’98 Grosse Pointe Bulldogs Win International Silver Sticks

Note: The following article and photos are reader submissions from a parent, coach, or player. Have your team highlighted on our website and in MiHockeyMag by e-mailing editor Michael Caples at mcaples@mihockeynow.com.

The 1998 Grosse Pointe Bulldogs won the 2013 Bantam Major Division International Silver Stick Tournament held in Port Huron, Michigan the weekend of January 25, 2013.  The team went 6-0 during the tournament, which included teams from throughout North America and Canada.  The Bulldogs won the regional Silver Stick Tournament in St. Clair Shores in November to qualify for Internationals.  They outscored their 6 opponents 33-11 during the International tournament.

The Bulldogs opened up against the North York Knights from Ontario.  The Bulldogs fell behind 3-0 early in the second period but then outscored the Knights 6-1 to win 6-4.  In the second game, the Bulldogs faced off against the Arvada Hockey Association from Colorado.  The Bulldogs controlled from the start winning 8-2.  In the third round-robin game, the Bulldogs faced off against the Ramapo Saints from New Jersey.  In a closely fought, defensive game, the Bulldogs prevailed 1-0 on an early first-period goal.

The next game pit the Bulldogs against the Plymouth Stingrays in the quarterfinals.  The game started poorly for the Bulldogs as they trailed 2-0 late into the second period.  With just 38 seconds left in the second period, the Bulldogs scored to pull within a goal, 2-1.  The third period saw the Bulldogs pressuring the Stingrays, when they knotted the score at 2-2 with just 4 minutes left in regulation.  Neither team scored after that point, sending the game into overtime.   At the 7 minute mark of overtime, the Bulldogs scored to give them the 3-2 victory.

In Sunday’s semi-final, the team faced the Mississauga Ice Warrior’s.  From the opening faceoff, the Bulldogs dominated the game.  They scored five goals in the first period; four in the second; and two in the third period to prevail 11-1.

The championship game proved to be quite different than the semis, as the Bulldogs faced the Mississauga Jets, Ontario’s number 1 ranked team.  The game was 0-0 until midway through the second period when the Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead.  The teams entered the third 1-0 when the Jets scored just 50 seconds into the period to tie the score.  The Bulldogs did not let that shake them and came back and scored just 2 minutes later to take a 2-1 lead.  Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the Jets would not go away.  They tied the game at the 9 minute mark, 2-2.  Thereafter, the teams played a furiously paced game until the 3:21 mark, when the Bulldogs scored to take a 3-2 lead.  With the clock running down, the Bulldogs scored an empty net goal to secure the championship.

The Bulldogs are, kneeling:  Jack Flynn, Mac Welsher, Mac Cimmarrusti, Andrew Tomasi and Alex Grimm; standing:  Zach Kaiser, Brandon VanOphem, Theo Calvas, Griffin Brooks, Tate McDonald, Jonathan Theros, Logan Jenuwine, Marshall Vyletel, CJ Ramsdell, Zach Pearson, Jacob Robinson, Sam Knoblauch and Gunner Markiewicz.  The team coaches are, l-r:  Geoff Welsher, Robb McIntyre and Mark Brooks.