The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Ice war!
Dreads top rival Bulldogs
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: January 25, 2007
With flash bulbs popping, TV cameras rolling and a packed, loud and raucous crowd on its feet, county rivals Dexter and Chelsea, both ranked No. 10 in the state Division III hockey polls and both battling for a Southeastern Conference title, skated onto the polished ice at Veterans Arena last Saturday.
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After three hard-hitting, physical periods, the Dreadnaughts (12-2-1, 5-0 SEC) defeated the Bulldogs 5-1 capturing a SEC championship and in the process moving up two spots to No. 8 in the Division III state rankings.
"We came to play," said Dexter coach Gary Howell. "In the first period, we looked a little nervous. The second and third (periods), however, was about as good as we can play. We shut them down whenever we needed to. Our penalty killing was absolutely perfect."
As was just about everything else Dexter did against their archrivals.
After a tightly contested scoreless first period, the Dreadnaughts came out strong in the second period, digging deep and forcing the action.
At 12:11 of the second period, Dexter's Zach Stanislovaitis scored off an assist from Alex Erber giving the Dreads a 1-0 lead. Stanislovaitis got a stick on Erber's blast from the point for the tip-in goal.
With the intensity growing, Chelsea forced a penalty and went on the power play looking to tie the game. With the Bulldogs passing the puck around the ice searching for an opening, Dexter's Alex Johnston stole the puck from a Chelsea defenseman and with the Veterans Arena crowd rising to its feet, he scored a shorthanded, unassisted breakaway goal increasing the Dreadnaught lead to 2-0 with 2:48 left in the second period.
Despite the setback, the Bulldogs refused to wilt, forcing another penalty shortly after Johnston's goal.
With the crowd still buzzing from Johnston's goal, Stanislovaitis brought the house down as he scored Dexter's second straight shorthanded goal beating the Chelsea net minder off an assist from Nick Field. With the goal, the Dreadnaughts led 3-0 as the second period came to a close.
In the third period, Dexter's power play was lethal. As the Bulldogs scrambled to catch up, the Dreadnaughts found themselves with the man advantage. Dexter made its rival pay.
At 10:40 of the third period, Field scored a power play goal off an assist from Johnston increasing the Dread lead to 4-0.
Less than a minute later, Zach Lucas scored a power play goal giving Dexter a 5-0 advantage. Andrew Hatch recorded an assist on the play for the Dreadnaughts.
With 1:18 remaining, Garrett Nickels scored for Chelsea for the night's final margin. Howdy Holmes picked up an assist on the goal for the Bulldogs.
Chelsea out-shot Dexter for the game 36-23.
Earning the win in net for the Dreadnaughts was goaltender Nick Ceccolini.
"He made a couple of great saves for us," Howell said.
The local prep sports TV show "State Champs" attended last Saturday's game. The Dreadnaughts will be featured on the show Saturday on Channel 20 in Detroit at 11:30 a.m.
On Jan. 17, host Dexter tied Walled Lake Central 2-2.
"We played well," Howell said. "They were a good team, a very solid team. Their goalie was outstanding."
The Dreadnaughts opened the scoring as Johnston scored another unassisted, shorthanded goal giving Dexter a 1-0 lead at 4:02 of the first period.
In the second period, the Vikings tied the game at 1-1 as Drew Esennhenn scored at the 2:40 mark off an assist from Justin Hunter and Deno Nicoliades.
In the third period, Walled Lake took the lead as Hunter scored at the 14:28 mark of the frame. Esennhenn and Nicoliades recorded assists on the goal for the Vikings.
With 3:42 remaining, Field scored a power play goal for the night's ending tally. Hunter Lyons and Johnston assisted on the play for the Dreadnaughts.
Dexter out-shot Walled Lake 37-23 for the contest.
Ceccolini preserved the tie in net for the Dreads.
Dexter next travels to Allen Park Cabrini for a game Saturday at 8:15 p.m. The Monarchs are one of only two teams to beat the Dreadnaughts this season. Cabrini topped Dexter 5-4 Jan. 6.
On Wednesday, the Dreadnaughts visit SEC foe Ypsilanti Lincoln for a match-up at 8 p.m.
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