Bloomfield Hills

Early lead fades as Cranbrook hockey falls to Canadian squad at MIHL Showcase

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Mike Moore Guys on the Cranbrook hockey team celebrate a goal 13 seconds into their game against Hill Academy. The Cranes ended up falling 4-3 in their Showcase opener. Photo by Mike Moore Guys on the Cranbrook hockey team celebrate a goal 13 seconds into their game against Hill Academy. The Cranes ended up falling 4-3 in their Showcase opener.

TRENTON — The start was nearly perfect, offensive firepower on display.

The end was, well, something else.

The Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood hockey team kicked off play at the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League Prep Showcase Saturday against Hill Academy.

The Cranes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the blink of an eye, but were eventually dropped in a 4-3 decision by the kids from Canada.

“We had a real good first period, outshot them and built a good lead”, CK coach Andy Weidenbach said after the game, played at the Kennedy Recreation Center in Trenton. “They had a good second period, we battled back, and then the third was a toss up. They just got the last goal.”

The Cranes came out flying in the game, winning the opening draw, gaining the offensive zone with two passes before Michael Romund buried a shot in the back of the net all of 13 seconds into regulation.

The Cranes controlled the entire first frame, and Christopher Brown made it 2-0 at the 7:50 mark, and it looked like the top-ranked team in Division 3 was in for an easy ride.

Then Hill Academy took over in the second period, scoring three unanswered goals and taking a 3-2 lead.

Cranbrook tied things up when Brown scored his second on the day 2:29 into the third, but Hill Academy notched the winner with just 3:05 remaining in regulation to give CK just its second loss of the season.

“It was a great effort,” Weidenbach said. “This is one of those games where you get everyone out there, roll your lines and try and have some fun. This wasn’t a win-at-all-cost game. We wanted to enjoy the event and let everyone experience it. So, it was a good game all the way around.”

Cranrbook, now 17-2-1, faces Notre Dame Prep (Wisconsin) at 2:40 p.m. Feb. 9 to close out play in the Showcase.

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