PLYMOUTH — One of the unlikeliest players on one of Bloomfield Hills-Cranbrook-Kingswood's hockey teams with the least chance of winning was a hero.
Junior defenseman David Schmidt's fourth goal of the season at the 3:34 mark of the third overtime led to a 3-2 win over East Grand Rapids in the Division 3 title game at USA Hockey Arena on Saturday. The Cranes won their 19th MHSAA Finals championship.
Schmidt won the faceoff and scored from the right point. It was his second goal of the game and third in two games over the weekend.
“I just went blank,” he said. “Did I do that? That was pretty crazy.”
Prior to the MHSAA semifinals, Schmidt had only one goal and four assists in 28 games.
“The coaches told me to get the puck off the net quickly and see what happens,” Schmidt said. “I did it. I saw the lane and took the shot and it went in.
“It's unbelievable, but it's not just me. It's the team, everyone, the coach, the goalie. Everyone put in as much effort. I can't say enough about these guys. Believe it. This is an incredible team.”
Cranbrook-Kingswood entered the MHSAA playoffs unranked and completely under the radar, which was understandable given its 11-13-1 regular season record. And it had been three years since the Cranes last won the Finals, a record 18th time.
Players and coaches believe the team finally started to gel about a month ago.
“I think it starts with leadership from the top of the team,” Cranes senior Michael Horton said. “I remember Coach (John) LaFontaine saying at the beginning of this year and throughout the year that if the leadership of this team doesn't come together, (we're going to struggle) because the young players Because they look at it and they're like, “Oh, our seniors, our leaders, whatever we are, they don't trust each other, so how can they How do I trust this process?' Before overtime, before every play, we walk up to each other and say, “I trust you.'' “said. I trust you with everything I have. ”
The championship would not have been possible without the outstanding goaltending of junior Garrett Dudler. He joined the team around Christmas and made 53 saves Saturday, the second-most in the MHSAA finals. The record of 58 was set by Orchard Lake St. Mary's Ryan Morley-Stockton in the 2008 Division 1 title game against Marquette in a 1-1 tie in eight overtime innings.
Dudler stopped the last 39 shots he faced.
“It was definitely different,” Dudler said of playing triple overtime. “We've had solid games so far, so nothing changes. Let's keep it the same.”
East Grand Rapids senior Glenn Green started the game with the fastest goal of the finals just 12 seconds after the first faceoff. The previous record of 18 seconds was set by East Kentwood's Jason Bravata against Trenton in the 1990 Class A final.
Kyle Braunscheidel responded for the Cranes with 4:14 left. James Albers scored on a power play at the 15:39 mark of the first, giving the Pioneers a 2-1 lead going into intermission.
Schmidt scored the only goal of the second period at 8:28, just three seconds after the two had the advantage.
It was the second year in a row that the Pioneers lost in the championship game in gut-wrenching fashion. Last season, they lost 3-2 to Flint Powers Catholic, but Mason Czarnecki scored the game-winning goal in regulation time with 4.6 seconds left on the breakaway.
“We have a whopping 142 teams in the state,” East Grand Rapids coach Christopher Newton said. “There aren't a lot of guys out there trying to win and get through the season and set high goals. We had that group, too. It doesn't really happen, so it's really disappointing.”
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photograph (Top) Cranbrook goaltender Garrett Dudler (1) gets in position to stop a shot from East Grand Rapids' Ian McKagan. (Middle) The Cranes' Nick Timko (12) brings the puck onto the ice and EGR's Charlie Hoekstra chases it. (Bottom) Cranbrook captains Thomas Kiemel (4 years old), Roman Cicco and Michael Horton (13 years old) celebrate the title. (Photo provided by: Hockey Weekly Action Photos. )
