get this far,” Meyer said. “We’ve got a wonderful group of hard-working kids and supportive families.
“We’re a little bit disappointed, but when you get a little bit older you understand that disappointments are not always disappointments,” he continued. “They’re really things to be cherished.”
Bantam A Notebook
Midland achieved a measure of revenge against Troy in the semifinals, defeating the Sting, 7-3, after losing to them a year ago in the semifinals…Culler Martin scored twice, and teammate Mitch Beckman added a single goal in Lansing’s 3-1 semifinal win over Port Huron. Myles Huffman scored for the Flags… Joseph Aluia had two goals in Troy’s 4-3 win over Allen Park…Vince Gessler scored twice in Lansing’s 5-2 win over the USA Eagles. Riley Kennedy and Nick Balavich scored for USA in the loss… Kyle Hyde scored the gamewinner in the third period to give Port Huron a 2-1 win over Traverse City Copy Shop North Stars. Drew Johnson also scored for the Flags and Kevin Banducci scored for Traverse City… The Flags beat Midland, 3-1, in the round robin on goals from Tyler Hughes, Erik Gouin and Lewis Nowakowski. Klye Schempp had the North Stars goal… USA Eagles beat Allen Park, 2-1, on a third period goal from Scott Wolf. Andy Hebden had the Eagles other goal and Kyle King scored for the Huskies… Lansing’s Jordan Wood scored both goals in the Capitals 2-0 win over Allen Park… Troy’s Evan Corbett, Alex Wodnicki and James Nahikian scored in the Stings’ 3-0 win over USA…Jacob Mineau and Johnson each had two goals in Port Huron’s 4-0 win over the Keweenaw Storm.
Rochester takes MAHA Bantam AA state tournament title
Late goal gives Rattlers 3-2 win over archrival Taylor Wild in Hancock
By Zach Kukkonen
Rochester’s Taylor Jones could barely stand after taking a slap shot to the knee in the semifinals of the MAHA Bantam AA state tournament.
But hours later Jones would not allow himself to miss the final Sunday evening, and fortunately for the Rattlers, he didn’t.
Jones scored twice in the final game - including the game-winner with 3:56 left in the contest - to lead the Rattlers to a 3-2 win over archrival Taylor Wild 3-2 and the Bantam AA state championship on March 9 at Houghton County Arena in Hancock.
“We iced (his knee), we heated it and we got him ready to play,” said Rochester coach Drake Turcotte said. “He just gave a gritty, gritty performance.”
Rochester got a measure of revenge, as the Rattlers lost to the Wild 2-1 in last season’s Bantam A state final. The team did not want to have to watch Taylor hoist the trophy again, and Turcotte used that to motivate his players.
“That’s what I told the kids, remember when they were being presented the trophy last year,” Turcotte said. “Remember the look, the joy they have. Next year we’ve got something to work for.”
The Rattlers may have left Hancock as the only undefeated team, but it certainly was not an easy road. Sunday was the second time Rochester had to defeat Taylor, and the Rattlers eked out a win over the Marquette Legion Sentinels in the semifinals. All in all, Rochester defeated Taylor four out of the five times the teams met this season.
“We played great all weekend,” Turcotte said. “We had to beat Taylor twice to win this, and they’re an unbelievable team. These two teams have been playing against each other for a long time, and it could’ve gone either way so we’re very fortunate to get a win.”
Despite coming out on the losing end, the Wild never gave up in the championship and were tied with less than five minutes left in the third period. Taylor actually scored the first goal, with Jake Jaskolski poking the puck past Rochester goalie Tyler Everlove in a scramble in front of the net.
The Rattlers answered with Jones scoring his first goal late in the first and Josh Hosking giving Rochester the lead 6:17 into the third period. But Jaskolski was not done, depositing a rebound from a Ryan Laurain shot into the back of the net. Jones’ goal 30 seconds later sealed the Wild’s fate, but Taylor coach Joe Emery could not have asked for a better effort from his team.
“I told some people that (my players) have spoiled me,” Emery said. “You hear coaches all the time say my team didn’t come to play. I never even have to consider that from this group of kids. They just keep coming and coming and coming.”
Both offenses were humming at different points of the game, but Everlove and Taylor netminder Josh Malecki kept their teams in the game. Malecki preserved a 1-1 tie in the second with the save of the night, as Rochester nearly had an open net but Malecki kicked the chance away. He ended the night with 32 saves.
“He played well, he kept us in the game when they put some pressure on him,” Emery said.
