Highlight Reel: Hockey Finals
March 13, 2016
The MHSAA Ice Hockey Finals at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth produced plenty of exciting moments over the weekend. Here are some from this year’s Semifinal and Final games.
Click the final score to watch the entire game and order DVDs.
Division 1 Final – Detroit Catholic Central 3, Brighton 0
A Stop & A Half - Here's a couple of great saves by Brighton goalie Logan Neaton during a first period power play by Detroit Catholic Central. Neaton made 26 stops in the Division 1 Final.
Streaking In For A Score - Detroit Catholic Central's second goal of the game came off the stick of Nick Macari, who was streaking down the left side.
Division 2 Final – Romeo 6, Livonia Stevenson 4
Stevenson Takes A 4-2 Lead - Livonia Stevenson built a 4-2 lead in the second period on this goal by Nate Sudek.
Jenuwine Breaks The Tie - On the power play, Romeo's Logan Jenuwine scores what proves to be the game-winning goal. Jenuwine had two goals in the contest.
Division 3 Final – Hancock 4, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 2
King of The Hill - In the closing seconds of the first period of the Division 3 title game, Danny Hill of Hancock scores shorthanded to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead.
Chase Keeps CC In It - Grand Rapids Catholic Central countered with two goals in the second period, the latter on this power play tally by Chase Madden, which cut the Hancock lead to 3-2 at the time.
Division 1 Semifinal – Brighton 4, Grandville 1
Foran Feeds Clifford - From the left point, Brighton's Nick Foran sets up Joey Clifford for the first goal of this Division 1 Semifinal against Grandville.
Something To Cheer About - Grandville gets on the board in the third period with this goal by David Breazeale.
Division 1 Semifinal – Detroit Catholic Central 4, Detroit U-D Jesuit 3
Austin Powers It In - Austin Evans had two goals for Detroit U-D Jesuit in the Cubs’ Division 1 Semifinal against Detroit Catholic Central. Here's the first goal, in the opening period.
CC’s Fourth Goal - Late in the second period, Michael Considine of Detroit Catholic Central scores what proves to be the winning goal against Detroit U-D Jesuit.
Division 2 Semifinal – Livonia Stevenson 5, Hartland 1
Kowalske Scores - Livonia Stevenson got two quick goals in the first period against Hartland. Here's the second, by Ben Kowalske with 10:51 left in the first period.
Eagles Get On The Board - After blasting away on the power play, Hartland gets its goal from Luke Cowan with 13:03 left in the second period.
Division 2 Semifinal – Romeo 5, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern/Eastern 2
Pretty Feed For Second Bulldogs Goal - Romeo gets a couple of bang-bang goals in the first period 34 seconds apart. Here's the second one, with Frank Ruffino taking a nice centering pass for a tally.
On The Top Shelf - Josh Boverhof gets Forest Hills Northern/Eastern on the board in the second period with a power play goal that goes top shelf.
Division 3 Semifinal – Hancock 2, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 1
Bulldogs Take Lead - Hancock gets the first goal of the game on a 5 on 3 power play. Luke Rautio was given credit for the goal.
Cranes Tie It Up - C.J. Regula makes a great play for Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood late in the second period to tie the score.
The Bulldogs Are Movin’ On - Late in the first overtime period, Alex Nordstrom scores for Hancock on a power play.
Division 3 Semifinal – Grand Rapids Catholic Central 3, Chelsea 2
Bulldogs Strike Quick - Chelsea scored the game's first goal just 39 seconds in when Sean Cox knocked in a rebound.
Winner! Winner! - Jack Pendery gets the game-winning goal in overtime for Grand Rapids Catholic Central against Chelsea.
PHOTO: Detroit Catholic Central players line up to block a Brighton shot during Saturday's Division 1 Final. (Click for more from Andrew Knapik.)
Hartland Adds 3rd Title to Growing Championship Tradition
March 12, 2022
PLYMOUTH — For decades, young hockey players in Trenton have grown up dreaming of playing for the high school team.
That dynamic is playing out these days in Hartland, which has become an elite hockey community during coach Rick Gadwa’s 11 seasons at the helm.
Hartland took the ice for the MHSAA Division 2 championship game Saturday at USA Hockey Arena with a couple dozen youth hockey players hanging over the railing near the tunnel cheering on their heroes.
The Eagles left the ice once again as champions, winning their third MHSAA title in the past five seasons with a 3-2 overtime victory over Trenton.
Hartland has won three championships and been runner-up twice over the past 10 seasons. The Eagles also reached the Semifinals two years ago when COVID-19 restrictions shut down winter tournaments including hockey before its conclusion.
“We’ve had a ton of success,” Gadwa said. “What’s impressive about this group is none of these guys have been to USA Hockey Arena. We had quite a bit of returners who were with us last year when we lost to a very good Byron Center team (in the Quarterfinal).
“So, there’s a tradition of excellence right now. To see them get here this year and fight the way they had to fight and get it done just makes our tradition so much stronger. It’s something for guys coming in next year to try to get to.”
Freshman Ian Kastamo was one of the young Hartland kids who watched the Eagles during their annual visits to USA Hockey Arena. He was particularly riveted to the team in 2019 when his brother Sam was on the championship winner.
“I watched games my whole life,” Kastamo said. “I’ve seen the big crowd, the energy, how fun it looks. This is my dream come true to play for this team, much less win the state championship.”
Kastamo not only won a state championship, but he experienced one of the greatest moments in a hockey player’s life by delivering it with an overtime goal. Kastamo scored 3:22 into overtime when he knocked in the rebound of a shot from the left point by Jorden Haydu.
“The puck was in their zone, and I went straight to the net,” Kastamo said. “Shot from the point, rebound and I just lunged and banged it home. It’s what you dream about on the backyard rinks, acting like you scored the overtime winner.”
The Eagles had to rebound mentally after allowing the game-tying goal late in the third period.
Having taken a 2-1 lead on Ashton Trombley’s goal at 16:08 of the second period, Hartland was two minutes away from winning in regulation time.
A penalty with 1:57 remaining put Trenton on the power play. Moments after Hartland’s Ben Pouliot missed an empty net by inches on a shot from deep in the Eagles’ zone, Trenton tied it on a goal by Hayden Oboza with 1:32 left in the third.
Trenton almost didn’t make it to overtime, but sophomore goalie Noah Miklos came up with an enormous save when Lucas Henry got the puck alone in front of the net in the final minute. Miklos finished with 31 saves.
“I don’t really know what happened,” Trenton coach Chad Clements said. “One of our D got caught up ice. There was a turnover. He’s all alone with a minute left. For him to make that save was unbelievable. Obviously, it allowed us a chance to go into overtime and allowed us a chance to try to win the game.
“In the playoffs, he’s been unbelievable. We have two young goaltenders who split time this year. For Noah to step forward and play well for us in the playoffs was really nice.”
Trenton opened the scoring on a power play goal by Carter Allen at 13:52 of the first period, but Henry tied it 28 seconds later.
Hartland goalie Kameron Ragon made 17 saves, finishing his senior season with a 21-0 record. Hartland lost five games, none with Ragon in net.
PHOTOS (Top) Hartland’s bench empties after the Eagles clinch the Division 2 championship Saturday. (Middle) Trenton goalie Noah Miklos and defenseman Xaver Gradinscak wall off a Hartland attack in front of their net. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)