Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills

Cranbrook hockey continues to roll, beats Riverview 7-0 in Division 3 semifnal

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Mike Moore Cranbrook's Michael Romund gets ready to fire a shot on goal during the D-3 semifinal Friday afternoon. The Cranes skated to a 7-0 win and will play for the first state title since 2010 on Saturday. Photo by Mike Moore Cranbrook's Michael Romund gets ready to fire a shot on goal during the D-3 semifinal Friday afternoon. The Cranes skated to a 7-0 win and will play for the first state title since 2010 on Saturday.

PLYMOUTH — The dominance in this game was decisive, from start to finish.

With one more win, the Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood hockey team can say the same about the entire season.

The Cranes skated into Saturday’s Division 3 final with a 7-0 victory against Riverview High Friday afternoon at Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth, setting up the chance to win the program’s first state since 2010.

“The guys have been focused all year,” coach Andy Weidenbach said after the win. “We have nine seniors, and to get knocked out in the (2012) regional sticks in the minds of these guys. They’ve been real consistent, and everybody is making a contribution.”

It may have taken CK a little time to get the offense on track — the guys didn’t score until 14 minutes into the opening period — once it did, though, the floodgates swung open.

Leading 2-0 after the first on goals by Sam Miletic and Christopher Brown, the Cranes took control in the second, scoring four times in an 11-minute span.

Andrew DeClerk, who had just six goals all season, scored three times in the second frame.

“My teammates just gave me some good passes,” he said with a smile. “I just wanted to throw the puck on net. … I think I got a little lucky.”

Billy Young also scored in the second, and Shawn O’Malley capped the scoring 4:24 into the third before Riverview was able to hang on and avoid the eight-goal mercy.

“The defense played pretty well,” Weidenbach added. The Cranes outshot Riverview 42-12. “We moved the puck well, generated some speed and helped our (offense) attack.”

Cranbrook, now 27-2-1, faces Sault St. Maria (22-8-0) in the D-3 title game, set for 2 p.m. March 9 at Compuware.

None of the nine seniors on the roster were part of 2010 state championship.

Riverview closes its season at 20-8-1.

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