On Tuesday the Howell North Hockey Team went played district rival Howell Central in the deciding game for who would move forward in the Wickenheiser cup. Despite losing 11-5 the previous friday and being 1-2 against Central during the season, the Knights went out ready to fight till the end. Even playing aggressively every second of the game, the Knights walked away with a 1-4 loss putting and end to their season.

“These kids are young, but aggressive, they showed that they will make you fight for every inch” said Head Hockey Coach Paul Bruemmer

The first period saw the Knights and Spartans battling up and down the rink with 9 Shot on goal apiece and each one blocked. With 6:21 left in the first #9 Brennan Buerck and #16 Cody Pingleton managed to force a goal though after a 30 second dual over the puck right next to the Spartans goal.

 In the second period the Knights kept-up their aggressive game play, but the Spartans managed to score two goals during the period turning the tables on the Knights. First came with 8:51 to go, the Spartans hit a power shot that was blocked, by Howell North goalie #31 Kavan Johnson, but the deflection caused the puck to bounce into the goal. Second came with 29.6 seconds left, a failed shot by the Knights was deflected back at the Spartans and then was raced down the and slid in right under the goalkeepers glove. Despite losing 1-2 the Knights managed to get 10 shots at the goal but none got through.

“We played great and aggressively as a team, but we gave-up a lot of good opportunities” said Defenseman Kyle Kateman

In the third the period took a turn for the worse for the Knights. The Spartans  put up two more goals both on very well placed shots,one at 10:26 and the other   at 7:21.  To make matters worse at 6:09 Kateman got in a very physical argument with Howell Central’s Mitchell Miller. When it was clear that Kateman wouldn’t stop the referees threw Kateman out of the game. Then #16 Cody Pingleton came to Kateman’s defense and after harsh language was exchanged between him and the referee he was forced to leave the game also.

Despite the loss Coach Bruemmer was not disheartened. “With how young and inexperienced the team is I thought we had a great season and a good and unexpected run in the play-off’s and this shows in how well we played today, even with the loss, it just shows, even though we are not the most skilled team these kid’s are aggressive and committed,” Bruemmer said.

The Howell North Hockey Team will be hanging up their equipment for the season while Howell Central will Move on to play Rockwood Summit in the Semi-Finals on the 21st at Hardees Ice-Rink.