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All Hockey - Boys Stories
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Riverview’s powerhouse Brian Bachnak was named 2012-13 “Mr. Hockey” by the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches’ Association at Sunday’s All-State Awards luncheon in Livonia.
Bachnak, who made the first-team all-state and was named to the dream team, was one of six finalists for the Mr. Hockey award but said he never expected to receive the award.
“It was a dream come true,” Bachnak said. “I never thought I was honestly gonna be in the running for it, and now that it’s happened, it’s absolutely unbelievable.”
The senior earned his spot on the dream team after helping Riverview to its first-ever Division 3 state semifinals, a goal of the team’s since the season started.
“The whole season was just getting to Compuware,” Bachnak said. “That was our goal and putting Riverview back on the map.
“We just started from day one in practice and just kept trying. I was just really excited that we got to do that for the school. All the talk is hockey. Hockey’s the sport now.”
Riverview Coach Al Taurence was thrilled with the award and said it is not only great news for Bachnak, but especially good for the Riverview school district and those who support them.
“I think it’s great for the downriver area for this to happen,” Taurence said.
Taurence said he was proud of his team and thankful for the support from the Riverview teachers and athletic department this season.
Taurence stresses a family type atmosphere with his team and says accomplishments like this will help his kids be successful in life.
“That’s what these kids have to look forward to in life,” he said. “I think that we’re gonna make these kids better young men and hopefully better young adults in school and have a better outlook in life.
“It’s just an honor to be a part of these kids and family’s lives.”
Bachnak has spent two years with the Riverview hockey team and this season had a team-high 97 points with 53 goals and 44 assists.
He was often the talk of hockey teams in the area, but Bachnak said none of his success would have been possible without his teammates.
“They move the puck to me a lot,” he said. “I wouldn’t have scored all those goals without those opportunities, the sacrifices my teammates made for me to get the puck.
“Everyone on the team, when they would get the puck, would get it to me, which I appreciated. Without those guys, I wouldn’t have been here at all.”
A big part of Bachnak’s success resulted from the play of linemates Timmy Lyons and Alex Testy.
“The lines have changed off and on (but) this last year I played with Timmy Lyons and Alex Testy for most of the season,” Bachnak said. “We just really gelled together.
“Timmy Lyons, he didn’t get all-state, (but) he deserved it. He was my right hand man.”
Taurence said he was slightly surprised when he found out Bachnak was chosen for the award because the Bucs lost in the state semis, but he still thought the senior was the best player.
Others thought so, too.
At the banquet were well-known hockey teams like the Cranbrooks and Catholic Centrals and Red Wings’ Coach Mike Babcock even came up to Bachnak before the announcement was made and told him the award would be his because he deserved it that much.
“They knew he was the best player,” Taurence said. “And he was, and he deserved it.”
Sticking with their family type atmosphere, the Riverview hockey team had a table of 12 at the banquet Sunday afternoon, the largest of any team.
Jay Helstowski was also named first-team all-state Lyons received honorable mention.
Hockey is nothing new to Bachnak, who has been playing the sport since he was four years old and is thankful the support he received along the way.
“It is just awesome,” he said about his award. “I wouldn’t have done it without my team, my family and everyone that support me throughout hockey throughout my whole life.”
Although his high school career is over, the senior star has plans to continue his hockey run.
Bachnak has signed a tender with the Austin Bruins in the North American Hockey League and will play for the team if he doesn’t get drafted into the United States Hockey League, whose draft takes place on May 7.
Bachnak is the first Riverview player to win the Mr. Hockey award and the sixth player from a Downriver school.
He follows Trenton’s Jason Durbin (1996). Trenton’s Andy Greene (2000), Trenton’s Josh Miller (2008), Trenton’s Cam Wojtala (2009) and Roosevelt’s Gerald Mayhew (2011).
HOCKEY: Riverview's Bachnak named Mr. Hockey (PHOTO)
Brian Bachnak helped to lead the Riverview Hockey team to their first ever D3 state final-four appearance this season and finished the season with a team high 97 points- 53 goals and 44 assists.
Bachnak, who made the first-team all-state and was named to the dream team, was one of six finalists for the Mr. Hockey award but said he never expected to receive the award.
“It was a dream come true,” Bachnak said. “I never thought I was honestly gonna be in the running for it, and now that it’s happened, it’s absolutely unbelievable.”
The senior earned his spot on the dream team after helping Riverview to its first-ever Division 3 state semifinals, a goal of the team’s since the season started.
“The whole season was just getting to Compuware,” Bachnak said. “That was our goal and putting Riverview back on the map.
“We just started from day one in practice and just kept trying. I was just really excited that we got to do that for the school. All the talk is hockey. Hockey’s the sport now.”
Riverview Coach Al Taurence was thrilled with the award and said it is not only great news for Bachnak, but especially good for the Riverview school district and those who support them.
“I think it’s great for the downriver area for this to happen,” Taurence said.
Taurence said he was proud of his team and thankful for the support from the Riverview teachers and athletic department this season.
Taurence stresses a family type atmosphere with his team and says accomplishments like this will help his kids be successful in life.
“That’s what these kids have to look forward to in life,” he said. “I think that we’re gonna make these kids better young men and hopefully better young adults in school and have a better outlook in life.
“It’s just an honor to be a part of these kids and family’s lives.”
Bachnak has spent two years with the Riverview hockey team and this season had a team-high 97 points with 53 goals and 44 assists.
He was often the talk of hockey teams in the area, but Bachnak said none of his success would have been possible without his teammates.
“They move the puck to me a lot,” he said. “I wouldn’t have scored all those goals without those opportunities, the sacrifices my teammates made for me to get the puck.
“Everyone on the team, when they would get the puck, would get it to me, which I appreciated. Without those guys, I wouldn’t have been here at all.”
A big part of Bachnak’s success resulted from the play of linemates Timmy Lyons and Alex Testy.
“The lines have changed off and on (but) this last year I played with Timmy Lyons and Alex Testy for most of the season,” Bachnak said. “We just really gelled together.
“Timmy Lyons, he didn’t get all-state, (but) he deserved it. He was my right hand man.”
Taurence said he was slightly surprised when he found out Bachnak was chosen for the award because the Bucs lost in the state semis, but he still thought the senior was the best player.
Others thought so, too.
At the banquet were well-known hockey teams like the Cranbrooks and Catholic Centrals and Red Wings’ Coach Mike Babcock even came up to Bachnak before the announcement was made and told him the award would be his because he deserved it that much.
“They knew he was the best player,” Taurence said. “And he was, and he deserved it.”
Sticking with their family type atmosphere, the Riverview hockey team had a table of 12 at the banquet Sunday afternoon, the largest of any team.
Jay Helstowski was also named first-team all-state Lyons received honorable mention.
Hockey is nothing new to Bachnak, who has been playing the sport since he was four years old and is thankful the support he received along the way.
“It is just awesome,” he said about his award. “I wouldn’t have done it without my team, my family and everyone that support me throughout hockey throughout my whole life.”
Although his high school career is over, the senior star has plans to continue his hockey run.
Bachnak has signed a tender with the Austin Bruins in the North American Hockey League and will play for the team if he doesn’t get drafted into the United States Hockey League, whose draft takes place on May 7.
Bachnak is the first Riverview player to win the Mr. Hockey award and the sixth player from a Downriver school.
He follows Trenton’s Jason Durbin (1996). Trenton’s Andy Greene (2000), Trenton’s Josh Miller (2008), Trenton’s Cam Wojtala (2009) and Roosevelt’s Gerald Mayhew (2011).
Last Updated: 3/19/2013 12:15:54 PM EST