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1/11/2008-Hockey
St. Mary's Balent passes up shot at juniors
BY CHRIS LAU/FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
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ORCHARD LAKE-- Billy Balent had many chances to play junior hockey this year, especially after his performance in last year's high school Division 1 state title game.
Many coaches and scouts witnessed his two third-period goals for Orchard Lake St. Mary's, which broke a 2-2 tie in a 4-2 victory over Marquette at Compuware Arena.
Balent did try out for a couple of junior teams. But he said he never doubted where his heart was: at St. Mary's.
"He's a very loyal kid," Eaglets coach Brian Klanow said. "He had the opportunity to play juniors -- and they pushed hard to get him -- but he's loyal to me, loyal to the school and loyal to his teammates."
Balent, a 5-foot-8, 170-pound senior center from Waterford, has aspirations of playing college hockey. But he's chasing the dream as a high school player, not via the traditional path of junior hockey.
"The past two years was the most fun I've ever had playing hockey," Balent said. "We have a good group of kids coming back and I knew I'd have fun this year. I went three years at St. Mary's and I wanted to graduate from here."
After playing for the Farmington Flames travel team as a freshman, this is now Balent's third season at St. Mary's -- and possibly his best.
The team is 7-4-1. Balent, a two-year co-captain, leads the Eaglets with six goals. He scored his first goal in a 2-1 overtime win over Novi Detroit Catholic Central on Dec. 8, in one of the team's highlight victories. He also had a third-period hat trick in a 4-3, come-from-behind win over Traverse City West on Dec. 28.
Last season, he also led the team in goals, with 17.
Klanow points out that Balent is more than a scorer.
"He came in as an offensive-minded player," the coach said. "But he has turned into a great defensive player."
Balent's unsure of what's after high school. He has attracted interest from, among others, Holy Cross, Air Force and Lake Superior State. He also was born in 1990, which means he has three years of junior hockey eligibility after high school if he chooses to use it.
"The big thing," Klanow said, "is he wants to compete and challenge for another state title."
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