Orchard Lake

In search of one thing

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

Photo by Kara Missig Birmingham Unified senior Eric Deacon clears the puck from the defensive zone during a game earlier this season. The Unified squad is off to a solid start at 4-3-2, but the guys know with a little consistency that record could vastly improve.

Going from good to great team centers on one key factor for B.U.

ORCHARD LAKE — It sounds so easy, a remedy many would consider so simple.


For whatever reason, though, it’s been anything but.

Birmingham Unified hockey coach John Weidenbach knows he has a very good team, one that is going to win some games, be in the mix in the conference and maybe even make some noise in the playoffs.

But Weidenbach also knows if something changes, that good team could become great.

His players know it too.

“Consistency has to get better,” senior defenseman and captain Matt McCarthy said during a Jan. 6 practice at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Ice Arena. “I’m not really sure why, but we’ll play two good periods then have a bad 10 minutes that will cost us a game. Or we’ll play real well for a certain amount of time, then relax or something. It’s weird, because we know we have to fix it. We’re just not sure why it happens.”

Case in point, the Unified squad began the season winning the Hudsonville Tournament, beating Hudsonville 6-5 in two overtimes in the final game and preventing the host team from its own tourney title for the sixth straight year.

But two games later, a 1-0 lead late in the second period against Rochester Hills Stoney Creek evaporated because of a few mental breakdowns and resulted in a 3-2 loss. Against Farmington High, a 3-1 lead turned to a 4-3 loss.

“They’re starting to realize taking even one shift off can cost us a game,” Weidenbach said of his squad, which was 4-3-2 overall at press time. “The guys get it. We’re going to figure this thing out.”

Birmingham finished last season 6-17-3, so the team’s four early wins, despite the few missteps, are still a big improvement and have Weidenbach excited about what the future may hold for this veteran squad.

“That’s what I love,” Weidenbach said. “The potential of this team is outstanding.”

“We’ve got a good group of experienced seniors,” senior defenseman Danny Bailey said. “We’re winning and playing well without a star or anything. It’s a great team effort.”

And moving forward, it’s that potential and effort that has everyone in a Unified jersey fired up about what the rest of this season has to offer.

“We’re building toward the playoffs,” senior forward Bennett Thompson said. “We’re taking every success in stride and letting it build our confidence.”

“Top three in the league and a record well above .500,” Weidenbach said when asked about his team’s prospects. “I came into the year expecting that. Nothing has changed. We have some things to figure out, but this is still a very good hockey team. I know these guys are willing to work to make us great.”

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1038.