Port Huron won the Midget AA state title. (Photo courtesy of Carrie Gamrat).

Port Huron takes home Midget AA title

Port Huron won the Midget AA state title. (Photo courtesy of Carrie Gamrat).

By Brian Kalisher –

Winning a championship requires a full team effort.  The Port Huron Flags understand this concept, which is why goals came from role players other than the typical scorers.

The Port Huron Flags took home the Midget AA state title on March 4, defeating Mt. Clemens 6-1.  Jason Pringle and Eric Payne, who are important players on the team but not the traditional goal-scorers, each contributed two goals in what turned out to be a surprisingly lopsided scoresheet.  Port Huron led by a five-goal margin after two periods of play, and never looked back.

“The championship game was kind of a surprise because we came right out and scored right away,” coach Charley Cook said.  “We kind of put them on their heels, the other team.  By the end of the second period it was 6-1, which really caught me by surprise that we had scored that many goals against a quality team like Mt. Clemens.”

Winning teams usually rely on secondary scoring during games when goals aren’t coming from the regulars.  Port Huron worked as a team, all chipping in to attain the victory.

“This was a team effort,” Cook said.  “In the championship game, we basically had kids that hadn’t really scored in the tournament that were scoring.

“They play well for us, but it was just a surprise to see them score…to see people who don’t necessarily score every game, you’re kind of like ‘wow.”

Part of a winning recipe is heading into each game with the right attitude.  Confidence and the will to improve are two team characteristics that should never be overlooked.

“We actually did develop an attitude that we were getting better and we could skate with anybody,” Cook said.  “If we got down, or the game was tough, it was no more than what we had already trained for.”

It turned out to be the games in the tournament leading up to the championship contest that proved the most intense.  Port Huron had already faced the heat and was ready to perform once the final game approached.

“The first game was really the emotional game,” Cook said.  “Beating them for the first time and being in the first game of the tournament at noon on Friday, the players were so pumped up about even scoring a goal and getting the lead on these guys.”

Coach Cook had his hands full keeping his team calm after the first frame and even described how two or three of his players needed to be calmed down due to all the excitement.

Through preparation, the experience of playing in some of the tougher games earlier, and old-fashioned hard work, Cook was able to lead his team to the Midget AA state title.

The squad now looks ahead to nationals, which begin later this month.  Cook will give his boys a necessary break before beginning what he calls “a second season.”

“Obviously, it was more a sense of accomplishment,” Cook said.  “They really worked hard.”