http://www.youtube.com/user/kkctech#p/a/u/1/XFVzU6oIux8 (Championship Game)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9FkaDxxEwc (Quarter Finals)
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
2010 14U Tier II National Championship goes to the Griffins!
"This team has amazing character we are all cheering for them" - New Jersey Spectator
" These boys have represented Grand Rapids to the fullest extent they have been a pleasure to work with" - Volunteer
"All of the event staff if rooting for your team" - Event Worker
"This has been the best trip I have ever taken, this team is amazing and full of character, a pleasure to be around" Bus Driver
"Who has ever heard of Grand Rapids travel hockey before this week, probably not many outside of West Michigan, but this team has came here and made their mark on the travel hockey world, we will not be forgetting this team" - Announcer
These are just a few of the quotes I heard around the rink the last couple days of competition. This team is full of skilled hockey players but, in my opinion, even more important they have champion character. We, as parents, could not have asked for our young men to show up with more poise and character than they did this week at Nationals.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
National Championship Game
Grand Rapids Griffins vs. L.A. Hockey Club
Off to another late start as the game ahead of us is still playing.
Off to another late start as the game ahead of us is still playing.
The Zamboni is clearing the ice should see the puck drop by 3:45
Nice opening to the contest as the lights are dimmed and each player is announced. It appears Felt will be in goal wearing borrowed pads as a result of last nigths turn of events. A big THANKS to the New Jersey goalie and coach who allowed him to borrow their pads! We are off. I will do my best to keep you updated. Shots on goal even 1-1. 3 minutes into the game. Announcer stating Hill is the biggest player he has seen out in this tournament! Brewer's shot is blocked. Rennaker got a shotoff blocker save. 10:46 left in opening period. Announcer stating Sam Rennaker most dangerous player for Grand Rapids "number one gun". DeShane, Buddy, Robson get three quick shots off all knocked away. Sullivan and Buddy working together up to Gagnon up to center. Puck out of play 7 minutes remaining in 1st. Grand Rapids defense doing a great job keeping the puck from the net. Rabach deflects the puck to Sullivan. Bathum knocks a good one away. L.A. is on the penalty kill with a boarding call, 3:09 remaining in this defensive battle. Hudson sends one to the net, deflected. Rabach to Rennaker to DeShane to Gagnon shot deflected wide. L.A. back to full strength. Rabach to DeShane takes the shot deflected wide, Sullivan keeps it is. We are 0-0 after one period. Only 6 shots on goal 5 belong to Grand Rapids.
Wojtaszak gets a breakaway L.A. hits him hard behind and GR is awarded a penalty shot. Wojtaszak skates in and takes his shot that ends up high on the glove sides and it is defended by L.A. keeper. Sam Rennaker on the rebound with an assist from Rabach Grand Rapids is on the board its 1-0! 13:04 remaining 7 seconds earlier than last nights one and only game winning goal by Chopp. L.A. comes right back with a blistering slap shot to tie up this game at 1 announcers states "not real sure what Felt could do with that one was just a laser beam, a bullet in the upper corner". L.A. is starting to crash the net and start some offense. Wojtaszak trying to get Grand Rapids back into the offense game 2 saves by L.A. Rabach called on a tripping penalty. L.A. is on the power play. 8 minutes left in the 2nd. Grand Rapids is back on full strength. 5:45 remaining in the 2nd. Shot blocked by Hudson. Buddy guides it out of danger. Shot comes in and it blocked. Rabach gets a shot on goal, its saved. Bathum playing deep keeps it in. Shot from the point is deflected. Icing call on L.A. 2 minutes remain in the 2nd. End of 2 periods its a 1-1 hockey game. Shots on goal 13-9 in favor of Grand Rapids.
Ice has been cut and we are into the 3rd period Chopp assists Brewer on another Grand Rapids GOAL! L.A. goes on penalty kill 3 minutes into the 3rd. Bathum comes up big and saves a huge breakaway without getting a penalty. L.A. back to full strength.
