Northern/Eastern beat Central in the hockey battle between Forest Hills schools on Wednesday evening. Central got on the board early on a goal by Sam Carlson. N/E answered shortly after that with an unassisted goal by Luke Swardenski and the first period ended knotted at 1-1. N/E scored the only goal of the second period on a tally by soph Keenan Sullivan to put them up 2-1. Central answered early in the third with a goal by Drew Preson, assisted by his linemates Evan Hess and Morgan Feenie. The game would stay at 2-2 until a delay of game penalty put FHC down a man, and FHN/E would capitalize. Spencer Mulder scored an unassisted goal to put N/E up, and then Andrew Rennaker added another PP goal to make it 4-2. Soph Max Rennaker closed out the scoring with an empty netter at 14:24 to make the final 5-2. Sean Winks got the win in nets for FHN/E, which was outshot by a 28-25 margin in the game. Some coverage in the Grand Rapids Press is here.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
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27 comments:
Great game! What high school hockey is all about. Big crowd, octopus on the ice before the game and some great goals. Rarely called "delay of game" penalty was unfortunate, but FHNE killed off a 5 minute major penalty earlier in the game. Helmets off to senior FHNE netminder, Sean Winks, who was the difference in the game!
I'm an FHC fan and I agree with your comments. When is the last time you saw someone get a delay of game penalty when a guy freezes the puck along the boards while battling 2 defenders ? That gives FHN the game winner and it's all over but the crying. FHN played a great game defensively against an offensive thats been in high gear since mid-Jan. Congratulations to FHN and hope you make it to the championship! FHC has nothing to be ashamed of - great season winning Tier II and McMichigan Cup.
I was surprised when I heard about the penalty being called for delay of game for freezing the puck. When I spoke with FHNE coach Kevin Zaschak who attributed the penalty call to the fact that the player had dropped his stick. So when the refs told him to move the puck and he didn't, that's why they called it. Zaschak also said that FHNE had the same thing called against them earlier this year. Any of our readers who ref HS hockey care to weigh in?
That penalty was a tough one to call, but the ref told me that he told the player multiple times to move the puck. He didn't thus the penalty - it's in the rule books. Unfortunately, ignorance of the rules is no excuse. It's the same as a kid playing with a broken stick. It's a rule.
None the less - it was a GREAT game to watch and the score did non reflect the well fought effort of both teams.
It WAS a great game - it always is when FHNE/FHC line up.
FHNE's offense really stepped it up and Winks was definately on his game. FHNE needed to bring the "A" game Wednesday night against their rival FHC and they all showed up to play.
Good luck on Friday!
FHNE had that happen earlier this year along with their goalie leaving his crease to get a stick during play that was broken and received a delay of game call. There are some funny ones out there.
First off, congratulations to FHNE.. They played a great game, especially Winks in goal. But it was very disappointing to see such a great game come down to the fellas wearing the black and white stripes. This was a game that should have been decided by the players, not officiating. Hats off to FHNE for capitalizing on the chances they were given but it has to be frustrating for FHC seniors to have their careers ended with a big question mark about what could have been if the refs had let the players decide the game.
how can fhc beat kenowa hills 9-1 and then lose to fhn/e. kenowa beat fhn/e ealrier in the year. hats off to fhn/e and fhc on a great game.
FHNE beat FHC three times this year and when they played Kenowa Fuzzy made around 40 saves
FHC only had 5 losses this year, 3 of them to one team...FHNE. You could say that FHNE has their number or you can say that FHNE has a talented team that combined with hot goaltending can compete with most teams.
Come on Kenowa Hills fan? Fuzzy carried you all year long and when he needed his teammates to win him a game or two late in the season, they let him down. Feel free to hang on to your win over FHNE if it makes you feel better.
