Ellie Ward
The Blue & White
Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS
1st Place
Division 4, News Writing
Sports News Story
Despite starting off the season slowly, the hockey team proved their ability to play well as a team and overcome many obstacles as the season progressed, making it all the way to the final four.
After ending the regular season with a 15-6-4 record, the Cougars won their first pre-regional playoff game with a 3-0 sweep against Kenowa Hills on Feb. 19.
Next, with the student section donned in Hawaiian apparel and chanting their team on to victory, the Cougars raced up and down the ice, neck and neck with FHC in the regional championship.
The fierce competition kept the score close the entire game, and with 26 seconds left in the third period, junior forward Brendan Boman scored to tie the game at 2-2 and force the game into overtime.
“It was surreal; It felt amazing,” Boman said. “We had a hella hype student section so I went right there after I scored.”
Actually, Boman’s goal ended up forcing four overtimes, as neither team scored in the first three. Finally, Boman scored again, ending the game at 3-2.
According to Boman, the win was especially meaningful because his brother, Kevin, is one of the coaches for the FHC Rangers.
According to senior forward Brendan Kane, the fans also made the night (and the whole season) special, showing up at every game, including away games, to cheer their team on to victory.
Student section leader, senior Matt McCall, enjoyed directing the student section into various chants to pump up the players on the ice.
“The student section was hype this year, but the freshmen could’ve been better. Mrs. Olejnik participated almost as well as the seniors. The only thing containing our excitement was the Plexiglas and zamboni crew.”
The quarter-final game against Flint Powers on Feb. 26 was a nail-biter for players and fans. Packed into the stands in Hawaiian gear again, Cougar fans watched as Flint scored the first goal right off the bat. CC responded quickly with an equalizer, though, tying the game at 1-1, a score that stood at the end of regulation time.
Both teams battled up and down the ice for six overtimes until senior Joe Kopfensteiner finally scored on a backdoor pass from senior Max Tierney, winning the game for the Cougars.
At that, the student section exploded in a frenzy of excitement and the players rushed to the boards to celebrate with them.
Fans packed school-provided busses or drove themselves to Plymouth on Feb. 28, for the semi-final game at Compuware Arena.
Farmington netted two goals in the first eight minutes, ending the first period with a score of 2-0. The score remained the same throughout the second period until junior Brendan Sullivan backhanded a goal into the net midway through the third period.
Although they more than doubled Farmington in shots, the team fell short in a heart-breaking loss, ending the game 2-1.
Senior defenseman Brian Cain said that overall the season was really fun and they overachieved as a team, and he credited their goalie, junior Tommy Bailey, for such a good run.
“When we lost it was devastating, but we will never forget this season.”