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Grosse Pointe 99 Bulldogs are State Runners-up
Updated: 05/11/2009 at 9:45 PM
Grosse Pointe 99 Bulldogs are State Runners-up The 99 Grosse Pointe Bulldogs, winners of Michigan Amateur Hockey Association, District 3, came as close as possible to becoming state champions in only their second year of existence. The Bulldogs, coached by Paul Martinelli, Mike Albrecht, and Todd Cameron nearly pulled out what many believed was the impossible, by losing in the state championship game by one goal to what was the yearlong, number one team, the Plymouth Stingrays. The 99 Bulldogs, winners of one of some of the most exciting Squirt A, District 3 games in recent memory, travelled to the state championships in Burton, Michigan during the weekend of March 13-15, 2009. In round one, the Bulldogs faced number one Plymouth, and after 2 ½ periods of scoreless hockey, the Stingrays scored with less than 3 minutes left in the game, while holding on for a 1-0 victory. The Bulldogs in game two, now facing elimination from the “medal round”, faced a tough Saginaw team. After Saginaw held a 1-0 lead for most of the first and second periods, the Bulldogs could have folded then. However, two late period goals by Ryan Sullivan and strong defense by the line of Jack Holme, Alex Batts and Patrick Bourke, held Saginaw to only five shots on net in the third period and the Bulldogs were ready for round three. The Bulldogs next faced number two-ranked Novi, who had previously beaten the Bulldogs four out of five times during the season. Again, the Bulldogs played stellar defense, led by back-checkers Ryan Cullen, Spencer Stefani and Paul Lucchese, and held the Ice Cats scoreless as the Bulldogs recorded a state playoff shutout, 1-0. Ryan Sullivan scored the Bulldogs lone goal six minutes into the 3rd period and the team held on for their second win of the playoffs. The Bulldogs again faced elimination in the state semi-final game on Sunday morning. The team faced the Holland Ice Dogs who had split their season series with the Bulldogs, one game each. But this time, the Bulldogs defensemen led by AJ Martinelli, Christopher Cameron, Jack Liagre and Joe Lucchese along with the Bulldogs outstanding goalie, Devin Naidow, stopped all 20 Ice Dogs shots, eventually winning 2-0 recording their second straight state playoff shutout. Bulldog goals were scored by Liam Kavanaugh and Jack Liagre with an assist added by Austin Albrecht. The Bulldogs now moved on to the finals in a Plymouth rematch. In the state final, the Bulldogs put Plymouth on the defensive by scoring the first goal of the game midway through the first period. Liam Kavanaugh skated down the left side of the ice and drilled a shot from the top of the left circle beating the Plymouth goalie. The Bulldogs held the 1-0 lead until midway through the second, however, some brief miscues allowed Plymouth to score three unanswered goals to take a two-goal lead into the 3rd period. Kavanaugh came back again with his 3rd goal of these championships closing the gap as the 3rd period winded down. The Bulldogs, with six skaters on the ice, could not put another one past a strong Plymouth goalie in the final minutes and the Bulldogs fell short in their run for their first state championship. When asked about his team, Martinelli stated, “This was a total team effort by a group of hard working, dedicated players who believed in themselves and each other. This is what the coaches preached to them all season and we achieved all of our team objectives except that elusive last game. Our boys and their parents should be extremely proud of what they accomplished, and with a little more hard work, we expect to repeat as District champions next season and return to the state playoffs with a different outcome.” Martinelli continued, “These boys are not just on the same team, they are friends and family and they define what the team concept is all about. Our community should be proud of these young men, as they are the future of Grosse Pointe hockey.” The 99 Bulldogs finished the season 42-18-3 while giving up less goals than any other team in the state of Michigan. The Bulldogs will be hosting team tryouts for the 2009-10 season in mid to late June.
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