Shaker Hockey Wins Spot in State Championship Game

Updated at 5 p.m. with comments from Coach Mike Bartley.

The Shaker Heights hockey squad will have a shot at their fourth state title Saturday in Columbus.

The Red Raiders beat Rocky River 4-2 in the state semifinal game Friday afternoon with 27 shots to the Pirates' 33. 

"It was a great game," said Coach Mike Bartley. "Rocky River played very very well. It was a pretty tight game until the tail end of the third period."

We live blogged the game - check it out here!

The teams were tied at 1 after the first quarter and at 2 after the third quarter. But Shaker Heights pulled ahead with two unanswered goals in the last 8 minutes of the game, ending at 4-2 and earning their seventh shot at a state title Saturday.

Bartley said the third goal, scored by Jacob Shick* with 8 minutes left in the third, was the start of a strong push by the Red Raiders.

"That really energized us, when we pulled one ahead," he said.

Did you go to the game? Upload your photos here!

"Today we got a great effort from the entire team: good goal tending — the defensive line played really well," said Bartley.

Saturday the team takes on defending state champions Sylvania Northview — and Bartley is confident the boys will come home with a state title.

Follow along live! Shaker Heights Patch has a live blog of the game starting Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

"We've worked hard all year and established our systems of play," said Bartley. "We're not going to change anything. We just have to play our game and it will be a good match."

The team has been in the final four 11 times and has won the state title three times.

Check out Cleveland.com's full game wrap-up.

The game starts at 7 p.m. at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

Click here for ticket info, and click here to find out how to hitch a ride with the Shaker Heights Alumni Association.

*Editor's Note: The spelling of "Shick" has been corrected.