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All Hockey - Boys Stories
At the beginning of the season, Coach Al Taurence and his Riverview hockey team had one goal in mind: Finish the season at Compuware Arena.
The Bucs did it, reaching the Division 3 state semifinals and recording their first-ever 20-win season along the way, but the ride came to a screeching halt Friday afternoon when Riverview lost 7-0 to heavily favored Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook.
The Cranes are one of Michigan’s most storied hockey programs and they are now just one win away from their 16th state championship
It was a well-matched first period with strong defensive efforts from Riverview, but the Bucs found themselves down 2-0 after two goals in the late minutes of the opening period.
Jeff Martin got the Cranbrook scoring started jamming one through traffic in front of the net and the Cranes were on the board.
With 51 seconds to go, Christopher Brown gave the team a two goal lead heading into the second period.
The second period was all Cranbrook and the Cranes added four goals for a 6-0 lead after two.
Andrew DeClerk led the way, recording a hat trick in the period, including goals just 17 seconds apart. Billy Young contributed the other goal.
The Bucs killed a big penalty early in the third to keep themselves in the game, but with 12:36 left to play, Shawn O’Malley finished the Cranbrook scoring when he flipped one in and the Cranes were on their way to the D3 state finals.
After a big win over Chelsea to get to the Final Four, Riverview changed its game plan and Taurence felt with a bit more time it could have been a more competitive game.
“We changed the whole scheme of our game in one day,” Taurence said. “We worked on a different type of forecheck, a different type of backcheck, a different type of defensive zone coverage because of what they had.
“(But) they’re a very good team. They dish the puck off, they move the puck. Four of their first six goals were just sticks on the ice, shots from the point, tipped. That’s good hockey; well-coached hockey.”
Despite seeing the season end, Taurence said he had nothing but respect for his team, the school administration and the student body; the latter of which showed up in huge numbers to Friday’s game.
“They were all here today,” Taurence said. “I think that’s great for us as a program.”
Taurence could not stress how proud he was of his team for their hard work this season and putting Riverview hockey back on the map, and is looking forward to the future.
“I don’t know if we’ll ever be to the point where Cranbrook is, but we can be as good as we can be,” Taurence said. “That’s what we’ve accomplished this year. We wanted to make it to the final four (and) we accomplished that and everything after that was a bonus for us.”
Riverview senior players Timmy Lyons and Brian Bachnak were more than proud of being able to help lead Riverview to their first ever final-four appearance.
“(It was) awesome,” Lyons said. “First ever team from Riverview. The atmosphere with all our students there; it was great.
“All the support we got all year, it was awesome.”
Bachnak’s thoughts echoed Lyons’.
“We just wanted to play our hearts out,” he said. “(We) had the whole city there for us. It felt good having all the support.
“We accomplished a lot for Riverview. Making it to the final four is just an absolute great thing.”
Bachnak said he was also proud of the way his team rallied behind each other and happy with the goaltending of senior Zach Woolcott.
“He played absolutely amazing throughout the whole playoffs,” Bachnak said. “Every guy on our team was there 100 percent.”
Riverview will lose a lot of talent when its 11 seniors graduate, but Taurence said next year looks promising with the incoming players.
One thing that will never go away is the family type atmosphere Taurence has instilled in his team since the beginning.
“I preach family atmosphere 100 percent,” Taurence said. “I’ve done that since I’ve been here. “That will never change while I’m here.”
The Pirates will graduate Kyle Agius, David Laurain, Jay Helstowski, Kyle Beutner, Alex Testy, Brandon Mulligan, Michael Killingback, Joseph Vitale, Bachnak, Woolcott and Lyons, but Taurence won’t soon forget them.
“We had a great season,” he said. “I’m so proud of these guys.”
HOCKEY: Bucs' season ends in first ever trip to "Final-Four" (PHOTO)
Senior goaltender Zach Woolcott helped lead the Riverview hockey team to their first even final-four appearance. The Bucs saw their season end in a 7-0 loss to Cranbrook. Photo Credit: Dave Chapman
The Bucs did it, reaching the Division 3 state semifinals and recording their first-ever 20-win season along the way, but the ride came to a screeching halt Friday afternoon when Riverview lost 7-0 to heavily favored Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook.
The Cranes are one of Michigan’s most storied hockey programs and they are now just one win away from their 16th state championship
It was a well-matched first period with strong defensive efforts from Riverview, but the Bucs found themselves down 2-0 after two goals in the late minutes of the opening period.
Jeff Martin got the Cranbrook scoring started jamming one through traffic in front of the net and the Cranes were on the board.
With 51 seconds to go, Christopher Brown gave the team a two goal lead heading into the second period.
The second period was all Cranbrook and the Cranes added four goals for a 6-0 lead after two.
Andrew DeClerk led the way, recording a hat trick in the period, including goals just 17 seconds apart. Billy Young contributed the other goal.
The Bucs killed a big penalty early in the third to keep themselves in the game, but with 12:36 left to play, Shawn O’Malley finished the Cranbrook scoring when he flipped one in and the Cranes were on their way to the D3 state finals.
After a big win over Chelsea to get to the Final Four, Riverview changed its game plan and Taurence felt with a bit more time it could have been a more competitive game.
“We changed the whole scheme of our game in one day,” Taurence said. “We worked on a different type of forecheck, a different type of backcheck, a different type of defensive zone coverage because of what they had.
“(But) they’re a very good team. They dish the puck off, they move the puck. Four of their first six goals were just sticks on the ice, shots from the point, tipped. That’s good hockey; well-coached hockey.”
Despite seeing the season end, Taurence said he had nothing but respect for his team, the school administration and the student body; the latter of which showed up in huge numbers to Friday’s game.
“They were all here today,” Taurence said. “I think that’s great for us as a program.”
Taurence could not stress how proud he was of his team for their hard work this season and putting Riverview hockey back on the map, and is looking forward to the future.
“I don’t know if we’ll ever be to the point where Cranbrook is, but we can be as good as we can be,” Taurence said. “That’s what we’ve accomplished this year. We wanted to make it to the final four (and) we accomplished that and everything after that was a bonus for us.”
Riverview senior players Timmy Lyons and Brian Bachnak were more than proud of being able to help lead Riverview to their first ever final-four appearance.
“(It was) awesome,” Lyons said. “First ever team from Riverview. The atmosphere with all our students there; it was great.
“All the support we got all year, it was awesome.”
Bachnak’s thoughts echoed Lyons’.
“We just wanted to play our hearts out,” he said. “(We) had the whole city there for us. It felt good having all the support.
“We accomplished a lot for Riverview. Making it to the final four is just an absolute great thing.”
Bachnak said he was also proud of the way his team rallied behind each other and happy with the goaltending of senior Zach Woolcott.
“He played absolutely amazing throughout the whole playoffs,” Bachnak said. “Every guy on our team was there 100 percent.”
Riverview will lose a lot of talent when its 11 seniors graduate, but Taurence said next year looks promising with the incoming players.
One thing that will never go away is the family type atmosphere Taurence has instilled in his team since the beginning.
“I preach family atmosphere 100 percent,” Taurence said. “I’ve done that since I’ve been here. “That will never change while I’m here.”
The Pirates will graduate Kyle Agius, David Laurain, Jay Helstowski, Kyle Beutner, Alex Testy, Brandon Mulligan, Michael Killingback, Joseph Vitale, Bachnak, Woolcott and Lyons, but Taurence won’t soon forget them.
“We had a great season,” he said. “I’m so proud of these guys.”
Last Updated: 3/9/2013 1:22:09 AM EST