Penalties Plague Hartland Hockey in 7-3 Loss to Novi

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — For the second night in a row the Hartland High School boys hockey team gave up three power-play goals, but this time it cost the Eagles in a 7-3 loss to Novi in the Clarkston Christmas Tournament.

The Eagles (5-2-1) were penalized 22 minutes in the loss, six more minutes than Friday when Hartland was able to hold off Clarkston. At the same time, Novi senior captain Joey Ferriss was dominant, scoring twice and assisted in three others, leading a Wildcat team (7-2) that beat in last season's playoffs and is considered one of the state's best this year.

"Penalties killed us, we came out strong in the first, played the body and didn't take any penalties," said senior captain Zach Bodziak said. "Once we started getting penalties it was all downhill from there. ... It's discipline, you gotta get the kids thinking you can't be hot-headed out there, you get hit, you're gonna get hit, you just gotta let it go and be there for your team."

Even so, several players and Hartland head coach Howard Copeland said there also were many positives from the game.

"This was a good game for us, we showed ourselves that we can play with this team," Copeland said. "We did some good things out there. We were in the game through the second (period)."

Hartland took an early lead in the contest following a goal by senior forward Zach Parks. But the Wildcats came back to score two of their own, one by Ferriss, to give them a one goal advantage going into the second period.

Eagles forward Brandon Fry answered back for his team with 8:58 left in the second. Fry skated down ice in a 2-on-1 rush with junior forward Ryan Daavettila and scored from the left side of the net.

From that point on it was all Wildcats.

They scored three unanswered goals in which Ferriss again, assisted in all three. Two of the goals were on power-play opportunities.

Bodziak tried to give the Eagles a momentum swing late in the second when he scored, unassisted, on a power-play, cutting the lead to then two goals. However, Ferriss did again what he had done all night, made a big play, scoring less than two minutes into the third period. 

Hartland struggled again getting shots and clearing the puck out of their own defensive zone. Senior goaltender Aaron Zeddell faced 16 shots in the first period -- the Eagles took just five. Despite the discrepancy in totals, Hartland scored just one less time than Novi in the period. 

The Eagles' frustration was evident late in the game as junior forward Jordan Ruterbusch was assessed a roughing penalty. Ruterbusch said he was upset because he thought the refs were missing calls, including two punches to his own face. Yet, he added the team could have performed better.

"We can play up to this level,"  Ruterbusch said. "We did good in the first period, but in the second and third we just tanked."

The Eagles next play Howell 6:50 p.m. Wednesday at Grand Oaks Arena, 970 Grand Oaks Drive, in Genoa Township. The Highlanders have been state-semifinalists the last three seasons.

The game will be for control of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West Division, which Hartland is in the lead of followed by Howell. 

Editor's note: For additional interviews, please see the videos that are part of this report.

First Period

Second Period

Third Period

Final



Team Statistical Comparison

Total Shots

PIM

Hits

Takeaways

Faceoffs Won



14:08; Hartland; Zach Parks; assists: Cory Snyder, Brandon Fry

7:52; Novi; Curtis Herzog; assist: Zach Mohr

5:45; Novi; Joey Ferriss; assist: Nolan Valleau

8:58; Hartland; Brandon Fry; assistt: Ryan Daavettila

7:11; Novi; Jon Mencer (PP); assists; Joey Ferriss, Ryan Cordes

5:15; Novi; Zach Mohr; assists: Joey Ferriss, Taylor Howell

2:32; Novi; Nolan Valleau (PP); assist; Joey Ferriss

:21; Hartland; Zach Bodzial (PP); unassisted

15:02; Novi; Joey Ferriss (PP); assists: Ryan Cordes, Taylor Howell

6:50; Novi; Curtis Herzog; assist: Michael Kruse



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