Upon his first effort at shooting a stationary target, Sundance fails and seemingly loses his opportunity for employment. When he asks for a second chance and if he is allowed to move while shooting, he strikes the object several times.
“I’m better when I move,” Sundance said.
Hunter Bischoff (12) of Grand Rapids shoots the puck on goal against Andover during the final moments of the Section 7AA championship game Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids. Andover defeated Grand Rapids 3-2 to advance to the Class AA state hockey tournament in St. Paul. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
Garrett Schifsky can relate. The Andover senior forward scored the first three goals, showing just how good he is when moving and shooting, and the Huskies held off a spirited Grand Rapids comeback to win 3-2 in the Section 7AA boys hockey championship game Wednesday night at IRA Civic Center.
The win sends the second-seeded Huskies (18-2-1) to the Class AA state tournament next week at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. No. 1 seed Grand Rapids finished the season 15-2-1.
“The way the boys have come together as a team, I’m really proud of them,” Schifsky said. “This was a great Grand Rapids team, the best we’ve played all year.”
While Schifsky staked the defending 7AA champions to a 3-0 lead, the Thunderhawks gave everything they had to overturn the deficit.
Joey DelGreco (10) of Grand Rapids controls the puck near Davis Gohman (28) of Andover during the Section 7AA championship game Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids. Andover defeated Grand Rapids 3-2 to advance to the Class AA state hockey tournament in St. Paul. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
Braeden Holcomb and Hayden DeMars scored second-period goals and Grand Rapids owned a 15-3 shots-on-goal advantage in the third period to give the team a chance of forcing overtime.
“They are an experienced team and we had 15 first-year varsity players so we were scared to win,” Andover coach Mark Manney said. “The first 10 or 12 minutes we were pretty bad, then we found ourselves until the middle of the second period when, all of a sudden, we said, ‘Hey, we’re up three-nothing and we’re not expecting this.’ I think we were a little afraid to win, but maybe we’ll settle down and play better next week.”
Schifsky opened the scoring in the final minute of the first period when he rifled a shot coming across the blue line for his 26th goal of the season.
The Thunderhawks outshot the Huskies 12-3 in that period but failed to convert on three power-play chances.
Braedon Holcomb (9) and Hunter Bischoff (12), both of Grand Rapids react after losing to Andover during the Section 7AA championship game Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids. Andover defeated Grand Rapids 3-2 to advance to the Class AA state hockey tournament in St. Paul. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
He struck again on a power play in the first minute of the second period when he sniped a shot to the lower right corner of the net.
“He’s broken like 25 sticks this year, that’s like $6,200 worth of sticks,” Manney said. “Some work better than others, but tonight he had one where he put the shot where he wanted to. Those first and second ones, especially.”
Twenty-two seconds into another power play, at 8:44, Schifsky picked out an area underneath the crossbar for goal No. 28.
“I just came out to shoot the puck and lead my team, nothing really fancy,” Schifsky said.
Andover players celebrate after defeating Grand Rapids during the Section 7AA championship game Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids. Andover defeated Grand Rapids 3-2 to advance to the Class AA state hockey tournament in St. Paul. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
Goaltender Will Larson, who made 33 saves, wasn’t surprised by his fellow senior’s play.
“He’s been our guy all year, there’s a reason why he’s our captain,” Larson said. “Whenever we need him, he’s there. He’s got more than 50 points this season so I can’t say enough good things about him.”
Schifsky and Larson were the only regulars returning from last year’s section champions so the Huskies relied on them in the final period when Grand Rapids threatened several times, including when one attempt barely deflected over the goal and another time when a loose puck sat in Larson’s crease for what seemed like an eternity.
“We had just one forechecker and we didn’t want to jeopardize our lead,” Schifsky said of the third-period strategy. “We just wanted to play simple, get behind their ‘D’ and block shots and do everything the right way.”
Andover goaltender Will Larson (35) makes a pad save against Grand Rapids during the Section 7AA championship game Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids. Andover defeated Grand Rapids 3-2 to advance to the Class AA state hockey tournament in St. Paul. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
Andover 1-2-0—3
Grand Rapids 0-2-0—2
First period — 1. A, Garrett Schifsky (Ryan Koltes), 16:05.
Second period — 2. A, Schifsky (Gavyn Thoreson, Ethan Lindahl), 0:59 (pp): 3. A, Schifsky (Kyle Law, Weston Knox), 8:44 (pp); 4. GR, Braeden Holcomb (Joey DelGreco, Jack Peart), 10:52 (pp); 5. GR, Hayden DeMars (Hunter Bischoff, Holcomb), 15:34.
Third period — No scoring.
Saves — Will Larson, A, 33; Wyatt Pilkenton, GR, 13.