Bears Crush Chemics on Way to Championship Game

hockey team exacted some revenge and—more importantly—advanced to the state championship game.

Wyandotte accomplished both as the Bears physically and mentally dismantled the Midland Chemics, 6-0, in the Division 2 state semifinals Thursday at Compuware Arena in Plymouth.

Gerald Mayhew scored three goals and goalie Chase Schmittou made 22 saves to help Wyandotte avenge a regular-season loss to Midland and move on to Saturday’s state title game. The Bears will play at 10 a.m. in Plymouth for the championship.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for us,” Wyandotte’s Nick Kovalchik said. “It’s not just about us, but for the city of Wyandotte as well. Sometimes, I don’t think we get as much credit as our city deserves.”

Thursday’s game began with a stifling Midland defense that limited Wyandotte to just one shot on goal in the first 13 minutes of the first period.

Despite Midland’s stellar defense, Mayhew and Kovalchik were still getting their chances and it was only a matter of time before the Bears took advantage of the situation. The first period ended in a scoreless tie with shots on goal 7-4 in favor of Midland.

“We told the kids to just settle down, relax, and play your game,” Wyandotte assistant coach Matt Siewniak said. “We were just nervous and it showed.”

Wyandotte began the second period on a power play but the penalty was killed off. After the penalty, there was a two-on-one break for Mayhew and Kovalchik that resulted in a blocker save by Midland goaltender Keith Inman. But Kovalchik would later steal the puck from a Midland defender, skate in on Inman and beat him with a backhanded shot to stake Wyandotte to a one-goal lead.

“I knew that I could catch the player off guard with my speed,” Kovalchik said. “I skated around and him and beat their goaltender.”

Kovalchik’s goal shifted the momentum, and Wyandotte began to control the game.
After a great face-off win, Tyler Groat scored to give the Bears a 2-0 lead. Joseph Green picked up the assist.

Mayhew scored his first goal of the game on a backhanded shot to give the Bears a 3-0 advantage. Jake Carlisle and Groat had the assists for Mayhew’s goal.

Carlisle was whistled for a hooking penalty later in the second period, but that didn’t slow Wyandotte as Mayhew recorded a short-handed goal that sent the Bears fans into a frenzy.

The Bears ended the second period with a 22-11 shot advantage and a four-goal lead, and Wyandotte kept rolling in the third.

Mayhew completed his hat trick—with assists going to John Calhoun and Aaron Robinson—and Bears’ fans  began to chant “Mr. Hockey” to praise Mayhew.  Groat scored his second goal of the game to end the scoring, but not the celebration. Assists on the goal went to Kovalchik and Ryan Lynch.  

“We came out weak to start the game, but it helped that we had played them before, knowing what they do,” Mayhew said. “We just knew that we had to keep taking shots at them.”

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