The Varsity Hockey team hosted the Howell Highlanders this past Wednesday night.  Coach Ronayne: "I say it every year.  Howell represents the best of Michigan high school hockey.  They play a brutal schedule against top 10 teams all season and all they do is line up and come at you with everything they have." The Eagles were searching for their 20th regular season win after a tough game just 24 hours earlier vs WLP.   Little did the LHS faithful know they were in store for an Instant Eagles Classic.

Captain Luke Weinberger kicked off the scoring just a minute into the game with what can only be described as a dizzying goal.  The play started deep in Lakeland's end when Timmy Hinkle rounded the puck to Brennan Grant.  Grant put the puck in front of Weinberger who drove the net, tossed aside two defenders and put the puck over a surprised Howell goaltender.   Howell came right back to tie it 1-1.   Weinberger somehow outdid his first goal to regain the lead when Joe Sesi stole a puck north of the blue line and sent it his way.  Weinberger slalomed through four Highlanders and the goalie to tuck the puck in nice and snug while the crowd slowly realized he had just scored. 2-1 after one.

The Eagles uncharacteristically hit a bump in the road and let in three goals in two minutes to go down 4-1.  But senior captain Jason Slicker was in net and quit isn't in his DNA.  (Fun Eagles fact:  Slicker doesn't utter words beginning with Q on game days which have made for awkward pop quizzes.)  Regan Voorhies brought LHS within one with a smart play off an offensive zone face off.  RV tipped the puck past his Howell counterpart, walked around him and blew the puck high glove side.  4-3 Highlanders after two.

Coach McElwee on the 2nd period: "Playing Howell is like attack of the clones.  Every player can skate, shoot and hit like they're handed a stick before they can walk.  You make one mistake and it's a goal for them.  We made three mistakes."

The third period brings us back to Berger time.  Heading into the 3rd,  #11 had half a dozen breakaways on resulting in two goals.  The Howell goaltender had since frustrated Weinberger.  The play went like this: Grant found himself with the puck at the Eagles' blue line and nine-ironed a pass to Weinberger.  Weinberger caught the puck in his right hand, dropped it to the ice and split the Howell blue-liners right down the middle.  Faking left but going back to his forehand he shoveled the tying goal past a diving tender. 4-4 into the last minute of play. 

I withheld an important fact.  Head Coach Tim Ronayne is in his 15th(!) season of coaching LHS varsity hockey.  His teams are winless against hockey juggernaut Howell High.   [Pause here for dramatic effect]   With a scant 40 seconds to go junior D Brendan Day zipped a pass to Grant who was already on the go.   Grant walked the puck down the left side of the ice and snapped the go-ahead goal across the Howell netminder.  Both teams scrambled madly for the last 30 seconds but the tying goal wasn't in the stars tonight.  5-4 Eagles final.

20 and 2 Lakeland meets Genesee United (Davison) on Saturday for a 2 pm LIA matinee.

Photo credit: Ainsley Altermatt