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HARTLAND — These are the types of hockey games that used to eat away at Hartland coach Rick Gadwa.

Down one goal. Third period. Season on the line.

“The nerves my first year were really there,” said Gadwa, the Eagles’ third-year coach. “Now I’ve seen this 20 times in three years. I was there reminding them we’ve got this, you’ve got it in you, you’ve got to believe you can get this done.”

Hartland’s players have also learned how to deal with playoff pressure the past few years. The prospect of an early postseason exit on home ice didn’t faze them, and they rallied with two third-period goals to beat Lakeland, 3-2, in a Division 2 regional semifinal Thursday night at Hartland Sports Center.

Chas Distelrath scored off a pass from Josh Ruthig with 3:17 remaining to give Hartland its seventh straight victory under Gadwa in regional competition, the fourth by one goal. Austin Flores tied the game, 2-2, with 12:58 left.

“Us seniors have been coming back like this in the regionals for three years,” Ruthig said. “We’ve had the mentality that we’re going to win. It just had to click soon. Luckily, it went our way.”

In a game like this, it’s natural for players to see their hopes and dreams flash before their eyes.

“I kind of thought about it, because we were down 2-1 and we were pressuring a lot, but just couldn’t bury one until late,” Distelrath said. “But good teams find a way to win, and that’s what we did.”

Hartland didn’t lead until Distelrath scored the game-winner. Blake Kocsis gave Lakeland leads of 1-0 in the first period and 2-1 in the second, even though Hartland controlled much of the play and wound up with a 37-23 advantage in shots on goal.

Center Chris McRae began the play that led to the winning goal, stealing a clearing attempt by Nolan Johnson at the left point. McRae then moved around Johnson with the puck and passed it to Ruthig at the bottom of the left faceoff circle. Distelrath charged to the net and redirected a pass by Ruthig past goalie Adam Szymanski.

“I saw a turnover on their blue line,” Ruthig said. “McRae got the puck down to me. I saw Chas going to the net. I tried throwing it over the guy’s stick. Luckily, Chas made contact and put it in the back of the net.”

Distelrath said it was easily the biggest goal of his career, keeping Hartland’s hopes alive for a second straight trip to the state championship game.
“It felt amazing, because it’s my senior year,” Distelrath said. “I was not going to lose on home ice.”

On the tying goal, McRae passed the puck from behind the net to Flores in the slot.

Trevor Sudbay scored Hartland’s first goal at 9:07 of the second period, only to have Kocsis counter for Lakeland just 27 seconds later.

Hartland had three shorthanded breakaways, but didn’t score.

Seventh-ranked Hartland (17-8-2) will go for its third straight regional championship at 5:45 p.m. Saturday against second-ranked Novi (19-6-1) at Hartland Sports Center.

“They’re a touigh team,” Gadwa said of Novi. “I’ve watched them numerous times this year. They’re fast, they’re good, they play their systems, they’re well-coached. They will be a true test for us, but we’ve been there before. We’re going to try to ride off of this win and give them the best possible game.”

Hartland and Lakeland (15-8-3) have met five times in the playoffs since 2008, with all five games decided by one goal.

“Those are the fun ones,” Gadwa said. “You know they’re nerve-racking for the players. When you lose them, they’re heart-breakers. Lakeland played their butts off. What a good opponent they were. They deserved to win as much as we do, but when you find a way to win it’s such a confidence builder going
into the next game.”

Hartland beat Lakeland 6-1 on Dec. 11.

Original Article: http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20140228/SPORTS/302280018/Hartland-beats-Lakeland-3-2-regional-hockey-thriller