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1/28/07-Hockey
Cranbrook, St. Mary's play to 2nd straight tie
By Marty Budner of the West Bloomfield Eccentric
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BLOOMFIELD HILLS--Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood and Orchard Lake St. Mary's have played six periods of hockey the past two years. That 90-minute stretch of ice time has produced eight goals - four by each team - and zero decisions as the teams played to their second consecutive tie this past week.
The Cranes and Eaglets finished in a 1-1 stalemate Wednesday evening at the Wallace Ice Arena in Bloomfield Hills. They skated to a 3-3 draw the previous season.
On each occasion, the game was called by officials after regulation time because it was a non-league encounter. Had it been a regular league game, both coaches confirmed afterwards, they would have played overtime.
"The refs wouldn't let us play overtime because we're not in the same league," said St. Mary's coach Brian Klanow, whose team has played to five ties this season. "Both teams were willing to go overtime. (C-K coach) Andy (Weidenbach) said he would (play overtime) and we certainly would; we don't play to tie, although we've had a lot of them this year.
"We're a good team and we always like to play as long as we can until you get a winner," he said. "We don't play anything to tie."
Weidenbach, whose team has gone through a 1-2-1 stretch after beginning the season with 11 straight victories, said it was a well-played no-decision game.
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"I can't complain about the game. I'm sure both coaches would have liked a win, but the kids from both teams played hard and goaltending was good for both teams," said Weidenbach. "So, maybe it was meant to be a tie."
Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League member Cranbrook Kingswood outshot the Catholic League-affiliated St. Mary's by a 27-16 margin. Although Crane goalie Ryan McClure made some nice stops, Eaglet netminder Joseph Savona was forced to make the more spectacular saves.
In the third period, Cranbrook had three consecutive power plays and Savona made at least two saves to keep the game knotted at one.
With five minutes remaining and the goalie down on the ice, Crane forward Brett Brazier attempted a deke move only to have Savona spring up with the puck safely stored in his blocker glove. A short time later, Savona again stopped Brazier, who had a direct wrist shot on net from five feet out.
"Penalties are penalties, you have to play through them," said Klanow, whose team is 7-5-5 overall. "Cranbrook has a very good pass on the power play because we've seen it, but our penalty killing was exceptional tonight."
With 1:32 remaining, Cranbrook senior Ben Daiek found the back of the net for the apparent go-ahead tally. However, the goal was called off as officials ruled the net had been moved before the puck went in.
"I really couldn't tell from where I was at, but you have to trust the referees because they're right there on the spot," said Weidenbach, whose team is 12-2-1 on the season.
The game's only goals were scored just three minutes apart early in the second period.
The Eaglets tallied 1:47 into the period on a power play when Stephen Tallman, in his second game of the season after returning from an injury, slapped in a shot on an assist from senior defenseman Jon Falvo.
Cranbrook tied the score less than three minutes later as sophomore forward Shota Hotta raced down the left side, cut directly across the front of the net and deposited the puck past Savona with a nifty backhanded shot for an even-strength goal.
The goalies starred the rest of the way.
"It was good up-and-down action and both teams played strong when they got the puck in the offensive zone," said Klanow.
"We certainly had our opportunities, and they had some opportunities, too. It could have gone either way.
"It was a well-played game and it was clean," he said.
"It's always fun to play good teams like that and have good games like this. I think it's good for high school hockey."
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