High School Co-op Hockey: Badgers fall in second round of regionals

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Squires Chiropractic, Smith & Eddy Insurance, and VanderHaag Car Sales & Rentals.

CADILLAC — The Lakeshore Badgers were defeated 4-1 by the Bay Reps Thursday during the second round of Michigan High School Athletic Association regionals at the Wexford Civic Center.

The Badgers came out hard, making an effort to press play and put the Bay Reps on their heels. The teams traded early chances, but Mason County Central senior Levi Young was the first to break through on an unassisted goal three and a half minutes into the first period.  The Bay Reps responded, putting significant pressure on the Badgers who held firm playing strong defensive hockey.  The Bay Reps tied the game with 4:16 remaining in the first period, the goal coming off the stick of Eddie Walter on the power play.  The teams went to the locker rooms for the first intermission tied at 1.

The second period saw the Badgers continue their strong defensive effort while looking for the chance to break through for another score.  The Bay Reps extended their lead to 2 goals with a goal from Nolan Ziecina at the 8:17 mark of the period and added another at the 3:53 mark from Easton Stumm.

The third period was tightly contested with the Badgers pressing to find some offense, with much of the period played in the Badgers end of the ice.  The Bay Reps scored the only goal of the period with 3:27 remaining in the game on the power play off the stick of Joel Ziecina.  The final score was 4-1 in the Bay Reps favor.  The Bay Reps will move on to the regional final on Feb. 25 where they will take on the Norsemen of Petoskey who advanced by defeating Cadillac 4-0 on Feb. 19.

Joel Knobel made several opportune saves in the game for the Badgers, ultimately turning away 33 of the 37 shots he faced in the contest.  The Badgers named Levi Young their player of the game.

The loss brings the Badgers season to a close with a final record of 15-14 including the playoffs.

“I was extremely proud of the team,” said Badgers Coach Brian Zatloukal. “We knew coming in this would be a challenging game for us, facing a team ranked in the top 1/3 of the state and the number 1 seed in our region.  We competed hard every shift and forced the Bay Reps to earn their scoring opportunities.  We played strong defensively as a team, keeping the Bay Reps to shots from poor scoring areas much of the game.  MCC senior Levi Young and Ludington High School sophomore Adrian Lundberg blocked numerous shots in the game, an effort their teammates recognized.”

The Lakeshore Badgers is a cooperative team hosted by Manistee Area Public Schools and consisting of high school players from MAPS, Ludington, Mason County Central, Mason County Eastern, Pentwater, Shelby and Hart. The team’s home is West Shore Community Ice Arena on the campus of West Shore Community College.

We welcome submitted photographs. Deadline is 10 p.m. the evening of the event: sports@mediagroup31.com.

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MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by:

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Mission Graphics, 113 S. Blaine St., Scottville, 231-845-7030, mymission.graphics

Quick-Way, Inc., 1004 Conrad Industrial Dr., Ludington, 231-845-6520, qkwa.net

Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, 231-757-4743, smith-eddy.com 

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