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11/26/2008-Hockey
Hockey co-champs St. Mary's, Marquette to play charity game
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By Michael Shelton/Spinal Column Online Sportsweekly
| Seven months after an epic eight-overtime state final that was ended in a 1-1 tie, the defending Division 1 co-state hockey champions, Marquette and Orchard Lake St. Mary's, will meet again this week, this time for a good cause. The Eaglets will host the Redmen tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. in the Champs for Charity season opener at the St. Mary's Hockey Arena. Proceeds from the game will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants special requests to children with life-threatening illnesses. "I think it's a great way to to kickoff the season, especially around the holidays when charity is important," said St. Mary's Athletic Director George Porritt. Both teams were also honored with a banquet last night, Tuesday, Nov. 25 at St. Mary's, with a speech presented by legendary Detroit Red Wing Ted Lindsay. "He's the perfect person to speak, because he has done a lot for amateur youth hockey," said Brian Klanow, St. Mary's head hockey coach. Klanow said the school hopes to raise $10,000 to $15,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. St. Mary's returns 17 players from last year's team as it begins a quest for a third straight state title. "I have 26 very good hockey players and I believe we can make another run," Klanow said. The last time both teams met was on March 8 at the Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth, where they left it all out on the ice in pursuit of the state title. In the end they celebrated together as co-state champions. The historic moment not only made state headlines, but nationally, as well, with outlets such as ESPN and the New York Times picking up the story. Klanow then began working with St. Mary's athletic office manager Annette Knight to arrange a rematch. "We though it would be neat for both teams to pick off where they left off and have it be for charity," Klanow said, recalling the eight overtimes that both teams played in the state finals. "Around the third overtime, my assistant coach, Ray Markham, and I were baffled and there was this aura that no one was going to score," Klanow said. "Randy Allen of the MHSAA (Michigan High School Athletic Association) said that we were going to play a ninth overtime, but the Marquette trainer was angry, saying that one kid was sick and that seven kids weren't sweating anymore and they were afraid that if we kept playing someone would have a seizure." When both teams were declared champions, Klanow described the moment as anti-climatic, but said that he understood the decision. "I certainly appreciated what the kids did out on the ice," he said. Porritt agreed with the decision, stating that both teams seemed to be fighting for survival during the extra sessions. "This is what amateur high school sports represents," Porritt said. |
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