Brandon’s varsity hockey team still can’t quite get past the state quarterfinal barrier.
In a Division 3 state quarterfinal at Allen Park, Dearborn Divine Child defeated the Blackhawks 5-0, as Brandon ended their season with a 19-9 record. It was the fourth straight year the Blackhawks lost in the Division 3 state quarterfinals.
The Blackhawks were down several times Mar. 4 in their Division 3 regional final against Lapeer West. However, they rallied to defeat the Panthers 6-5 to once again advance to the state quarterfinals.
Kyle Doan scored four goals to lead the Blackhawks to the win, while Brandon Newman had one goal and three assists. Matt Cinader scored the Blackhawks? other goal.
The Blackhawks pulled off a fourth straight regional championship under the direction of first-year head coach Tim Stone, but Stone said the win was more about the players? dedication to the Brandon program.
‘Their hard work and efforts made it possible,? he said.
Stone said the Blackhawks? win was about ‘character, never giving up,? noting the Blackhawks were down by two goals at three different points in the game, the latest coming when the Panthers? Lucas King scored with 7:13 left in the third to give Lapeer West a 5-3 lead.
‘The kids could have packed it in at that point,? Stone said.
However, just 18 seconds later, Doan scored his third goal of the game on an assist from Newman, bringing the Blackhawks within one, 5-4. Then, 35 seconds later, Cinader scored on an assist from Newman and Alex Hockey to tie the game at five.
Doan capped off the Blackhawks? comeback when he scored on assists from Newman and Cinader with 2:02 left in the third.
‘It’s amazing how quickly the emotions and momentum can change,? Stone said.
The Panthers took a 2-0 lead with two first-period goals before Doan put Brandon on the board with 14:42 left in the second period. West then scored on a power-play goal with 7:54 left in the second to go back up 3-1, but Doan scored an even-strength goal with 4:19 left in the second to trim the Panthers? lead to 3-2.
Newman then scored a power-play goal with 2:13 left in the second to tie the game at three. However, the Panthers? Garry Young answered with 54 seconds left in the period to put West back up 4-3 as the period came to a close.
The Blackhawks advanced to the regional finals for the fourth straight season with a 6-0 win against Lake Fenton Mar. 2 at Hartland.
Brandon scored two goals in the first, three in the second and one in the third on their way to the win. Cinader notched a hat trick for the Blackhawks, while Newman added one goal and one assist.
Aric Beakert and Blake McLelland also scored goals for the Blackhawks.