Mount Clemens

Pulling even

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Sports Writer

L’Anse Creuse hockey finds playoff vindication

By Brad D. Bates

C & G Sports Writer

           

MOUNT CLEMENS — Nothing helps make a season like winning a playoff game — unless it’s winning a playoff game against your top rival — or better yet, winning a playoff game against your top rival in overtime.

           

The Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse hockey team experienced just that March 1 against Macomb L’Anse Creuse North, as the Lancers topped the Crusaders 4-3 in their first-round playoff matchup.

           

“I really felt going into this game these guys were confident and ready to go, and I felt we were going to win this game,” L’Anse Creuse coach Bob Kotowski said. “I knew it was going to be a close game because every year in regionals it’s a nail-biter, but these kids really worked hard tonight.”

           

The win was made all the sweeter in that it redeemed the Lancers from their 5-4 double overtime loss to North in the 2008-09 playoffs, and it was their first win against the Crusaders in their last seven tries.

           

And for underclassmen like sophomore goalie Brett Blum, it was their first taste of success against North.

           

“It was a relief to finally beat them,” Blum said.     “We all wanted to play for the seniors tonight, because we didn’t want this to be the end of the season.”

           

The win was a much needed boost for a young team — seven freshmen and sophomores are on the roster — that finished 2-8 and in sixth place in the Macomb Area Conference White Division.

           

“These guys have really been building a lot of confidence,” Kotowski said. “Over the last couple weeks, we’ve really been putting it together, and we’ve been working very hard. The kids really bought into what we’re trying to do systemwise.”

           

Junior forward Ryan Detloff scored the game winner with 2:14 left in overtime; it was his second goal of the night to go with one assist.

           

“I don’t even how it went in,” Detloff said of his game winner. “I heard the whistle blow, and everyone was jumping all over me. It was amazing.”

           

Senior Steven Treppa scored a goal and had two assists, and senior Jake Thomas also scored for L’Anse Creuse.

           

The win improved the Lancers’ record to 11-14 and showed how much their young players had improved since the previous setbacks to North — a 10-5 loss Feb. 13 and an 8-3 loss Dec. 11.

           

“We did not do too good in our White games,” Detloff said of the team’s early growing pains. “But we stuck with each other and never gave up.”

           

The Lancers fell to Fraser High 4-1 in a second-round matchup March 3 to end the season with an 11-15 record, but their playoff experience this year could really pay dividends in 2010-11.

           

“This definitely gives us a lot of confidence for our upcoming game and next year,” Blum said.

           

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1029.