On Ice: Novi freezes up Lake Orion to advance to first state title game
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
PLYMOUTH — The coaching staff for Novi’s hockey team has placed a seal on the Wildcats’ stat book this season, not disclosing any numbers to the players, the hockey community or the media throughout the season.
There’s no secret that Novi is an offensive juggernaught and one of the final two teams playing in the Division 1 postseason.
The second-ranked Wildcats advanced to the state title game for the first time in school history, skating past No. 9 Lake Orion, 3-0, Friday night in the state semifinals at Compuware Arena near Plymouth.
BEHIND THE PUCK: Lake Orion's Brad Bogus (No. 7 on right) and the Dragons were behind the puck and Novi's Brock Krygier during Friday's Division 1 state semifinal at Compuware Arena. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
Novi scored on a pair of second-period power plays and killed off a few of their own in ousting Lake Orion.
“I think what helped is we killed off those two (first-period) power plays, then we scored on one in the second period,” noted Novi coach Todd Krygier. “I thought we were a little sloppy tonight, but the guys got the job done.”
Much like they have done all season, the duo of Taylor Howell and Joey Ferriss were too much for Lake Orion to contain, as they were in on all three goals.
Novi finally got untracked at the 4:30 mark of the second period. Taylor Howell’s back-handed shot on the power play following a pass from Joey Ferriss put the Wildcats in the lead for good at 1-0.
The same combination upped the lead to 2-0 at 12:25 of the second frame. Howell netted his second power-play goal of the night off helpers from Ferriss and Brock Krygier.
Michael Kruse iced the game at the 5:24 mark of the third period, scoring a close-range goal with Ferris and Howell gaining points on the passes. Ferris picked up a steal at mid-ice and skated in alone on the breakaway. The initial shot was halted, but Kruse was there to pounce on the rebound.
Krygier never felt comfortable until the last few minutes with his team up three goals.
“Lake Orion was a fantastic team. They played hard and they had a nice system today,” added Krygier. “We scrimmage them at the beginning of the year. They improved and we improved. I didn’t know what to expect.”
Novi advances to the state title game to face the winner of the East Kentwood-Orchard Lake St. Mary’s semifinal contest.
“I don’t know anything about either team,” admitted Krygier.
Novi was making it third Final Four appearance in five seasons. Previously, the Wildcats lost in 2007 to Muskegon Mona Shores (3-0) and again to Mona Shores in 2009 (2-1), both in Division 2.
The Wildcats, who outshot Lake Orion by a 20-14 margin, played conservative down the stretch, not allowing the high-powered Dragons (20-8-1) any chances to get back in the game.
Michael Pesendorfer made 14 saves for the shutout. The Wildcats’ defense did not allow a single shot on net in the third period.
Dominic Juncaj stopped 17 of 20 shots for the Dragons.
Lake Orion captured only its second regional title in the program’s 11-year history but this marked the Dragons’ first trip to the Frozen Four. In 2007, Lake Orion lost in the quarterfinals to East Kentwood (1-0).
“I don’t think anyone expected us to be here in the Final Four,” admitted senior Corbin Rainey. “We believed in each other. We were a team without any super stars, not with two guys doing everything. We had a great team and everybody did their part.”
Lake Orion came in having outscored it four postseason opponents 20-6 and held a 52-23 scoring edge in its previous 12 games, was shut out for only the second time this season — the last time coming Jan. 27 against Farmington (4-0).
The shutout loss in the semifinals doesn’t leave a mark on the Dragons’ effort, which included 11 wins in their previous 12 games.
“They were awesome,” offered Lake Orion co-coach Clint Robert. “They did everything we asked of them. “
Novi, which blasted Clarkston in the state quarterfinals (9-1), posted a 22-4 scoring edge to get to the semifinals, but had a tougher road. The Wildcats upended top-ranked Novi Detroit Catholic Central (4-3) in triple overtime in the regional semifinals and blanked No. 4 Howell (3-0) in the regional finals.
Still, the Wildcats found themselves in a 0-0 tie in the second period before pulling away.
Lake Orion outshot Novi 7-3 in the first period, but couldn’t convert on a pair of power play opportunities.
“I think if we would have got one to go in, it may have changed the (flow) of the game a little bit,” said Robert.
“I am proud of these guys. We had a little bit of a slow start, but I think we really started to come together in February,” added Robert. “We had a great run to get here.”
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Category: High School, Lake Orion, Prep Wraps
