Mona Shores’ magic snuffed by Sparta in double-OT regional final loss

By Jason Goorman
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON – High school playoff hockey has winners and losers—and sometimes the losers will hurt a little more and a little longer from the outcome.

As the losing side, Mona Shores’ hockey fans and players will be left pondering the final result of the Sailors’ 2-1 double-overtime loss to Sparta in the Division 1 regional finals at Lakeshore Sports Centre.

“I don’t think there’s a magic word you can say to the guys (seniors) that went out tonight, but just remember these years playing for Mona Shores Hockey,” junior captain Eli Habetler said. “You’ll always remember this team for the rest of your lives and I know it’s not the way you wanted to go, it’s tough.”

In a highly competitive game that went scoreless through two periods of action, the third period was everything for Mona Shores.

Cullen Conrad looks for an opening from the half-boards. Photo/Eric Sturr

The Sailors played a near-flawless game against Sparta leading up to the third period. Backed by goalie Joey Griffes-Castonia, Mona Shores played some of its best hockey of the season.

“Joey was unbelievable tonight,” Mona Shores Coach Chris Benedict said. “We had some breakdowns defensively, but he was there to pick us up. Can’t say enough about him, I wish he’d be here about 15 more years.”

Mona Shores looked like it had the game under control after tallying the first goal. However; after a discussion by the referees, the score was disallowed due to the goal coming off its posts and therefore ruled a dead play.

Cooper Nellis lays a hit on the forecheck for the Sailors. Photo/Eric Sturr

The reversed call opened the door for Sparta’s Tanner Kovich to take advantage of a Mona Shores turnover just a minute later. Kovich buried his shot into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead and an unassisted goal.

Mona Shores’ star Nathan Tilden responded five minutes later. Tilden wristed a penalty shot goal for a 1-1 tie. The senior forward was awarded the penalty after he blazed past Sparta’s defense for a breakaway and was tripped on the play.

With the score tied at 1, Mona Shores had momentum on its side. The energy shift led to another Sailors’ opportunity and subsequent goal. But once again, the goal was called off—ruled that the puck was intentionally kicked in. The second disallowed goal of the third period.

“It is what it is. They talked about it and they thought those were the right calls,” Benedict said. “We have pretty good refs over in west Michigan. I don’t necessarily have to agree with it, but it’s what they called and it’s where we’re at.”

It was quite the contrast of third periods for Mona Shores—who reached the regional finals after it scored five goals against Rockford in the third period Saturday. The rally reversed a 3-0 third-period deficit for the Sailors and berth into the finals.

While the second goal that was called off could have snuffed out the Sailors’ flame, they continued to hound Sparta goalie Trevor Vance.

Nathan Tilden scores on a feed from Eli Habetler, but the goal is disallowed as the Sparta goalie knocked the net off. Photo/Eric Sturr

The two teams were deadlocked after the first overtime as both had solid opportunities to end the game.

In the second OT, Nathan Tilden was taken down on a rough hit that sent him out of the game and into the locker room. No penalty was called on the play. Sparta used the momentum shift with Mona Shores’ top forward off the ice and rallied for the game-winner. Tanner Kovich tallied his second goal of the night off an assist from Trevor Serba.

The stinging loss didn’t stop Mona Shores Coach Benedict from heaping praise on his class of seniors.

“Thank you! The program is in a better place because of them,” Benedict said about his seniors. “They laid a brick in the foundation of what Mona Shores hockey is.”

The win advances Sparta to Saturday’s quarterfinals at Kentwood Ice Arena for a 4:30 p.m. puck drop.

Mona Shores finishes its season with a 15-11-1 record.