Everlove finished the game with a still-impressive 26 saves.
Bantam AA Notebook
To get to the finals, the Rochester Rattlers defeated the Marquette Legion Sentinels 2-1 on the back of two goals by Ian Pichel. Kyle Carrier scored the lone goal for Marquette. ... In the other semifinal, the Taylor Wild took out the Flint Generals 4-2. Chase Schmittou made 25 saves in the win, while Ryan Laurain, Joey Matthews, Nick Serafini and Joey Emery all lit the lamp for the Wild. Emery also had two assists. ... Rochester defeated the Capital Center Pride 4-3 led by two goals from Connor Lyons. Brandon Flood had two assists to lead the Pride... the Flint Generals notched a 4-3 overtime victory over the Soo Lakers with two goals from Eric Root. Nat Fitzpatrick scored for the Lakers. ... Nick Weston and Aaron Leach scored for Marquette to defeat the Keweenaw Storm 2-1. Ben Johnson was the lone Storm player to find twine. ... Southfield was shut out by Rochester 4-0. Michael Paraskevin scored for the Rattlers. ... Brandon Bett scored for Capital Center, but the Pride fell to the Wild 2-1. Joey Palazzolo and Aaron Peters registered goals for Taylor. ... Gavin Burbach picked up a hat trick to lead Soo over Keweenaw 6-0.
Hot start nets Little Caesar’s Bantam AAA Major title
Squad takes big lead and holds on to 6-5 win over Honeybaked
By Chuck Nelson
With a five goal first period lead it looked like Little Caesars would run away with the MAHA Bantam AAA state title on March 9 at the Taylor Sportsplex.
But Honeybaked didn’t fold its tent and staged a furious rally, scoring four times in the third period but falling short as Little Caesars held on for a 6-5 win.
“It was important for us,” Little Caesar’s coach Mike Brown said of getting a quick start. “We played them earlier in the tournament and it was the same thing. There’s a lot of pride on that other side, and they just kept battling, battling, battling back. And then we took six penalties in the third period. That’s why I have gray hair. But, we pulled it out.”
Little Caesar’s scored on five of its 14 first-period shots on goal, and started just 1:53 into the game when Zach Badalamenti scored on a low snapshot. Ricky Steenland assisted. Badalamenti made it 2-0 just over five minutes later, picking off a blocked pass in front of Honeybaked goalie Max Dutzy and guiding it into the net at the 6:54 mark. Cory Czarnik assisted.
Jonathan Miller banked in a shot off a defender’s skate to make it 3-0 less than a minute later, spelling the end of the day’s action for Dutzy. Vince Trockeck assisted on the Miller tally.
Matt DeBlouw added another goal 1:15 later, finding room between the goalpost and netminder Joe Janiga’s skate on a rebound for a 4-0 advantage. Tyler Murray drew the lone assist on the goal.
ominik Shine gave Little Caesar’s a 5-0 lead 10:17 into the first, clanking a shot off the post and in, with Kenny Miloser and Steenland drawing assists.
Honeybaked found some life late in the second period, when Andrew Palushaj cut the lead to 5-1. Nico Rugerri notched the first of his four points on the day with an assist, while Paul Nardone also assisted.
Ruggeri then made it 5-2 with an unassisted tally 2:13 into the third period, but Caesar’s answered at the 4:31 mark when Czarnik posted an unassisted tally to make it 6-2.
Honeybaked added another on a 5-on-3 power-play 6:13 into the third when Nardone scored on a rebound. Austin Hibner and Gunnar Dircks drew the assists.
Ruggeri then closed the gap to 6-4 with an unassisted power-play goal at the 13:58 mark.
oneybaked then made it a one-goal game late in the game, when Jack Ridgeway scored with the man advantage from Ruggeri, but they couldn’t find the mark in the game’s last minute with Janiga pulled for the extra attacker.
“The guys battled all year, and our goal was to win the last game in Michigan, and we achieved that goal,” said Brown. “We won a few big tournaments, and failed in a few too, but it just made us tournament-ready when it came to the state title, because everyone says that whoever wins the Michigan state championship is going to win the nationals. We’ve had a heck of a year.”
