Wyandotte Outlasts Woodhaven at Hockey Showcase

skated to a 2-1 victory against former Michigan Metro League foe Woodhaven on Thursday night in Trenton.

The Roosevelt (6-12) victory came in day two of action in the four-day being hosted at Trenton’s .

Now in its 12th year, the event this year features 39 schools from Michigan and Canada squaring off on all three ice rinks at Kennedy from Feb 8-11. In attendance each day will be several scouts who, by coming to the showcase, have a chance to evaluate some of the best prep players in the area.

One of those players is Wyandotte senior forward , who opened the scoring Thursday night against the Warriors with his 18th goal of the year.

Groat, who is up for the State Champs! player of the year, took a pass from senior defenseman Kyle King at 10:51 of the first period and buried it into the Woodhaven net to put the Bears up 1-0.

Early in the second period, however, the Warriors tied the game, putting the puck past Roosevelt junior goaltender Dalan Bulchak at the 1:40 mark.

Later in the period, the Bears were able to cash in short-handed and regain the lead, following a penalty-shot goal from King at the 10:23 mark. The penalty shot was awarded after King was hauled down by a Woodhaven player as he headed toward the Warriors’ net on a short-handed breakaway. 

In the third period, Roosevelt was unable to extend its lead, but kept the Warriors off the board and headed off the ice with only its sixth win of the season.

“It feels good,” Groat said afterward of his team’s victory. “Hopefully this will get us rolling and we can put a couple more wins together.”

Wyandotte head coach Mike Quint said the victory was important, as his defending 2010-11 state-champ squad has rarely come out on top in contests this season.

“We needed a win,” Quint said. “Our record shows very few ‘Ws,’ so it’s good to get it.”

A Look Back and a Look Ahead

The Bears were dropped Wednesday 4-1 by Cranbrook-Kingswood in the opening night of the showcase. Wyandotte next plays in the showcase on Saturday at 10:40 a.m. against Traverse City West in Kennedy’s main rink.

The Showcase Weekend

Hockey action continues Friday at 10 a.m. and tickets for the event are $6 per day for adults and $4 for seniors and students. Weekend passes are also available for $10 for adults and $6 for seniors and students.

Parking is available at the Kennedy Recreation Center for $3. Free parking is available with free shuttle service from the West Road and Charlton parking lots at , and .

News and information about the showcase, including a complete weekend schedule and a list of participating teams, can be found at the MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase website.

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