6 minutes has passed in the 3rd. 7 minutes remaining in the 3rd back and forth play. 4:15 to go in the 3rd period. 2:28 a high stick brings the puck back to L.A. side. Time out L.A. with 1:28 left in the 3rd. LA gains the zone and pulls their goalie, they put one on net and Felt gloves it back to the corner. Just under a minute left in the game and Rabach steals the puck away and goes in to dump an empty net goal in for the Griffins. That would be the final touches on a well played game by all a score of 3-1 will put the Griffins on top. A scrum develops in front of the net, Robson gets a cheap shot to the head as the final seconds tick off...GRAND RAPIDS IS THE NATIONAL CHAMPION...A TOTAL TEAM EFFORT.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Semi Final Game
Grand Rapids vs. Romeoville
Getting Started a little late, puck about to drop at 9:40pm
Previous games going into overtime has brought us a late night hockey game! 9:42p.m. and here we are in the USA Hockey National Championship Semi-final Game at the Ice Vault in New Jersey. Tier II 4-A U 14 Championships!
First Shot on goal goes to Rommeoville. Chopp gets the first shot off for the Griffins. We have 10:09 remaining of this equally fought hockey game with 2 shots on each net but scoreless so far. Hudson helping keep the puck from the Griffins net. Penalty call against Romeoville hit from behind call giving them a 2 and a 10. Rennaker gets a quick shot off from the power play, Romeoville keeper saves it. Chopp gets another shot off it goes wide. Tripping is called on Romeoville. Its 5 on 3 for the next 35 seconds. Romeoville is able to clear the puck from the face off. Bathum takes the shot and its deflected. Now 5 on 4. Sullivan controls the puck to keep it in. Another penalty, cross check is called on Romeoville. 9:43 into the 1st. DeShane takes a slap shot keeper holds on to it. Grand Rapids has had three consecutive power plays giving them a 7-2 shot on goal advantage. Romeoville is back at full strength. Brewer gets a shot off and again its held by the keeper. Getting chippy in front of the net, I think that was a punch I saw by our number 3! He makes it to the bench and bypasses the box. Felt, the goaltender, was called on a roughing penalty as was Romeoville. Rennaker gets a nice shot off, blocker save. 16 minutes have been played and we are scoreless shots are 10-5 in favor of Grand Rapids.
2nd period 30 seconds in and Romeoville heads to the box. Wojtaszak is turning it on strong for the Griffins battling infront of the net now Robson beats the forward to the puck but icing is called and it comes back. Griffins doing a nice job on face off’s so far. Brewer gets a pass to Chopp and HE SCORES! Grand Rapids has a one nothing lead. A holding penalty against Grand Rapids is called on Robson. A tripping call on Brewer giving 3 on 5 advantage to Romeoville for 45 seconds. They survive now 5 on 4 for over a minute. Rennaker manages to get a shot off that just misses the net. Another penalty call against Grand Rapids Rabach gets the push penalty Hudson gets boarding . 3 in the box for Grand Rapids for 8 seconds followed by a 2 minute 5 on 3 opportunity for Romeoville. Grand Rapids survives the penalties. Rennaker gets a couple of shots off. Good Defense in this game. Robson tries to take a shot and a hooking call is made on Romeoville. A boarding call on Romeoville with 1:22 left in the 2nd. Now a penalty on Robson. End of 2nd period Grand Rapids up by 1. Shots on goal 12-15 in favor of Grand Rapids.
At the start of the 3rd period something strange, ridiculous, unbelievable occurred....in my opinion it was a crock but anyhow...my opinion is not important! The opposing teams head coach called for a pad width check on Felt. Claiming his leg pads were illegal. After two separate measurements the refs agree and have to bench Felt for less than an inch discrepancy in his pad width. Surely Romeoville thought this would throw us off our game a bit but too bad for them our kids came out with fire. Millar was just as hot in the net blocking every shot they gave him.....so take that!!! Griffins come out the winners in the end keeping their 1-0 lead right to the final buzzer. The shots were even on goal in the end and yet our D proved too much for the Huskies to handle so home go the Huskies and on to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME GO THE GRIFFINS!!!! The Final National Championship game will be played on Sunday at 3pm.
Getting Started a little late, puck about to drop at 9:40pm
Previous games going into overtime has brought us a late night hockey game! 9:42p.m. and here we are in the USA Hockey National Championship Semi-final Game at the Ice Vault in New Jersey. Tier II 4-A U 14 Championships!
