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Sports

Hartland Hockey Wins Opener, But Loses Two to Injury

Eagles overcome Pinckney, but two starters go down in victory.

CHELSEA — The start of a promising season took a turn for the worse for the Hartland High School varsity hockey team Thursday night. 

While the Eagles defeated Kensingston Lakes Activities Association West Division rival Pinckney by a final of 4-2, senior captain Zack Bodziak was injured as was starting defenseman Ray Young. 

Hartland  head coach Howard Copeland said the injury may only take Bodziak out for a few weeks, but his team will have its work cut out for it.

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"We gutted this one out, we won this with heart," Copeland said. "That's a sign of a great team, we lost two players but we kept our heads."

Bozdziak went down with 1:18 left in the second period. He received the puck in the Pinckeny defensive zone, juked two defenders and was then crossed-checked by Pirates defenseman Cory Heatwole. 

Seconds later, Zach Parks picked up the loose puck and scored on the wide-open left side of the net.

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Bodziak laid on the ice for roughly five minutes, favoring his right knee, before being helped off by coaching staff and a teammate. Heatwole was ejected for the hit.

Hartland took an early lead in the first period when Jordan Ruterbusch scored on an assist from Bodziak. The Pirates answered back eight minutes later as J.P. Maracani scored and was assisted by Scott Johnson.

Eagles assistant captain Nick Manley came up big in the win. Manley scored on a short-handed breakaway goal at the end of the first period to help his team regain a one-goal advantage. Manley finished with one goal and one assist.

"We need to play the body a lot more," Manley said. "With what happened to Zack, we lost focus, we have to stay calm and on top of our game in that situation."

Young went down around the same time as Bodziak with a concussion.

Pinckney tied the game, 2-2, with 13:47 left in the second period when Scott Johnson scored with some help from Patrick Rogowski.

Hartland outshot Pinckney 28-21, however it lost the face-off battle 17-15.

Ryan Daavettila scored the game-winner for the Eagles. He had two empty-net goals taken away by a feisty Hartland defense. 

Pinckney's aggressive defense caused it four penalties for a combined 11 minutes. The Pirates also pummeled Hartland players with 18 hits. The Eagles didn't shy away from that contact and hit back 14 times.

Hartland plays again Saturday at Farmington at 5:30 p.m.



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