Cranbrook Makes Championship Dream Come True

By Tim Robinson
Special for MHSAA.com

March 27, 2021

PLYMOUTH -- Six years is a long time, by any standard.

For Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, six years between hockey championships felt like an eternity.

The drought ended Saturday, when the Cranes ended Calumet's bid for an unbeaten season with a 4-1 victory in the Division 3 Final at USA Hockey Arena. 

"We did this for ourselves and for the seniors in past years who couldn't get here," senior Alex Ceritano said. "This was for them."

Cranes coach John LaFontaine won his first title in his second season as head coach, but deferred credit to his four captains -- Ceritano, Leyton Stenman, Jack Wineman and Isaac Cheli. 

"This was a group of outstanding leaders," LaFontaine said. "I'll be honest. I had to do nothing. These guys took care of everything."

The Cranes took care of Calumet, too, allowing the Copper Kings only 10 shots for the game, including just one in the third period.

'They boxed them out, a lot of times," Cranbrook goalie Julian Zyvagin said. "They blocked a lot of shots before they got to me, and they made them dump the puck."

Division 3 Hockey Final

Meanwhile, the Cranbrook offense got going in the second half of the first period.

Nathan Hooker got things started with a power-play goal with 4:44 left in the period. Wineman scored on a breakaway with exactly two minutes left in the period to give Cranbrook a 2-0 lead over the stunned Copper Kings (17-1-1), who rarely trailed in a game this season.

"We were only behind in one game this year, for about 10 minutes," Copper Kings coach Dan Giachino said. "But we kept working. That's all you can do."

Cheli essentially put the game out of reach with a goal early in the second period. Tom Erkkila scored for the Copper Kings, but Ty Esterlione tacked on an insurance goal midway through the third period to seal the victory.  

It was Cranbrook's ninth Division 3 crown.

It was Calumet's first trip to the Finals since 2018. The Copper Kings were among teams affected when last year's tournament was cancelled, turning back after having completed most of the 12-hour journey from Copper Country.

That they made the trip this year was a tribute to the work ethic by a team that lost 11 seniors last season.

"We have two-thirds of a new team this year," Giachino said. "Getting here was a tribute to our 10 seniors."

The chemistry which lifted Calumet back to the Finals also was evident on a Cranbrook team that lost in the Regional Finals last season.

"Our JV players from last year came in and impressed everyone," Ceritano said, "We came together so well. There were no problems at all this season."

Wineman, along with his teammates, savored the accomplishment afterward. 

"It's been my dream since my freshman year," he said. "I came here (weighing) 90 pounds and I was 5-foot (tall). I've had great company, great teammates these last four years. 

"We've been building toward this the last four years. I'm so happy my dream came true."

Click for the full box score.

PHOTOS: (Top) Cranbrook Kingswood players celebrate after clinching the Division 3 title Saturday at USA Hockey Arena. (Middle) Calumet goalie Aksel Loukus works to keep the puck out of his net during a scramble. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photo.)

Performance of the Week: Bay City Western's Nash Leonard

December 20, 2024

Nash Leonard headshotNash Leonard ♦ Bay City Western
Senior ♦ Hockey

Leonard, the goalie for the Bay City Wolves cooperative team, had 31 saves during a 2-0 win over Rockford and 27 more saves in a 1-0 shootout victory over Chippewa Valley United during the Bay City Showcase as the Wolves improved to 7-2 this season. Leonard is in his fourth season in net for the Bay City program, which includes students from Bay City Central and Western.

Leonard’s goals-against average hovered at 2.80 per game over his first two seasons, then improved to 2.18 last winter, and he totaled a combined nine shutouts over his first three seasons. His goals-against average this winter has improved to 1.58 after the weekend’s pair of shutouts as he’s been in net for seven of the team’s nine games. Leonard also is a standout golfer and led Bay County in scoring average in that sport as a freshman. He hopes to play either of his sports in college and intends to study finance.  

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Previous 2024-25 honorees

Dec. 11: Blake Cosby, Dundee wrestling - Report
Dec. 4:
Keaton Hendricks, Zeeland West football - Report
Nov. 29:
Kate Simon, East Grand Rapids swimming - Report
Nov. 22:
Ella Kokaly, Essexville Garber softball - Report
Nov. 15:
Caroline Bryan, Grosse Pointe South swimming - Report
Nov. 8:
Kaylie Livingston, Whitmore Lake cross country - Report
Oct. 25:
Oliver Caldwell, Grand Rapids West Catholic tennis - Report
Oct. 18:
Alex Graham, Detroit Cass Tech football - Report
Oct. 11:
Victoria Garces, Midland Dow cross country - Report
Oct. 4:
Asher Clark, Bay City John Glenn soccer - Report
Sept. 26:
Campbell Flynn, Farmington Hills Mercy volleyball - Report
Sept. 19:
TJ Hansen, Freeland cross country - Report
Sept. 12:
Jordan Peters, Grayling soccer - Report
Sept. 6:
Gabe Litzner, Sault Ste. Marie cross country - Report
Aug. 30:
Grace Slocum, Traverse City St. Francis golf - Report

(Photos courtesy of the Bay City Western athletic department.)