First Shot on goal goes to Rommeoville. Chopp gets the first shot off for the Griffins. We have 10:09 remaining of this equally fought hockey game with 2 shots on each net but scoreless so far. Hudson helping keep the puck from the Griffins net. Penalty call against Romeoville hit from behind call giving them a 2 and a 10. Rennaker gets a quick shot off from the power play, Romeoville keeper saves it. Chopp gets another shot off it goes wide. Tripping is called on Romeoville. Its 5 on 3 for the next 35 seconds. Romeoville is able to clear the puck from the face off. Bathum takes the shot and its deflected. Now 5 on 4. Sullivan controls the puck to keep it in. Another penalty, cross check is called on Romeoville. 9:43 into the 1st. DeShane takes a slap shot keeper holds on to it. Grand Rapids has had three consecutive power plays giving them a 7-2 shot on goal advantage. Romeoville is back at full strength. Brewer gets a shot off and again its held by the keeper. Getting chippy in front of the net, I think that was a punch I saw by our number 3! He makes it to the bench and bypasses the box. Felt, the goaltender, was called on a roughing penalty as was Romeoville. Rennaker gets a nice shot off, blocker save. 16 minutes have been played and we are scoreless shots are 10-5 in favor of Grand Rapids.
2nd period 30 seconds in and Romeoville heads to the box. Wojtaszak is turning it on strong for the Griffins battling infront of the net now Robson beats the forward to the puck but icing is called and it comes back. Griffins doing a nice job on face off’s so far. Brewer gets a pass to Chopp and HE SCORES! Grand Rapids has a one nothing lead. A holding penalty against Grand Rapids is called on Robson. A tripping call on Brewer giving 3 on 5 advantage to Romeoville for 45 seconds. They survive now 5 on 4 for over a minute. Rennaker manages to get a shot off that just misses the net. Another penalty call against Grand Rapids Rabach gets the push penalty Hudson gets boarding . 3 in the box for Grand Rapids for 8 seconds followed by a 2 minute 5 on 3 opportunity for Romeoville. Grand Rapids survives the penalties. Rennaker gets a couple of shots off. Good Defense in this game. Robson tries to take a shot and a hooking call is made on Romeoville. A boarding call on Romeoville with 1:22 left in the 2nd. Now a penalty on Robson. End of 2nd period Grand Rapids up by 1. Shots on goal 12-15 in favor of Grand Rapids.
At the start of the 3rd period something strange, ridiculous, unbelievable occurred....in my opinion it was a crock but anyhow...my opinion is not important! The opposing teams head coach called for a pad width check on Felt. Claiming his leg pads were illegal. After two separate measurements the refs agree and have to bench Felt for less than an inch discrepancy in his pad width. Surely Romeoville thought this would throw us off our game a bit but too bad for them our kids came out with fire. Millar was just as hot in the net blocking every shot they gave him.....so take that!!! Griffins come out the winners in the end keeping their 1-0 lead right to the final buzzer. The shots were even on goal in the end and yet our D proved too much for the Huskies to handle so home go the Huskies and on to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME GO THE GRIFFINS!!!! The Final National Championship game will be played on Sunday at 3pm.
Quarterfinal Game
Grand Rapids vs. St. Lawrence 1:45p.m. @ Floyd Hall Mountclair University
And we are off....
9:20 left in the 1st Sullivan stops a breakaway. 8:20 in and the Griffins go on power play. All tied 0-0. Robeson to Mills to Hill gets a nice shot off..blocked by St. Lawrence goaltender.
Pass from Brewer to Chopp and its in......GOAL BY THE GRIFFINS 2:28 left in the 1st!
2.2 seconds left in the 1st Griffins go on another power play.
Score at the end of 1 period of play Griffins 1 St. Lawrence 0
45 seconds into the 2nd Griffins SCORE a power play goal to the credit of a nice pass from Rennaker to Gagnon.
Buddy and Hudson putting on some big hits on D. DeShane fighting hard to keep out of Grand Rapids net.
Hooking Penalty puts Grand Rapids back on power play 3.45 into the 2nd.
Brewer heading to the box for the first penalty on the Griffins and a quick pass to a St. Lawrence defender then a slap shot from just inside the blue line buries the puck in Grand Rapids net.
Score Griffins 2 St. Lawrence 1
Roughing called on Bathum, he has been strong on D and now gets sent to the box. 3:39 left in the 2nd.
Getting a little chippy in front of the nets.