Bantam AAA Major Notebook
Little Caesars’ Josh Forrester made 12 saves to record a shutout in a 7-0 win over Belle Tire, while Cory Czarnik had a hat trick to lead the offense. Dominik Shine, Matt DeBlouw, Nick Horne and Ricky Steenland also scored. Caesar’s then scored four second-period goals to down Honeybaked 5-1, with Kacper Guzik posting a hat trick to lead the way. Trocheck and Czarnik each finished with a goal and assist. Drew Mayer scored for Honeybaked. Jonathan Miller and Guzik had a goal and assist apiece to lead Little Caesar’s to a 4-3 win over Victory Honda. James Peplinski, Johsua Arnold and Mitchell Gatt scored for Victory Honda. Caesar’s then posted a 4-1 win in the teams’ semifinal rematch. Shine paced Caesar’s with a pair of goals, while Peplinski scored for Victory Honda… Honeybaked started with a 6-5 win over NXI, with Mayer recording a hat trick to lead the way and Nick Neville scoring the game-winner. Charles Hemstrom and Paul Nardone also scored for Honeybaked, while Thomas Stankiewicz paced NXI with two goals and two assists. Kyle Ware, Doug Zelenka and Jorden Kegeler also scored for NXI. Honeybaked lost to Compuware 6-4 to complete pool play. Brady Vail led Compuware with a pair of goals, while David Mannino, Cody Makinson, Zack Szajner and Stafan Noesen also scored. Austin Hibner led Honeybaked with two goals, while Mayer and Nardone added goals. Honeybaked then won the semifinal rematch 4-3. Hibner, Mayer, Jack Ridgeway and Jarett Friedland scored for Honeybaked, while Makinson, Blake Pietila and Michael Farrantino scored for Compuware.
Little Caesars wins Bantam AAA Minor crown
Dunn’s goal gives team a 3-2 OT win over Honeybaked
By John Raffel
It's a goal that Little Caesars’ Cory Dunn won't forget for a long time.
Dunn scored the game winner in overtime to lead Little Caesars past Honeybaked, 3-2, on March 16 in the MAHA Bantam AAA Minor state title game at the Taylor Sportsplex.
Honeybaked scored in the first period on a goal by Bryan Yim, assisted by Nolan Gluchowski. But Little Caesars took a 2-1 first period lead on goals by Wes Cimmrrusti, unassisted and by John-John Ganss, assisted by Anthony Mousseau.
Honeybaked scored in the second period on a goal by Aaron Soave, assisted by Bryan Yim to tie the game, 2-2.
In the third period, with 40 seconds left, Grant Webermin hit the post for Honeybaked.
There was 2:42 left in overtime when Dunn scored his goal. Honeybaked lost despite having a 39-29 shots advantage.
MVP for the game was Dunn. The winning goalie with 37 saves was Jimmy Howe for Little Caesars.
“I just drove the net,” Dunn said on his winning goal. “I got a nice pass from Griffen Molino. It was a great game. Everyone worked 100 percent.”
It was the most important goal in Dunn's life. After regulation, he had a sense he might get the gamewinner.
“I was telling my teammates that I was due for a goal,” he said. “I was hoping I would get it.”
The two teams had split six previous meetings, including two ties.
“They are a good team with a hard forecheck,” said Baker.
Baker said all his team played hard but that his goaltender, Jimmy Howe was outstanding.
“We had a good tournament, but this was probably one of his better games at goaltender,” said Baker. “This was our biggest. It's our first tournament win this year. We were in a lot of good tournaments this year. But if we're going to win a tournament, this was a good one to take.”
Bantam AAA Minor Notebook
Compuware got a goal and an assist from Garret Cockerill in a 3-0 win over Victory Honda…Little Caesars got two goals from Zach Wlacek in a 3-1 win over Honeybaked…Brian Scarfone and Brett DAndrea had two goals apiece for Belle Tire in a 7-0 win over Dearborn….Honeybaked got one goal and one assist from Jesse Young in a 4-0 win over NXI….Belle Tire’s David Parrottino, Cam Gibson and Markus Cox scored in a 3-1 win over Victory Honda… Honeybaked’s Connor Wood scored twice in a 3-2 semifinal win over Compuware…Little Caesars Zach Wlacek scored two goals and had an assist in a 5-3 semifinal win over Belle Tire.
Tawas takes MAHA Bantam B state championship
Thunder wins title with 3-1 win over Keweenaw Bay in Negaunee
By Curt Kemp
When the Tawas Thunder and Keweenaw Bay Baraga Telephone faced off March 9 in Negaunee, fans from Tawas and the Keweenaw filled the stands, and surrounded the glass at all sides.
