Overtime Game Ends Trojans' Playoff Dreams

One month after the Bears and the Trenton Trojan hockey teams played a classic game that was labeled the “Game of the Year,” the two teams met each other in the state playoffs.

Just like the first game, the two teams decided an overtime was needed. But the result this time was different.

scored his second goal of the game 41 seconds into overtime, and the Wyandotte Roosevelt Bears eliminated all their past demons to beat Trenton 3-2, in a game that was better than the first time the two teams met up.

The game had everything. Two raucous student section fan bases, desperate to see their team pull out the victory. A three-time state defending champion in Trenton out to prove that it was the “Downriver powerhouse.” Wyandotte was out to avenge the regular-season loss.

The first period began with both teams feeling each other out, but it was Wyandotte who was playing as if it had been in this position before, with Trenton playing on its heels. 

The game had a feverish pace, as they were long stretches without any whistles being called. Each team picked up a minor penalty in the first period, but both teams were able to kill each penalty off. The period ended 0-0 with each team recording six shots on goal.

The second period featured action for both teams. Trenton goaltender Blake Woltala had a huge diving save one minute in. Roosevelt continued to control the pace, sending numerous shots at Woltala, but he was still able to turn them away.

But Mayhew changed all that when he scored his first goal of the game. Assists came from Ben Thompson and Kyle King.

Trenton answered quickly when Carlo Degrazia scored 24 seconds after Mayhew’s goal. Assists on that goal came from Johnathon Miller and Cory Dunn.

With momentum swaying back and forth, Kyle King changed the momentum back to Wyandotte’s favor as he netted his first goal of the playoffs. Joey Green and John Calhoun assisted on King’s goal.

Before the end of the period, there was a scramble around Wyandotte’s net and it was apparent that Trenton had tied the game. But the red light behind the net never went off and referees ruled that there was no goal.

The second period ended with Wyandotte up 2-1, with the shots being 15-11 in favor of Wyandotte.

In the third period, Degrazia netted his second goal to tie the game at 2-2, sending the Trenton faithful into a frenzy and forcing overtime.

In overtime, though, Mayhew quickly deflated Trenton's hopes.

A simple dump pass by Roosevelt forward Nick Kovalchik saw Mayhew gain access to Trenton’s zone with some ice to work with. Mayhew’s shot beat Woltala clean and ended all the heartache that Trenton had inflicted on Roosevelt for the past few years.

“I got the puck from Nick, skated in and just wanted to make sure I got a shot on net," Mayhew said. "It is the goal of my career.”

While the game ended in heartbreak for his team, Trenton coach Mike Turner was proud of his team.

“This is a great game," Turner said. "We are disappointed, but we played well.”

Roosevelt goaltender Chase Schmittou was impressed with his team.

“Tonight, we never lost our focus and that was a key for us," Schmittou said. "We really wanted to win this game. This victory is on the same level when we beat Southgate in football for the Downriver League title.”

There is little rest for the weary as Wyandotte will play Southgate, which defeated Woodhaven earlier in the night. The game is slated to start at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.