DeShane turning on the speed to prevent a St. Lawrence breakaway.
End of 2 periods of play score Grand Rapids 2 St. Lawrence 1
Quick pass left to right get St. Lawrence another goal. All tied up 12:35 left in the 2nd.
St. Lawrence has a breakaway...Denied by Felt.
Hudson rips a slap shot from just inside the blue line and buries it deep in St. Lawrence's net for a Griffins score.
Brewer sent to the box. A minute later St. Lawrence sent to the box and the Griffins score again.
A pass from the point to Rennaker puts the Griffins up by 2!
Rabach turns on the speed preventing another breakaway and a penalty is called on St. Lawrence. 2:44 left in the 3rd.
Empty net goal by Gagnon from the red line with 23.1 seconds left in the 3rd.
THE GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS ARE MOVING ONTO NATIONAL THE SEMI-FINALS!!!!
And we are off....
9:20 left in the 1st Sullivan stops a breakaway. 8:20 in and the Griffins go on power play. All tied 0-0. Robeson to Mills to Hill gets a nice shot off..blocked by St. Lawrence goaltender.
Pass from Brewer to Chopp and its in......GOAL BY THE GRIFFINS 2:28 left in the 1st!
2.2 seconds left in the 1st Griffins go on another power play.
Score at the end of 1 period of play Griffins 1 St. Lawrence 0
45 seconds into the 2nd Griffins SCORE a power play goal to the credit of a nice pass from Rennaker to Gagnon.
Buddy and Hudson putting on some big hits on D. DeShane fighting hard to keep out of Grand Rapids net.
Hooking Penalty puts Grand Rapids back on power play 3.45 into the 2nd.
Brewer heading to the box for the first penalty on the Griffins and a quick pass to a St. Lawrence defender then a slap shot from just inside the blue line buries the puck in Grand Rapids net.
Score Griffins 2 St. Lawrence 1
Roughing called on Bathum, he has been strong on D and now gets sent to the box. 3:39 left in the 2nd.
Getting a little chippy in front of the nets.
DeShane turning on the speed to prevent a St. Lawrence breakaway.
End of 2 periods of play score Grand Rapids 2 St. Lawrence 1
Quick pass left to right get St. Lawrence another goal. All tied up 12:35 left in the 2nd.
St. Lawrence has a breakaway...Denied by Felt.
Hudson rips a slap shot from just inside the blue line and buries it deep in St. Lawrence's net for a Griffins score.
Brewer sent to the box. A minute later St. Lawrence sent to the box and the Griffins score again.
A pass from the point to Rennaker puts the Griffins up by 2!
Rabach turns on the speed preventing another breakaway and a penalty is called on St. Lawrence. 2:44 left in the 3rd.
Empty net goal by Gagnon from the red line with 23.1 seconds left in the 3rd.
THE GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS ARE MOVING ONTO NATIONAL THE SEMI-FINALS!!!!
The Griffins get a re-match with the Romeoville Huskies from Illinois at 9pm tonight at the Ice Vault.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Game Three
Now we're talking Grand Rapids Hockey! Game three was dominated by the Griffins from start to finish, out shooting the team from Connecticut better than 40-20 and posting a 5-2 victory.
The Griffins came out skating well, but CT was able to escape the first period with the score tied 0-0.
Robson opened the GR scoring in the second, burying a nice setup from Rennaker.
The second goal of the period came around 8:25 after a hard fought battle in front of the crease with Hill putting the puck into the back of the net.
Our third goal came with about 7:00 remaining as Mills beat the keeper on an assist from Robson.
CT scored twice in the period and GR takes a 3-2 lead into the final period.
The third period was all ours. Chopp working hard in front of the net slides a pass through to Robson for his second goal of the game.
Finishing off the CT team, Gagnon takes the assist from Rabach to complete the scoring, as the Griffins post a 5-2 win over the previously unbeaten Connecticut Wonderland Wizards.
We are moving on to the quarterfinals as a two seed and will start single elimination play tomorrow at 1:45...WAY TO GO GRAND RAPIDS!
The Griffins came out skating well, but CT was able to escape the first period with the score tied 0-0.
Robson opened the GR scoring in the second, burying a nice setup from Rennaker.
The second goal of the period came around 8:25 after a hard fought battle in front of the crease with Hill putting the puck into the back of the net.