The game was a rematch between the two teams - who had already played one another in the first game of the tournament, a Keweenaw Bay 4-2 win. Coming in to the final game, Keweenaw Bay had one loss all season. Tawas entered the final with one loss, as well - the round robin defeat to Keweenaw Bay.
It was Tawas who got redemption, though, winning 3-1 despite being outshot in the contest 39-11.
"It's a relief for us to end up pulling it off," Tawas head coach Tom Szostak said.
The fans at Negaunee Ice Arena witnessed two great individual performances - one from Tawas goalie, and eventual tournament MVP, Ryan McEwan, and the other from Keweenaw's Josh Borgen.
McEwan stopped 38 of the 39 shots he faced in the final, and Borgen, in a losing effort, showcased amazing stick handling and an uncanny ability to get to the net.
Szostak said McEwan has been the team's leader throughout the season, and that his performance in the finals was what he had come to expect from the Thunder goalie.
"He’s into the game all the time," Szostak said. "He's on the other kids constantly to play good. He's like the quarterback of our team."
McEwan said the state championship win had been a long time coming for him.
"I've been here three straight years and never won it," McEwan said. "We finally won it - and I'm ecstatic right now."
McEwan also credited his teammates, and said he was disappointed to have to end the season.
"I would do anything for these guys," he said. "I've played together with some of these guys my whole life - ever since I started. I love this team. I played every year with them, and I'm sad to see this end."
Borgen scored the lone goal for Keweenaw in the final - a glove-side shot after skating around two Tawas defenders that came at 11:21 of the final period.
Keweenaw head coach Terry Kahkonen said Borgen, who scored 99 goals on the season along with 60 assists, was an integral part of the Baraga Telephone squad.
"He's been a playmaker for us the whole year," Kahkonen said. "If he's not scoring, he's getting playmakers. He's a big asset."
Borgen scored six goals in the tournament and assisted on six others.
Borgen added that he was happy with the team's performance, despite not coming away with the victory.
"I felt like we played pretty good, but that goalie was really good," he said. "I think we gave them a run for their money."
Tawas started the scoring on the team's first shot of the game - a wrister from Nick Revord at 12:32 in the first period. Nathan Koenig assisted on the play. Tawas scored again before the end of the period, courtesy of some nice stick-handling from Koenig.
After two toe drags to get past the Keweenaw defense, Koenig beat the Keweenaw goaltender unassisted on a top shelf stick side goal at 2:42 to put Tawas up 2-0.
The Tawas scoring was capped off when Koening scored again at 12:49 in the second period, again unassisted.
The Tawas head coach said the final game was the best competition the team had seen all season.
"This is the hardest game we've played all season," Szostak said.
The Keweenaw coach echoed Szostak's remarks.
"They were good competition for us," Kahkonen said about the Tawas team.
Bantam B Notebook
Negaunee's Country Kitchen defeated Bluewater 7-3 on Dustin Goupille's hat trick. All three Bluewater goals came from Paul Ingles… Negaunee dropped an 8-3 decision to Keweenaw Bay but was led by Dylan Etelamaki, who assisted on all three Negaunee goals, and Cody Erickson, with two goals. Keweenaw was led by Joe Richard's hat trick. Carter Hendricks and Dylan Hemmila added two goals apiece…The St. Clair Ice Hawks were defeated 4-1 by the Southwest Michigan Freeze. The lone St. Clair goal was scored by Frankie Erace, with assists from Gary Partyka and Todd Isett. The Freeze were led by Joseph Koehler, with two goals and Andrew Schultz with two assists… St. Clair defeated the Taylor Wild 9-5. Joesph Vitale scored twice in the second period for the Ice Hawks. The Wild were led by Adam Bussell, with two goals, and Alex Bliznik, with two assists and a goal. . .The Southwest Michigan Freeze defeated the Livingston Huskies 4-3 on a third period goal from Alexander Padla. The Huskies were led by Ryan Daavettila and Chet Daavettila, each with one goal and one assist.
Belle Tire rolls to MAHA Midget A Tier II title
Squad beats Canton, 4-1, in championship final
By Brittany Ochtinsky
Belle Tire kicked off the MAHA Midget A Tier II state tournament with a 5-3 win over the Canton Crush and then completed their four-game sweep with a 4-1 win over Canton in the final on March 9 at Great Lakes Sport City in Fraser.
The teams had met twice in the regular season, with each team picking up a win. Belle Tire’s loss to Canton was the only one the squad sustained in the division all season.
