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Photo from Honeybaked's MAHA state title victory earlier in March. (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)
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Honeybaked wins 2015 USA Hockey 14U Tier I national title

MiHockey Staff
Photo from Honeybaked's MAHA state title victory earlier in March. (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)
Photo from Honeybaked’s MAHA state title victory earlier in March. (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)

By @MichaelCaples –

Honeybaked and Chicago Mission needed extra time to decide a winner Monday morning in Amherst, N.Y.

Not surprising, considering that the two High Performance Hockey League rivals had met on the ice many times before.

However, when the game finally came to an end just after 10 a.m. ET, it was Honeybaked celebrating the game-winning goal.

Mathieu de St Phalle got his stick on the puck 49 seconds into the second overtime, after an initial shot from the point by Jacob Semik was redirected by Max Ellis.

“Both teams played very hard, and the finish was as exciting as I have been involved with in my coaching career,” Honeybaked head coach Trevor Edwards said.

“I was very impressed with the team’s focus, energy and work ethic over the two weeks leading up to (the national tournament).”

It was the second of two crucial goals for the Honeybaked squad, after they had fallen behind in the third period. Mission scored with the 3:18 remaining in the final regulation period, but Honeybaked’s Calen Kiefiuk forced overtime with the game-tying strike with 7.2 seconds left on the clock.

The two HPHL teams played a scoreless first overtime before de St Phalle scored the national title-clinching goal for Honeybaked.

Kiefiuk and Bode Wilde finished tied for the team and tournament goal-scoring lead – both players recorded six in the tournament. Valentino Passarelli recorded 13 points to lead the tournament and the Honeybaked squad. Seven players finished the season scoring at a higher rate than a point-per-game.

“The team was flying with contributions from a lot of different players,” Edwards said.

Edwards said it was a season for the record books with how dominant his squad was at both ends of the ice from start to finish. Honeybaked finished the campaign with a 64-5-4 record overall, which included a 34-game unbeaten streak from Oct. 4 to Jan. 11.

“I’m just so proud of this team and the way they played as a true team all season, which is why we were able to be so consistent and successful.”

MORE: PHOTOS: Honeybaked wins 2015 MAHA Bantam Major state title | VIDEO: 2015 MAHA Bantam Major state title game


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