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3/10/2008-Hockey
Eaglets were hot when it counted most
By ROB TATE/Special to The Oakland Press
PLYMOUTH--Buried in all the excitement of Saturday night's eight-overtime Division 1 hockey championship game was a team that rose above the ashes after a miserable month of January to stake claim in the co-championship with its 1-1 tie against Marquette.
After going 1-5-2 from Dec. 29 to Jan. 29, the Orchard Lake St. Mary's hockey team got hot at the right time and as it skated its way to the championship game.
A 4-1 victory over Clarkston on Jan. 29 lit the Eaglets' fire. They ended the season on a 9-2-1 run and with their second state championship in as many years.
The Eaglets played numerous games this season against teams from Canada, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Indiana to stay sharp.
OLSM (15-12-3) saved its best offensive hockey for the state playoffs, as the Eaglets scorched their way through. They took victories over Bloomfield United, Birmingham Unified, Northville, Ann Arbor Pioneer and Clarkston, outscoring their opponents by a 25-6 margin.
The Eaglets saw a great season out of senior Billy Balent, who used the momentum of a two-goal third-period performance in last year's state championship win over Marquette to pace himself to a team-leading 16 goals and 22 assists this season.
"Billy Balent has been with me now for three years and Tim Hooker and Aaron Schneider have been here each for two," eighth-year OLSM head coach Brian Klanow said. "I'm just going to miss them, they are great kids. Not only are they great hockey players but, more importantly, they are fantastic young men. That's when you miss when they leave."
Balent, who served as one of the team's four captains, should see some postseason awards come his way, with a chance he could still earn the Mr. Hockey award from the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches' Association, along with the all-state recognition.
Hooker, another co-captain, ended the year on the bright note, scoring the Eaglets' one and only goal in the state finals, getting on the board late in the third period to force overtime. The senior had 14 goals and seven assists on the season.
In all, Klanow will graduate seven seniors this year, including goaltender Ryan Morley-Stockton, who turned into a brick wall during the playoffs. Klanow's leading returning scorers are current sophomore Cody King, junior Thad McConkey, junior Shane Halaas and junior Jordan Kieltyka, who each had nine points this year.
"We were a young team this year," Klanow said. "The future looks very strong after the back-to-back state titles, we will certainly challenge for another."
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