“Our game plan was to come out and hit them,” Belle Tire Coach Steve Glover said. “I thought we took too many penalties, but we attacked them down low and that’s what we’ve been doing all year.”
The tone for the game was set early, as 13 minor penalties were assessed in the first period alone, and Belle Tire quickly took advantage.
Leo Blenek opened the scoring for Belle Tire on the power play with 3:06 to play in the first period when he redirected Dylan Mantley’s shot from the blueline past Crush goalie Stephen Zavori. Matt Reno also assisted on the goal.
With one of his own teammates in the box, Mikie Joncic extended Belle Tire’s lead 2-0 with 12:21 left in the second when he picked up a loose puck in Canton’s defensive zone and beat Zavori five-hole, which stood as the game-winning goal.
Canton responded 11 seconds later, still with the man advantage, beating Belle Tire goalie Lyle Baumgarten for the Crush’s only goal of the game.
Belle Tire regained the two-goal lead with 8:15 remaining when Nick West picked up Nick Asaro’s rebound.
Right off the opening face-off in the third period, seven seconds in, Matt Johnson marched down the ice with the help of Brett Bilicki and beat Zavori to round out the scoring for Belle Tire.
Joncic, who finished the weekend with two goals and an assist, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Glover has coached the same group of boys for the past two seasons, so he was pleased when the team’s hard work came to fruition.
“We had one goal and that was to win states. It started two years ago when we all came together,” Glover said.
For Canton, head coach Ken Gaffney had hoped for a different result, as it marked the third consecutive season his team had faltered in the final.
“I’m really proud of our team, I thought we played well but I’m disappointed that we lost. I would have thought our third year in the state finals would have had a better outcome,” he said.
“Five-on-five we feel we’re a really good team, but with that amount of penalties, it greatly diminished our chances.”
Midget A Notebook
In the semifinals, Canton’s Christopher Sitler scored two goals to lift the Crush over host Summit Plastics 6-2, while Sam Clever and Bryan Pike each had goals for Summit… Dalton Bienc and Mitch Brinker each notched two goals in Belle Tire’s 6-1 victory over the Bluewater Phantoms in the other semifinal. Thomas Metz had Bluewater’s only goal… In Summit’s 5-1 victory over Bluewater, Brad Tunesi picked up two goals for Summit, while Francis Harrison netted a third-period goal for Bluewater… Jacob Mahoski scored the go-ahead goal for the Marquette Sentinals in the third period, as they defeated Sault Ste. Marie 5-4. Marquette’s Dylan Hamari finished the game with two goals and two assists, while Travis Behling led Sault Ste. Marie with a goal and an assist… Michael Ericson had a pair of goals for Belle Tire in their 7-2 win over the Holland Ice Dogs. Reavy and Duckworth had goals for Holland… Christopher Sitler had a hat trick for Canton in the Crush’s 8-1 victory over the Garden City Gold Wings. Gary Neill scored Garden City’s lone goal in the first period… Bluewater jumped out to a four-goal lead and hung on for a 5-2 win over Marquette. Francis Harrison scored two goals for the Phantoms, while Danny Deganais and Dylan Hamari each had a goal for Marquette… Holland’s Stasiak turned in a three-point effort, but it wasn’t enough for his team to beat Canton, as the Ice Dogs fell 4-3… Sam Clever had a goal and an assist for Summit Plastics to lift his team to a 6-2 victory over Marquette. Casey O’Neill and Jacob Mahoski each had a goal for the Sentinals…Paul Scott netted the overtime game-winning goal for Garden City as the Golden Wings defeated Holland 5-4. Scott finished the game with two goals, while Holland’s Frederickson countered with two of his own.
USA Eagles take home MAHA Midget AA state title
Squad rolls to 7-1 win over Troy in finals at St. Clair Shores
By Craig Pilawski
Behind two goals from Matt Sobolewski and Mike Yonish, the USA Eagles rolled to a 7-1 win over the Troy Sting in the finals of the MAHA Midget AA state tournament on March 2 in St. Clair Shores.
The Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 early lead on a shorthanded goal from Josh Tresnak and an even strength marker from Yonish, who took a long lead pass from Mike Martin and beat Troy goalie Michael Skudlarek with a long slapshot low to the blocker side.
Down by two goals in the first period, the Sting didn’t quit. Troy forwards Brandon Dries, Carlo Ahee and Jon Luehmann cycled the puck down low on the power play before Luehmann knocked in a rebound of Dries’