The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
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Season-ender
Fluke shot decides Chelsea-Dexter pre-regional final
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: March 8, 2007
The rivalry gods wouldn't have it any other way.
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It was a packed and boisterous arena.
It was the Division III state pre-regional hockey final, where one loss and a team's season is over.
It was overtime.
It was Chelsea-Dexter.
It was the third game this season between the county rivals on the ice, and for the third straight time, the Dreadnaughts (20-6-1) defeated the host Bulldogs (16-8-2).
Last Thursday, Dexter pulled out a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory as senior defenseman Hunter Lyons scored on a shot from center ice at 4:51 of the extra session, giving the Dreadnaughts the hard-earned win.
Despite the season-ending loss, Chelsea coach Don Wright praised his team's effort.
"I thought we played a great hockey game," Wright said. "We played outstanding. The players did everything that I asked them to do. I'm very proud of them."
The Bulldogs dominated most of the game, out-shooting Dexter 38-14, allowing only two shots in the third period.
"We allowed six shots from the A area (slot area) for the game and a majority of those shots came in the first period," Wright said. "I thought we did a much better job of not turning the puck over. That haunted us in the first two games (against Dexter). We didn't make any glaring mistakes. Their goaltender made some great saves."
It was a difficult loss for Chelsea, whose 16 wins this year were second most in school history.
"Given the toughness of our schedule, to have the second most wins in school history is pretty special," Wright said. "I felt the last six weeks we were a dominant team. We were playing well.
"It's difficult for the seniors (playing last game). They gave it all they had."
Entering the Dexter contest, the Bulldogs had won five straight and were unbeaten in seven of their last eight games.
The Dreadnaughts opened the scoring as Alex Johnston turned the light on at 8:44 of the first period off an assist from Nick Field giving Dexter a 1-0 lead.
Chelsea answered as junior forward Kyle George scored at 14:06 of the first period. Senior forwards David Maveal and Schyler Williams picked up an assist on the play for the Bulldogs.
Twenty-seven seconds later, however, Field scored for the Dreadnaughts giving Dexter a 2-1 advantage. Johnston and Lyons assisted on the goal for the Dreadnaughts.
In the second period, Williams scored a power play goal at 13:29 of the frame knotting the game at 2-2. Junior defensemen Andy Korc and Matt Prince recorded assists on the play for Chelsea.
After a scoreless third period, in which the Bulldogs peppered the Dreadnaught net with shots, Lyons scored midway through the eight-minute overtime period for the game-winner.
Dexter would go on to lose last Saturday in the regional final 4-2 to Dearborn Divine Child.
To reach the pre-regional final, Chelsea shut out Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 7-0 in a first round match-up at the Arctic Coliseum Feb. 27.
"It was a very well-rounded game for us," Wright said. "We held them to one shot from the A area (slot)."
Seven different Bulldogs scored against the Fighting Irish.
"It was nice to get other guys on the board," Wright said.
To start the game, junior forward James Cogswell scored off an assist from freshman forward Drew Brown and junior forward Matt Heinen at 7:01 of the first period.
At 11:55 of the first period, Heinen turned the light on unassisted for a 2-0 Chelsea lead.
Thirty-seven seconds into the second period, Brown scored shorthanded for a 3-0 Bulldog advantage.
George upped Chelsea's lead to 4-0 scoring at 7:58 of the second period. Brown assisted on the goal for the Bulldogs.
In the third period, senior forward Howdy Holmes scored at 4:06 of the stanza off an assist from George and Maveal.
Forty-one seconds later, senior forward Shawn Scott scored giving the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead. Senior defenseman Jake Vaughan recorded an assist on the play for Chelsea.
At 9:28 of the third period, Williams closed out the scoring converting a pass from George and Maveal for the night's final margin.
The Bulldogs out-shot Gabriel Richard 30-6.
Earning the victory in net for Chelsea was senior goaltender Josh Cottrell.
In the pre-regional's other first round contest, Dexter defeated Jackson Lumen Christi 6-4, rallying from a 3-0 first period deficit to beat the Titans.
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