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3/12/07-Hockey
Eaglets might be victims of their own success
By KEITH DUNLAP Of The Oakland Press
PLYMOUTH--On paper, it would be easy to say Orchard Lake St. Mary's has a good chance to repeat next year.
Coming off a Division 1 state boys hockey championship, captured with a 4-2 victory over Marquette in the state final on Saturday, the Eaglets could easily point to their roster and beat their chests about how good they can be in 2007-08.
The roster is littered with junior and sophomore contributors, including top forwards Billy Balent and Clinton Bourbonais, both of whom are juniors.
However, it might be a case of the program being a victim of its own success, when it comes down to who returns next year for St. Mary's run at a repeat.
It's possible both Balent and Bourbonais will join a junior team next year. Balent has already been drafted by the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League, the same organization where former St. Mary's defenseman, Michigan State signee and Edmonton Oilers draftee Jeff Petry is currently playing.
It'll likely be an annual problem St. Mary's will have to deal with, a price for being one of the state's best programs that features plenty of blue-chip talent.
"We're not able to move everybody," St. Mary's head coach Brian Klanow said. "We look to develop players and move them to the next level, if that's what they aspire to do. A number of these kids do."
In addition to the possibility of Balent and Bourbonais moving on, the Eagletrs will have to replace some key seniors in defensemen Brandon Kozlowski, Jon Falvo and Mac Watts, forwards Colin Bloor and Charlie Semaan, as well as goaltender Joe Savona, who was brilliant in the state playoffs.
However, with a program that's established itself as one of the state's best over the last five years, and one that's coming off two state titles in three years (St. Mary's won the Division 3 title in 2005), getting kids interested in playing at St. Mary's shouldn't be too much of a hassle.
"The (state title) certainly can't hurt," Klanow said.
Even if he decided to play elsewhere next year, Balent said there's enough talent already in place to keep the St. Mary's train rolling.
"We have some young kids on the team and I think they can contribute a lot next year," Balent said. "They play real well and I think they'll contribute a lot."
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