STATE CHAMPS
The Mill Creek Ice Hawks beat Kennesaw Mountain 2-1 Thursday night to win the high school hockey state championship. Photo by Kristi Reed
Ice Hawks win state championship
BY KRISTI REED
Mill Creek head coach Ray Nowakowski was excited even before his team took the Ice for Thursday’s state championship game.
“It is a major accomplishment to make it to the state finals in our first year as a team,” he said.
Nowakowski’s excitement turned to pure joy as Mill Creek skated its way to a state title in a hard fought battle at the Duluth Ice Forum.
Playing their third game in as many nights, the Ice Hawks beat the fiercely competitive Kennesaw Mountain Mustangs 2-1 to win the championship.
“We’ve got a great group of kids,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group. My coaching staff worked hard all season for this game. To take the trophy in our first year is more than any of us could imagine.”
TOUGH ROAD
The Ice Hawks played a very demanding schedule leading up to Thursday’s championship game.
After beating the top ranked Grayson Rams on Tuesday, Mill Creek advanced to Wednesday’s semi-final game. The Georgia high school hockey state playoff is a double elimination tournament. After four rounds of competition, Mill Creek had one loss and Kennesaw Mountain was undefeated.
The Ice Hawks handed the Mustangs their first loss of the tournament, beating Kennesaw Mountain 2-1 in round five.
Nowakowski said it was a hard fought victory for his team.
The game remained scoreless through the first two periods. Mill Creek’s Greg LaChance put the Ice Hawks on the board three minutes into the third period with an assist from Chase Little.
Kennesaw Mountain answered nine minutes later as Mark LaHue scored for the Mustangs with an assist from Cory Richerson.
The score was tied 1-1 until the final minute of the game. With just 29 seconds left on the clock, eight grader Avery Barrett scored the winning goal for Mill Creek with an assist from Sean Lautzenhiser.
“It was a great goal to watch,” Nowakowski said. “Sean skated hard crashing the net, and Avery was there to pick up the trash and get the puck in the net.”
Ice Hawks’ goal tender Evan Jones field 18 shots and made 17 saves for the night.
Nowakowski said he was extremely proud of his players and the teamwork they showed in the game. Nowakowski praised Mike Linkowski, Kris
Nowakowski, Caleb Rainey, Austin Leonard, and Eric Cubbage for putting the team first, keeping a positive attitude and inspiring their teammates.
PLAY IT AGAIN
Wednesday’s victory over Kennesaw Mountain left the Ice Hawks and Mustangs with one loss each in the tournament and one last chance to take state.
Prior to the game, Nowakowski said if his team had “any legs left” after a grueling week of play, they stood a good chance of beating the Mustangs for a second time.
The Ice Hawks not only had the legs, they had the heart to hit the ice again and play with enough intensity and determination to outlast a tough Kennesaw Mountain team.
Mill Creek took a 1-0 lead late in the first as Jordan Senecal scored with 3:25 remaining in the period. Junior George Bryant was credited with the assist. The Ice Hawks made ten shots on goal during the period compared to seven for Kennesaw Mountain.
The Mustangs tied the game early in the second as Nicholas Lazenby scored assisted by T.J. Wales and Joe Karan.
Before the period ended, Mill Creek broke the tie as Senecal scored an unassisted goal to give the Ice Hawks a 2-1 lead.
Despite numerous penalties and fierce offensive play by the Mustangs, the Ice Hawks held the lead throughout the third to win the game and the state championship.
Jones fielded 27 shots and made 26 saves for Mill Creek.
General Manager Rick Cubbage noted that the Ice Hawks’ first state championship came one year and one week after the decision was made to form a team.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “I’m very proud of the coaches, the team. The coaches made some adjustments towards the end of the season and got us back on track. The kids played just an awesome season and we’ll be back next year.”
An exuberant Nowakowski said all the extra effort the coaches and players made was worth it.
“We have some great, great players on this team,” he said. “It’s a great feeling. I may not sleep for the next few days, but holding this (trophy) and seeing these guys as happy as they are – it’s all worth it.”
