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Cranes Capture 14th MHSAA State Hockey Championship

3/30/2009

From the Detrot Free Press

BY RICK SCHULTE • March 15, 2009

Division 3: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook 4, Big Rapids 3

Big Rapids looked up to the task of playing spoiler.

Bill McMullen's goal just over two minutes into the Division 3 championship game gave the underdog Cardinals the early lead in their second state final appearance.

But Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook responded with four straight goals, hanging on for a 4-3 win Saturday at Compuware Arena in Plymouth. It marked the Cranes' 14th state title.

"It's essential you don't panic," Cranbrook coach Andy Weidenbach said. "You panic and bad things happen. I was impressed with both teams. Neither one panicked."

After Big Rapids' first goal, Cranbrook's Aaron Rivkin fed Patrick Brown with a perfect pass. He flipped it past goalie Eric Saum to tie it at 1-1 with about five minutes left in the first.

The Cranes (21-7-2) upped the lead to 2-1 a few minutes later with a goal by Rivkin, set up by Brown and Kevin Collon.

Rivkin banged in a rebound of a Brown slap shot early in the second period, putting Cranbrook up, 3-1. A minute later, Shota Hotta added to the lead.

Big Rapids (17-12-1) rallied thanks to Tom Hancock scoring a pair of goals two minutes apart. Michael Hickson (three assists) assisted on both second-period goals.

Cranbrook has won its previous five state championship appearances and is now 14-2 in title games

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Division 3 hockey: Cranbrook-Kingswood 4, Big Rapids 3

Cranbrook wins 14th hockey state title

Division 3 championship is third in last four years for Cranes.

A.J. Hakim / Special to The Detroit News

PLYMOUTH -- Patrick Brown and Aaron Rivkin teams up on three goals, and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood reclaimed its spot atop Division 3 hockey Saturday at Compuware Arena in Plymouth after defeating Big Rapids, 4-3.

It is Cranbrook's 14th championship, extending its state record. Cranbrook last won in 2007, the second year of back-to-back titles.

"Every game has special meaning," Andy Weidenbach said of his seventh championship as Cranbrook coach. "We had to work extremely hard today, particularly our last three games because they were all so close. The competition in Division 3, in the last five years, has improved tremendously.

"We had three tough games in a row, all one-goal games. It requires a lot of emotion; you have to be in good physical condition, but you also have to be in good mental condition, and I was real happy with the way our team responded three games in row, which most athletes know is a difficult thing to do."

Big Rapids (17-12-1) took a 1-0 lead on a goal by William McMullen two minutes into the first period. That would be its only lead, because soon after Brown and Rivkin set out on their first of three breakaway goals.

The first, scored by Brown (goal, two assists), tied the score at 1 midway through the first. It came after Rivkin (two goals, assist) intercepted a pass, broke away to the right wing and found Brown at the opposite post. Rivkin scored the next two goals, one in the closing minutes of the first and the other to open the second period. Brown assisted on both.

"We work on that at practice," Rivkin said.

Shota Hotta made it 4-1 for Cranbrook (21-7-2), scoring at 15:35 of the second. Scott Williams and Dakota Sherman assisted

But Big Rapids, trying to avoid a blowout in its second finals appearance, responded with two quick goals by Thomas Hancock in the second period.

"At that point it was looking pretty good," Weidenbach said of building a 4-1 lead. "We were hoping that we would gain some momentum, which we felt we could feel the surge of energy on the bench. But then Big Rapids responded right back, which is the sign of a good team, obviously, and our guys hung in there and didn't pack it in."

A.J. Hakim is a freelance writer.

Extended Coverage by The C and G News: http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2009/3-11-09/Sports/cranbrook-state-champs.asp

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