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Photo courtesy of Burrill Strong
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Chelsea junior Randy Cox finished with 24 goals and a school record 45 assists for 69 points this past season. He was part of a Bulldog line that was one of the highest scoring in the state this year.
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The Detroit Red Wings had the famed "Production Line" first started by Gordie Howe, Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay back in the 1950s. The line became one of the highest scoring trios in NHL history.
This past season, Chelsea had its version of the "Production Line" in senior Kyle George, junior Randy Cox and sophomore Drew Brown. The talented threesome struck fear in opposing goaltenders all year, finishing the season with a school record for a single line of 213 points.
George, named Division 3 first team All-State, ended the year with 27 goals and 43 assists for 70 points. Cox, selected Division 3 second team All-State, finished with 24 goals and a school record 45 assists for 69 points. Brown, who received Division 3 All-State honorable mention accolades, recorded a school record of 40 goals and 34 assists for a school record 74 points this year.
For their efforts, the trio was named MVP of this season's squad.
"They finished 1-2-3 for most points in a season," said Chelsea coach Don Wright. "We've had great players rack up a lot of points over the years, but this line gelled so well. So many times during the season after they scored a goal, you could see the opposing players with a 'What just happened?' look on their faces."
George, a center and captain, set the tone for the line all season long.
"I tried to be a leader," he said. "I tried to find the open man."
George said the threesome played well together.
"We all had good vision on the ice," he said. "We all could put the puck in the net."
Wright said George was a sparkplug for Cox and Brown.
"They looked at him for motivation," he said. "His hustle and attitude was a great example."
As a first-year player in the Chelsea program, Cox marveled at his linemates' talent on the ice all year long.
"I came in and I knew that I would have to fill some big shoes from last year," he said. "But this year, we had guys like Kyle who could make people miss. We were able to move the puck well and we had guys like Drew finish when we needed them to."
Wright said Cox, who also plays football for the Bulldogs, fit in on the ice right from the start.
"He got more and more comfortable every day," he said. "Randy is a tough kid. He can certainly play the physical style, but he also has a high skill level. He was a playmaker for us."
The youngster of the group, Brown said early on he tried to stay out of his older teammates' way on the ice.
"I tried not to slow the guys down," he said. "But we were able to move the puck really well. My linemates were able to set me up and get passes to me. Our chemistry was really strong. We all had great vision."
Wright said Brown, a pure scorer, had a knack around the net.
"He understands how to move," he said. "He scored a lot of goals down low. He gets the puck in the net. He's able to read the goaltender and get the puck past him."
This year's Bulldog team was lethal on the power play, scoring at a school record clip of 40 percent. Not surprisingly, George, Cox and Brown manned Chelsea's No. 1 power play unit.
"They scored 30 of our 34 power play goals during the season when their line was out there (on ice)," Wright said.
On the year, George had 21 multiple point games, while Cox had 20 and Brown 19 for the Bulldogs.
"That's the most in a season for us," Wright said.
Brown set a plus/minus school record with a plus-44. George had a plus/minus of plus-43, while Cox was at plus-40.
Josh Barron set the former school record in 2002 with a plus-41.
Wright said the high-scoring threesome communicated well and had an innate ability to think one or two moves ahead.
"They knew what they would do with the puck before they got it," he said. "They made passes without even looking. They all had the ability to read the ice and know where to go. They all had hockey-sense. They were able to find the openings on the ice."
Wright said all three players worked hard in practice.
"They listened and went out and did it," he said. "They were unselfish. It didn't matter who scored the goal. They were a high speed, high skill type of line. They made smart, quick passes."
Though each player individually had an impressive season, Wright said it was the trio's ability to work together that pushed their season over the edge.
"They couldn't have done what they did without each other," he said.
Wright, the architect of the line, said he sensed in the preseason that George, Cox and Brown would click as Chelsea's top line.
"I thought they all saw the ice well, were creative with the puck and I thought they would work well together," he said.
Sports Editor Don Richter can be reached at 475-1371 or at drichter@heritage.com.
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