Our third goal came with about 7:00 remaining as Mills beat the keeper on an assist from Robson.
CT scored twice in the period and GR takes a 3-2 lead into the final period.
The third period was all ours. Chopp working hard in front of the net slides a pass through to Robson for his second goal of the game.
Finishing off the CT team, Gagnon takes the assist from Rabach to complete the scoring, as the Griffins post a 5-2 win over the previously unbeaten Connecticut Wonderland Wizards.
We are moving on to the quarterfinals as a two seed and will start single elimination play tomorrow at 1:45...WAY TO GO GRAND RAPIDS!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Game Two
8am Thursday morning in Little Falls New Jersey the Griffins took on the Massachusetts River Rats in Floyd Hall on Mountclair University.
A short handed, first goal of the game, was scored half way through the 1st period by Chad DeShane assisted by Luke Gagnon and Sam Rennaker The Griffins killed off two penalties in the 1st period.
Second goal was scored by number 10 Luke Gangnon unassisted the 2nd period.
Griffins were able to kill off 2 more penalties in the second including a 2 minute hooking penalty and a 10 minute misconduct which was called on Grand Rapids with over 3 minutes left in the 2nd.
14.21 left in the 3rd and Gagnon comes up again big for the Griffins with a goal assisted by Sam Rennaker and Colin Rabach.
3-0 with 20.5 seconds left in the 3rd and the RiverRats get one on Griffins Goaltender, Jarred Felt. Strong Defense for the Griffins throughout the game. Griffins out shot Riverrats 2:1.
* This is a hockey mom, not a hockey expert by any means, if you find an error I would be happy to fix it or add it!
A short handed, first goal of the game, was scored half way through the 1st period by Chad DeShane assisted by Luke Gagnon and Sam Rennaker The Griffins killed off two penalties in the 1st period.
Second goal was scored by number 10 Luke Gangnon unassisted the 2nd period.
Griffins were able to kill off 2 more penalties in the second including a 2 minute hooking penalty and a 10 minute misconduct which was called on Grand Rapids with over 3 minutes left in the 2nd.
14.21 left in the 3rd and Gagnon comes up again big for the Griffins with a goal assisted by Sam Rennaker and Colin Rabach.
3-0 with 20.5 seconds left in the 3rd and the RiverRats get one on Griffins Goaltender, Jarred Felt. Strong Defense for the Griffins throughout the game. Griffins out shot Riverrats 2:1.
* This is a hockey mom, not a hockey expert by any means, if you find an error I would be happy to fix it or add it!
Game One
Grand Rapids 1 Romeoville Huskies 2
A hard fought battle against a tough Huskies team. Both teams coming off a long stretch without competition battled hard. 2-0 going into the 2nd the Griffins come back with a goal half way through the 3rd. Scoring the goal was Justin Chopp assisted by Nate Hill and Tyler Brewer Griffins pulled their goalie late in the 3rd to attempt to tie it up, to no avail the score ended 2-1 in Romeoville's favor. Todd Millar was in goal and stopped over 20 shots.
The Griffins have had record heat of 90 here on the east coast. They spent over 11 hours on a bus to get here, with the exception of a few flying in from spring vacations but everyone made it here safe in plenty of time.
After a late night opening ceremony debuting the New Jersey Devil Dancers (if you want to see a proof...ask any of the boys for their camera phones!)...the team left early to ensure enough rest for this mornings game at 8:00a.m.
Pictures soon to come.
A hard fought battle against a tough Huskies team. Both teams coming off a long stretch without competition battled hard. 2-0 going into the 2nd the Griffins come back with a goal half way through the 3rd. Scoring the goal was Justin Chopp assisted by Nate Hill and Tyler Brewer Griffins pulled their goalie late in the 3rd to attempt to tie it up, to no avail the score ended 2-1 in Romeoville's favor. Todd Millar was in goal and stopped over 20 shots.
The Griffins have had record heat of 90 here on the east coast. They spent over 11 hours on a bus to get here, with the exception of a few flying in from spring vacations but everyone made it here safe in plenty of time.
After a late night opening ceremony debuting the New Jersey Devil Dancers (if you want to see a proof...ask any of the boys for their camera phones!)...the team left early to ensure enough rest for this mornings game at 8:00a.m.
Pictures soon to come.
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