Image

BRIGHTON - Saline defeated Woodhaven, 10-4, in the regional semifinal Saturday afternoon at Kensington Valley Ice House.
Blake Woodrel scored twice and had an assist to lead the Hornet attack.
Saline (20-5-1) will play Brighton (19-7) in the region final at 6 p.m., March 1, at Kensington Valley Ice House. Brighton defeated Ann Arbor Pioneer, 14-0, in the other semifinal.
The Hornets knew they were the favorite in Saturday's contest after their 7-2 win over Woodhaven on Jan. 21. And early in the game, the Hornets demonstrated their favored status.
Just 2:15 in the game, Gavin Bird won a board battle, skated through the faceoff circle and fired a wristshot past the Woodhaven goalie for a 1-0 lead.
"I really liked the way we played tonight - especially early in the game. We were ready for the game," Saline coach Kyle Zagata said.
Moments later, on the powerplay, Mateo Iadipaolo, in the left faceoff circle, took a pass from Aidan Granica and beat the goalie shortside with a quick snapshot.
The Blake Woodrel-Iadipaolo-Andrew Updike line dominated most of their shifts. Less than a minute later, the line worked over the Warriors and the shift concluded with Iadipaolo passing through the slot to Woodrel for the backdoor tap-in. Saline led 3-0.
Late in the period defenseman Cameron Merrick led a rush up the ice and whistled a shot past the goalie to make it 4-0.
Woodhaven replied just 9 seconds later to make it 4-1.
Woodrel made it 5-1 with 1:10 to play in the period. The line spent the entire shift in the Warrior zone, wearing down their opponents. Woodrel backhanded a bouncing back past the goalie.
Colman McNamara scored the prettiest goal of the game to give Saline a 6-1 lead in the second period. He sprinted up the middle, split the defense, danced around one defenseman and then beat the goalie.
The Hornets, who got a little sloppier with the puck late in the first, gave that goal back with a turnover.
Aidan Granica got it right back for Saline, with a goal that was nearly as pretty as McNamara's. He entered the zone innocently on the right wing, with three Warriors in front of him. He got a step on the first Warrior, dangled around the second Warror and then ripped a shot past the goalie before the third Warrior could touch him. Saline led 7-2.
Antonio Giacalone made it 8-2 when he got his own rebound at fired it past the goalie's blocker.
Ethan Gilavich forced a turnover and scored for Woodhaven late in the second period to make it 8-3.
Gilavich opened the scoring in the third period to make it 8-4.
Bryce Ronewicz answered for Saline on the powerplay, with a heavy shot from a bad angle that went off the goalie's mask and in. The goalie never returned to the game.
Tristan Trier completed the scoring for Saline, stuffing a rebound in the net for Saline's 10th goal.
First Period | |||
2:15 SAL | Gavin Bird | 1-0 | |
6:55 SAL | Mateo Iadipalo | (Aidan Granica, Blake Woodrel) | 2-0 |
7:43 SAL | Blake Woodrel | (Mateo Iadipaolo, Andrew Updike) | 3-0 |
14:47 SAL | Cameron Merrick | (Cullen Ellis, Giuseppe Giacalone) | 4-0 |
14:56 WOOD | Connor Gibson | (Andrew Gibson) | 4-1 |
15:50 SAL | Blake Woodrel | (Andrew Updike, Max Sorel) | 5-1 |
Second Period | |||
3:21 SAL | Colman McNamara | (Gavin Bird, Max Muir) | 6-1 |
4:52 WOOD | Hayden Andrews | 6-2 | |
9:46 SAL | Aidan Granica | 7-2 | |
14:27 SAL | Antonio Giacalone | (Aidan Granica) | 8-2 |
14:53 WOOD | Ethan Gilavich | (Hayden Andrews) | 8-3 |
Third Period | |||
4:34 WOOD | Ethan Gilavich | 8-4 | |
6:51 SAL | Bryce Ronewicz | (Max Sorel, Cullen Ellis) | 9-4 |
7:05 SAL | Tristan Trier | (Giuseppe Giacaline, Colman McNamara_ | 10-4 |