Last-Second Goal Sets Off Brother Rice Celebration

By Tim Robinson
Special for MHSAA.com

March 27, 2021

PLYMOUTH – Second chances don't come along very often in hockey, especially in the final seconds of a hard-fought state championship game. 

But Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice's Alec Hamady made good on his Saturday, jamming a rebound into the net for the game-winning goal with 6.7 seconds remaining to lift the Warriors to an eventual 2-1 victory at USA Hockey Arena. 

The championship was the fourth in Division 2 and fifth overall for the Warriors (15-4). 

For Byron Center (17-1), it was a sudden, heart-stopping end to a memorable season. 

"There's no way to describe it," Hamady said of winning Saturday after his team's 2020 championship bid was thwarted when the season ended before the Semifinals due to the coronavirus. 

The winning goal came as the Warriors were swarming in front of the Byron Center goal.

"I hit (the goalie’s) blocker, and the puck slid back to me," Hamady said. "I hit it backhanded, and it slid under his blocker."

The Bulldogs then pulled goalie Carson McKenzie for an extra attacker during the final seconds, but Brother Rice shot the puck into the Byron Center end with three seconds left and began celebrating.

Division 2 Hockey Final

The first two periods were a defensive battle, led by McKenzie and Brother Rice goaltender Drake Danoo.

The spell was broken when Brother Rice's Carson Moilanen scored on a rebound with 10:56 left in the third.

But the Bulldogs responded immediately when Logan Nickolaus skated in on Danoo, then passed to Mason Breit, who tied the game just 10 seconds after Moilanen's goal.

Brother Rice coach Kenny Chaput, who won his second Finals title, said his team's response was critical.

"We could have collapsed," he said. "We told the kids it was the same game as before and to keep playing. They did a good job of that."

Byron Center was playing in its first Final after it reached the 2020 Division 1 Semifinals before the season ended early. 

"We have 10 seniors who built this program from nothing," Byron Center coach Taylor Keyworth said. "I couldn't be more proud of our team. No one's had it tougher than the teams that got cut short last year at the end of the season. We go into this season thinking we had a good team, only to get cut short in November. We finally get a chance to play and our guys stayed positive and stuck with it, banded together and had a fantastic season."

After the game, several Brother Rice players, including Hamady, skated to their Byron Center counterparts.

"I used to play with those kids on the TPH Top 80 team," Hamady said. "I became really close with them. I told them they played an outstanding game, they are amazing players and not to worry. It was a battle."

Click for the full box score.

PHOTOS: Brother Rice celebrates after scoring the eventual winning goal with six seconds to play in Saturday's Division 2 Final at USA Hockey Arena. (Middle) Brother Rice's Alec Hamady and Byron Center's Ryan Pratt line up for a face off. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)

Performance of the Week: Petoskey's Christopher Kavanaugh

February 17, 2022

Petoskey hockeyChristopher Kavanaugh ♦ Petoskey
Hockey ♦ Senior

Petoskey is enjoying arguably its best season in program history, and Kavanaugh is playing a massive role. He had a goal and two assists in the Northmen’s 5-2 win over Traverse City West on Feb. 9 as the team clinched its first Big North Conference championship, and he’s scored in three straight games adding a goal and an assist Friday in a 4-3 win at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and a goal and three assists Saturday as Petoskey defeated East Kentwood 9-0.

The Northmen are 21-4 and in the midst of a team-record nine-game winning streak for the second time this season. Kavanaugh has 24 goals and 20 assists, trailing only Dylan Robinson for the team leads in both categories. Kavanaugh also pitches and plays outfield for Petoskey’s baseball team and enjoys the outdoors; he is considering studying biology in college with an interest in working for the Department of Natural Resources.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Second Half’s "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

2021-22 Honorees

Feb. 10: Ira Jenkins, Whitehall wrestling - Report
Feb. 3: Emma Stewart, Salem gymnastics - Report
Jan. 28:
Tyler Ray, Pinckney swimming - Report
Jan. 21:
Elle Craven, Traverse City Central skiing - Report
Jan. 14:
Nevaeh Williams, Mount Clemens basketball - Report
Dec. 2:
Lucas Dunn, Chelsea football - Report
Nov. 25:
Riley Nugent, Plainwell swimming - Report
Nov. 18:
Harper Murray, Ann Arbor Skyline volleyball - Report
Nov. 11:
Abby VanderKooi, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian cross country - Report
Nov. 4:
Arianne Olson, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Oct. 28:
Jack Guggemos, Okemos soccer - Report
Oct. 21:
Sachiv Kumar, Northville tennis - Report
Oct. 14:
Kate Brody, Grand Blanc golf - Report
Oct. 7:
Lilly Nelson, Negaunee tennis - Report
Sept. 30:
Stella Chapman, Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming - Report
Sept. 23:
Riley Hough, Hartland cross country - Report
Sept. 16:
Josie Bloom, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Report

(Photos courtesy of the Petoskey hockey program.)