Hockey News Hockey News
News | Roster | Schedules--Results | Archives
12/21/06-Hockey
Home-ice defeat drops St. Mary's to No. 2
West Bloomfield Eccentric
 |
Five days after being ranked No. 1 in Division 1, Orchard Lake St. Mary's didn't quite live up to that ranking, as the host Eaglets were upset by No. 8-ranked Traverse City West, 3-2, Friday.
The Titans came to Orchard Lake looking for their second win against three losses and played the giant-killer, scoring two power-play goals and a short-handed marker against Eaglets backup goalie Devon Carr, who stopped 22 shots.
Just six days before taking on the Titans, the Eaglets defeated Catholic Central, 3-2, and were then named Division 1's top-ranked team in the inaugural 2006-07 Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association weekly rankings.
Following Friday's loss, St. Mary's dropped to No. 2 in the latest rankings as Catholic Central took over the No. 1 spot.
The Titans opened the scoring Friday, following a hooking penalty by Brandon Kozlowski, when senior forward Blane Spiker drilled a shot by Carr with 10:35 left in the opening period, off an assist from defenseman David Hanrahan.
Less than a minute later, the Eaglets received a power play opportunity when Titans senior defenseman Nate Greenman was sent to the box for cross-checking. However, senior goalie Dallas Kniss made several key saves to prevent St. Mary's from tying the game.
With 51 seconds left in the first period, however, Eaglets senior defenseman Mac Watts scored an even-strength goal, with assists from Tony Aukskalnis and Kozlowski.
The second period was a disaster for the Eaglets. While the Titans were killing a power play, junior forward Collin Thirlby stole the puck and scored an unassisted short-handed goal at 10:52, for a lead the Titans would never relinquish.
The Titans took a 3-1 advantage ten seconds into their only power-play of the period when Watts was in the penalty box for tripping.
St. Mary's came out flying in the final period and dominated the Titans, outshooting them 14-7 and taking all 12 face-offs. But St. Mary's could only manage one goal, by Billy Balent at 8:28, off assists from Clinton Bourbonais and Watts. The Eaglets had a 5-on-3 advantage for 90 seconds, and scored just after it expired.
St. Mary's pulled Carr from the net and played the last minute 6-on-5, but could not put the tying goal past Kniss, who made 32 saves on the night, including several at point-blank range. St. Mary's outshot Traverse City West 34-25 for the game.
The Eaglets (3-3-1) are scheduled to visit Gates Mills, Ohio to play the Gilmour Academy Lancers Friday and Saturday.
St. Mary's last played the Lancers in 2004 and dropped both games.
After a break for Christmas, the Eaglets travel to Traverse City for the annual Traverse City Central Tournament, Dec. 27-29, where they may meet Traverse City West again.
Copyright 2006, St. Mary's Preparatory, Orchard Lake, Michigan. All rights reserved.
No logos, photographs, or graphics on the site may be reproduced without written permission.