HARTLAND – “Great moments are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here, tonight. ...This is your time. Their time, is done. It's over.”
That is what 1980 United States hockey coach Herb Brooks told his team before one of the greatest sports moments in US history.
With his team trailing by two goals, Lakeland manager Jacob Waxman, reached in his pocket, pulled out a small piece of paper where he had written, word for word, what Brooks told his legendary team. Completely out of his comfort zone, he stood, teary eyed, among the people he loves, unfolded the note and read the speech to them.
Find out what's happening in White Lake-Highlandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
He did the exact same thing in the teams locker room before their come from behind victory against Hartland.
Do you believe in Miracles? Yes.
Find out what's happening in White Lake-Highlandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In exact replica of the 1980 team, Lakeland went down early, just as they had done all tournament long. However, this time the underdog was defeated, 6-4 in the MHSAA regional finals by Waterford Mott.
Waxman wasn’t the only manager to give a speech. Michael Zeolla got up too and told the team what a great opportunity this was for he and Waxman. Saying they never thought they be a part of a program like this. Zeolla added that this was the best thing that has ever happened to him in his life and how much the team has helped him.
“Jake (Waxman) told us that he loved being our manager,” Lakeland captain Jordan Blanzy said. “He’s a part of this team like all of us. We wanted to keep winning together.”
Don’t let the loss fool you, though. Waxman and Zeolla, both special needs students at Lakeland High School, got a rare treat from their teammates that you normally wouldn’t see.
Respect and open hearts.
In a day and age where most athletes, of any caliber, would write off the student managing duo, they gave them a chance. To Lakeland head coach Tim Ronayne, the loss on the ice is only a minor speed bump in what he wants his team to accomplish off of it.
“We the coaching staff are very proud of this team. We would have never dreamed we would have made it here,” Ronayne said. “You can put all of this on those young men in that locker room. They learned a lot from this whole experience. It was a great learning experience.”
“The life lesson is that you never give up, no matter what," he said. "You can’t roll over and play dead. You have to keep pushing. We always hope for the best. …We’ll never fault effort. Ever.”
The Eagles struggled heavily out of the gate. Mott scored on three of their first four shots, two inside the crease of Lakeland goalie Mitch Leist and the other off a wrist shot, forcing Ronayne to call a time out to re-focus his team.
Lakeland, as they have done all week, battled back and cut the lead to one after Blanzy scored. Blanzy scored the only way he has lately, via hard work in front of the net. He skated down ice amongst three Mott defenders, grabbed the puck behind the net and got off a shot in front of Mott goalie Jon Furton that found net. The goal sent the nearly 200 Lakeland fans in attendance into a frenzy.
“After the goal I thought we finally had the momentum,” Blanzy said. “The start of this game killed us. I think we were all nervous and jittery.”
The Corsairs scored with 2:41 left in the second period to stretch the lead back to two. They again scored and seemed to twist the dagger with 6:58 left in the third period.
But like Ronayne said, “We never fault effort.”
Graham Shearer, of Lakeland, fired a shot from the top of the offensive zone that was deflected in by Colin Johnson just 20 seconds after the Mott goal in the third.
Mott was able to hold off a comeback and the Eagles had just one shot on goal with eight minutes left in the final period.
“They’re a good puck control team. They’ve got three or four kids on that team that are talented at holding the puck,” Ronayne added. “They can make you miss.”
Bobby Schumacher opened up the scoring for Lakeland in the first period. Sam Brooks added another Eagles goal in the second period.
Lakeland goalie Mitch Leist finished the contest with 27 saves.
