Expect the unexpected.
This has been the mantra for the Birmingham Unified hockey team the past two games. Birmingham Unified hockey was crowned the District Champions Wednesday, after upsetting the Troy Athens Red Hawks, 4-1 to win the title.
This came as a surprise to critics after the team finished with a disappointing regular season record of 5-17-3.
Goals were scored by Seaholm senior defenseman Jared Lincoln, Groves sophomore forward Brad Almeter, Groves senior forward Josh Sternberg and Seaholm junior forward Bennett Thomson.
BU will play Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in the regional final at the Troy Sports Center on Saturday, March 7th.
The players knew that a great game would be in store for them after their last meeting with Athens in the regular season.
“I think we knew it was going to be a tough game. We tied Troy Athens 2-2 after OT the last time we played them,” said Lincoln.
“We were pretty confident going into it after the first round double overtime win [against Troy High] and we knew they underestimated us because of our record so that also added to the incentive,” said junior forward Ross Wilberding.
“We clearly wanted it more and everyone took us as the underdog,” said sophomore forward Kevin Wilberding.
Adding more fuel to the already blazing fire, captain and Seaholm junior defenseman Matt McCarthy caught wind of an Athens player’s feelings about BU’s chances of wining.
“We got motivated when one of the Troy Athens kids commented online about how we were soft and how they were going to beat us,” said Kevin Wilberding. “One of the captains printed [the message] out, and posted these all over the locker room to remind us [to stay positive]”.
After the team heard this, Coach John Weidenbach didn’t have to say much to get the team motivated to play like winners.
“There really isn't anything that needs to be said to motivate them at this point in the season,” said Weidenbach. “I basically told [the team] that we need to play mistake free hockey in order to give ourselves the best chance to win.”
Lincoln scored BU’s first goal, but Athens made the game closer in the second period, with the scoreboard reading 2-1, still in BU’s favor. After Sternberg and Thompson’s goals, it was obvious the fate was on BU’s side.
“I think it was a good effort by both teams, but when we scored our third and fourth goals, we ran away with the game. We had the momentum, and Athens didn't know what to do,” said Lincoln
Weidenbach believed that the team chemistry overall was the ‘x factor’ in the unexpected playoff success.
“We have seen different individual efforts from different guys but we all came together on Monday and Wednesday,” said Weidenbach.
However, the players are quick to say that the goal tending is one of the most important aspects of the district championship game.
“Our goalie [Groves sophomore Matt Trogu] definitely was the star of the game,” said Ross Wilberding. “He played incredible and came up with some clutch saves at critical moments. Without Trogu, the game would have been very different.”
Trogu, who had an impressive 17 saves in the previous round of the playoffs, was undoubtedly an important part of the team’s success thus far.
After such an impressive win, BU knows that they need to stay focused on the task at hand; keeping up with a defending State Champion Orchard Lake St. Mary’s team.
“We just need to work hard in practice on Friday and come out strong on Saturday against [Orchard Lake] St. Mary's and never let up,” said Lincoln.
“[Orchard Lake St. Mary’s has] a great team and so we need to try and keep it as close as possible for as long as we can,” said Weidenbach.
“No one expected us to get this far but we did, and we will continue to prove everyone wrong,” said Kevin Wilberding