To the person who made remarks about FHN/E having FHC's number. You got to be kidding. FHC had the game but the refs made a bad call that gave FHN/E the game. It is too bad that FHC is not going to play Mona because they are the team that could beat them. Not FHN/E!. Oh that is right look at the FHN/E's record against Mona!! Talk about a team owning another team. To the coach of FHN/E who made the comment in the GR press about changing his forcheck to get the go ahead goal. Who is he kidding. He got a power play handed to him by the refs that they scored on. Nice try coach
FHC guy who is dreaming with your previous post. We beat you three times yes count it three times. Total score for the three games is 14-6. Your schedule was a joke and FHNE playing a tough schedule will help them in the playoffs. Maybe you got out-coached again. Our coach kept us calmed down the stretch while your bench melted down.
FHC poster. The 4th goal wasn't on a powerplay. Oh yeah there was a fifth goal as well. Hang your hat on third one but what about the other 4. Final score 5-2.
To recent FHNE posters
Tough schedule...right! Kenowa game was a tough one! Yes there was a 4th goal but after the refs gave you the third the game was over. Do I need to remind you that the fifth was an open net or were you at the game at all? Nice try
If FHC could have held their composure their may not have been a 4th or 5th but you couldn't. Hang on to the Kenowa game. Bottom line you lost 3 times to one team.
Don't worry, your season will be over in 2 games max. Just like last year, Mona will finish your season yet again.
at least we got there and like you said "Again".
Here's the thing, every game the players on both sides have the chance to capitalize on opportunities. FHNE had a number of penalties which created opportunities for FHC, they came up short. Unfortunate, expecially for the seniors.
FHNE played hard and earned their place in the Regional Final game. Go FHNE!
Bad calls? Sounds like an excuse to me. The refs didn't hand FHNE the game, they handed them an opportunity just like they handed FHC an opportunity with the 5 minute penalty aginst FHNE early in the game. When opportunity knocks it's your responsibility to open the door.
Funny how FHNE "opportunity" knocked with 6 min left in the game. FHNE also had power plays earlier in the game that they could not capitalize on. If you know the game of hockey, a 2 min penalty with 6 min left in a 2 - 2 game is a lot different than making the same call in the first or second period and to make matters worst, a call for delay of game this late just does not happen. The refs took the wind out of FHC sails. Good Luck to FHNE! You will need it to get by MONA assuming you win tonight
To everyone on this post. This is a great rivalry and great for the Forest Hills community. Keep positive and lay off the refs. The game is 45 minutes long and cannot be blamed on one call. FHC could have ended the game with 5 minute powerplay and didn't score. That was a bigger factor in my opinion
Exactly my point. If you know the game of hockey or any other sport you know that one call does not determine the game. What determines the game is the tenacity with which one plays beginning to end.
Blaming the ref is a typical response, when a team comes up short, so they don't have to bear the burden themselves. If it was the ref that "took the wind out of their sails" it really is too bad that the teammates and the coach for FHC were unable to reinspire the boys.
FHC had a great season - winning Tier II, with great players and supportive fans - a lot to be proud of.
Bad calls not deciding games?? How about the Stanley Cup Game where Brett Hull had his foot in the crease and they did not call the goal off which in turn gave the Dallas Stars the cup. I can tell you that Sabers were playing very hard for the win. I have watched several games over the years where the outcome was affected by the refs. Let's be realistic!!!
As a fan of hockey and the FHC program, I am proud of our players sportsmanship, behavior both on the ice and off the ice.
If you are proud than the next life lesson is not to blame one call. They still had 6 minutes to re-group but decided to take a bench penalty and get scored on two more times. Sounds like they need to call a time out and not blame people
"If you are proud than the next life lesson is not to blame one call" Hugh??? Players sportsmanship, behavior both on the ice and off the ice is a life lesson. Done!!
This is embarrising to me to read this crap from parents of both sides. I am a FHNE mom and fan and I have many friends on the FHC team. This is appalling to me that there is such anomosity over one game. If the outcome was different I would have congratulated FHC and wished them well. This is a shame. Shame on all of you.
Ok, folks. Let's wrap this one up. FHNE plays tonight and FHC's season, which was exceptional, is over. Two great teams. Two great coaches. And a ton of great players, including many who I've gotten to know this season. Both teams played hard and each game has a winner and loser. That's hockey. That's life. Let's move on. Thanks.
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