Top-ranked Howell stunned by No. 2 Detroit Catholic Central in quarterfinal thriller
FLINT - It should have been a state championship showdown, or at the very least a semifinal.
But instead the top two teams in Division 1 met again in the quarterfinals with No. 2 Detroit Catholic Central edging No. 1 Howell 1-0 on Saturday, Feb. 28.
The last time that the MHSAA held its semifinals and finals at USA Hockey Arena without a Livingston County team was 2015.
That is what happens when the No. 1 Highlanders had to play No. 3 Hartland in the regional finals. Livingston county had four of the top six teams for most of the season.
In a sport that is looking to grow, the marquee game should be the state finals, not the quarterfinals.
“It was a great game, it goes back to who thought it was a good idea to have this game in the quarter and not down in Plymouth in a final four game is beyond me. It’s unfortunate for the game (of hockey),” Howell coach Keith Robertson said.
The game itself was as expected, a thrilling match-up between two high-caliber teams.
Howell goalie Chase Rayburn proved throughout the game why he is considered one of the top goalies in the MHSAA turning away 38 shots on the night and only allowing the one goal by Catholic Central’s Nick McQuaid with 5:17 remaining in the game that would prove to be the decisive goal.
“It was a great hockey game,” Catholic Central coach Brandon Kalenicki said. “Two great teams going toe to toe, 0-0 tight game, it had a bit of everything.”
Howell had its opportunities throughout the game. The first period saw a five-minute major assessed to Catholic Central for head contact followed up by a hooking penalty giving the Highlanders a 5-on-3 opportunity.
The second period also saw a long power-play opportunity for Howell as a Catholic Central player was given a two-minute minor for tripping however he took the ice four seconds early earning an extra two minutes in the box and effectively giving the Highlanders a four minute 5-on-4 advantage that they could not convert on.
“We wanted to play a little bit more five on five because of that depth and some of the moments where we got into trouble (penalty wise) took us out of being able to do that but our kill was fantastic," Kaliniecki said. "When we got to the third period 0-0 I felt that our depth would eventually start to take over."
Catholic Central advanced on to the semifinals at USA Hockey Arena next Friday after picking up their 38th consecutive MHSAA playoff win.
“We knew what they were, they are a good program,” Robertson said. “You don’t win that many state championships in a row and not be a good team. That game could have gone either way. It was a one-goal game, we had our chances and it is just a shame that it had to be a quarterfinal and not a semifinal.”
Afterward Robertson talked about his outgoing senior class.
“Chase, Marco, Chad, all of our seniors Bryce as well, I am so proud of this senior class, they have changed the face of Howell hockey forever," he said. "Whether it is making it to the finals last year, winning the KLAA, winning however many games in a row (26), you want to win the state title and that was our goal this year and that is not going to happen but by the same token they have a lot to be proud of.”
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Howell hockey beat by Detroit Catholic Central in state quarterfinal
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