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Port Huron Northern freezes Cougars in their tracks, advance to Final Four

Dan Stickradt | March 7, 2012 | Comments (5)

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — In a year where there has been an unusually high number of state-ranked boys hockey teams falling in the earlier rounds, Port Huron Northern has done nothing but back up its top-10 status in the postseason.

The Huskies (17-9-1), ranked third in the state heading into the tournament, made sure their quest for a state title remained very much alive Tuesday night.

Northern scored a goal in the first period, tacked on two more in the second frame and exploded for three additional goals in the third period to skate past Rochester Stoney Creek, 6-1, in a Division 2 state quarterfinal at Suburban Macomb Ice Arena.

COLLISION COURSE: Rochester Stoney Creek's Brian Gill fends off Port Huron Northern's Vesa Sivula during Tuesday's Division 2 state quarterfinals. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

The Huskies advance to Thursday’s state semifinals at Compuware Arena in Plymouth at 7:30 p.m., where Grosse Pointe South awaits. It marks Port Huron Northern’s first Final Four since the 2001-02 campaign.

“I think what this group has done the last two years, from where they started two years ago (is amazing). The leadership is great, they have bought into the program and we’re winning,” said Northern coach Daryel McCarrel. “That’s a good thing and we’re successful.”

Northern led 3-1 behind a 16-9 shots edge through two periods of play. Instead of playing conservative in the third period, the Huskies went for the jugular.

Northern scored three times in the period, holding a 19-7 shots edge in the frame, and never allowed the Cougars (13-15-0) a chance at a comeback.

Rochester Stoney Creek's Brian Gill steals the puck during the Cougars' 6-1 loss to Port Huron Northern. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

“When we played (Midland) Dow (in the regionals), we played not to lose instead of playing to win,” noted McCarrel. “I told the boys let keep it going and play our system. We knew they would press, so we had to force breakaways and (scoring) opportunities.”

Bryce VanHorn, Nathan Wilson and Jimmy Glombowski all scored in succession in the third period, the first with 10:47 to play which proved to be the back-breaker and final goal with 28.9 second s left. The Huskies were relentless in the final period and at one point fired six shots on the Cougars’ net in a 45-second span.

Port Huron Northern opened up the scoring with 8:49 to go in the first period. Austin Ainsworth was left open 10 yards in front of the net and his high shot found the upper 90 under the crossbar.

Kyle Truscott and Erik Olsen picked up the assists on the play, with Truscott making a nice spin move in the corner before slotting the puck through traffic over to wide-open Ainsworth.

The Huskies scored again with 10:44 left in the second period, this time with Wilson and Olsen setting up VanHorn with a close-range wrist shot from the right side.

Stoney Creek did manage to score with 7:09 remaining in the period, the tally coming on a back-handed shot from Matt Zuelch, courtesy of Brian Gill. That was the last ray of hope the Cougars would enjoy.

TAKE THAT: Rochester Stoney Creek's Drew Stansbury checks Port Huron Northern's Tyler Johnson into the boards during the second period of Tuesday's quarterfinals. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

Truscott made it a two-goal cushion once again with 3:56 left in the second period. Tyler Johnson’s slap shot from just inside the blue line sailed throw traffic to Ainsworth, who flicked the puck over to Truscott for the redirect.

That set the stage for the third-period onslaught.

Northern outshot Stoney Creek 35-16 on the night, with Matt Fernandez corralling 15 saves for the Huskies. Maxx Grant stopped 29 of 35 shots for Stoney Creek.

“That’s certainly one of the best if not the best team we’ve played this year,” conceded Stoney Creek coach Ian Smith. “They are relentless, they keep you honest, and they are quick (over) all three periods with all four lines. They have a lot of set plays that spread us out. That was the turning point of the game when they that steal and a breakaway and getting a goal off of it.”

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Tags: boys hockey, featured, high school boys hockey, hockey, Port Huron Northern Boys Hockey, prep boys hockey, Rochester Stoney Creek Boys Hockey