Moment: Heritage Soars to 1st Final
April 9, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Saginaw Heritage has ascended to the ranks of the state’s high school hockey elite these last few seasons. And it’s fair to say Matte Cole scored one of the defining goals of that rise.
Cole actually tallied two goals during the Hawks’ 3-2 overtime win over Traverse City West in a Division 1 Semifinal on March 9, 2018. The second came 59 seconds into overtime to secure the victory, which sent Heritage to its first MHSAA Final in hockey.
"If you would have told us at the beginning of the year that we would be in the championship game I don't think that realistically … many people outside of our locker room would have given us that opportunity," Heritage coach J.J. Bamberger said that day. "But everyone in the locker room believed in it. We have kids who have won championships at younger levels and they showed today they're winners and they refused to lose."
Click for game coverage from the Saginaw News – Saginaw Heritage tops Traverse City West in OT, advances to first state championship game – and watch the game winner below with coverage from the NFHS Network.
Moment: Hillock Goal Sends Sault to Final
April 8, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Sault Ste. Marie sent 54 shots at Flint Powers Catholic’s net during their Division 3 Semifinal on March 8, 2013, compared to 21 shots on goal by the Chargers.
But only when Eric Hillock fired through his second goal in double overtime did the Blue Devils gain a final edge 4-3 to advance to the championship game.
“We felt like we were out-working them for most of the game but we just couldn’t seem to bury it,” Hillock said that day to the Flint Journal. “(The game-winning goal) was just a result of a great pass out of the corner and I was able to put it on net and get the win.”
Click for coverage from the Flint Journal – Flint Powers drops double-overtime loss to Sault Ste. Marie in Division 3 hockey semifinals – and see below for Hillock’s winner with coverage from the NFHS Network.