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Sports

Farmington Hockey Ends Season with a Regionals Loss Saturday

Farmington falls to Wyandotte 5-3 in the MHSAA Division II Region 12 semi-finals.

On paper, Farmington was ranked 2nd and Wyandotte Roosevelt 4th headed into Saturday's boys hockey Division II Region 12 championship game in Trenton. Both teams seemed evenly matched during the game.

But a slow first period cost Farmington, and Wyandotte upset the Falcons 5-3, punching their ticket to the state quarter-finals in Chelsea.

Farmington came in off an 8-0 mercy victory over Livonia Franklin in the Regional semifinal and was looking to keep that momentum going. Wyandotte was also riding high, with road victories over state powerhouse Trenton and rival Southgate Anderson.

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High tension filled the game; neither team could get anything going early on. Farmington came out with the first power play of the game, when Wyandotte’s Jake Carlisle was called for tripping at 5:18. But the power play would not last long. Farmington made it 4-on-4 when Nick Elliott left the ice after a hooking call at 5:51.

Farmington tried to use their strength and size on the boards, but Wyandotte's Tyler Groat squeezed by and scored at 6:40, to make it 1-0 Wyandotte. 

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Farmington net-minder Tim Rogers kept it close, with a save on a breakaway at the 10-minute mark and another outstanding save on a slap shot from the point. But Wyandotte scored again with two minutes left in the period, to put Farmington down 2-0.

“I thought Tim played a great game and kept us in the game with some huge saves especially in that first period," Falcons head coach Mark Vellucci said. “They out-shot us in that first period 10 to 6, and to have him make those saves early helped us out."

Farmington came out flying in the second period and beat Wyandotte to the puck early, but the Bears' Nick Kovalchik scored a minute in, to make it 3-0.

Farmington finally lit the lamp in the second period, on the power play. Falcon Nick Elliott’s check caused a turnover for Alex Schmitt to go short side on Wyandotte goalie Chase Schmittou, and cut the lead  to 3-1. The Falcons struck again at 11:05, as Elliott scored and cut the lead to 3-2.

Farmington applied pressure on Wyandotte, with a breakaway opportunity and continuing their physical game. But it was too much rough play, and Farmington received a cross-checking penalty at 12:53. Rogers made a critical mistake when trying to clear the puck on the penalty kill, misplayed it and Groat scored to make it 4-2.

“I think that fourth goal really hurt us the most,” Vellucci said.

At the end of the second period, Wyandotte had out-shot Farmington 29 to 16.

Wyandotte scored just 48 seconds into the third to make it 5-2.  Farmington would score on Elliott's second goal of the game to make it 5-3. Farmington could not get any second chance shots on goal in the third period and had many shots deflected or taken from the blue line.

“We dug ourselves a hole we could not get a out of, and we kept trying, but five goals is a lot to overcome," Vellucci said “We played a evenly matched team, and we gave it our all."

Vellucci spoke highly of his team and said the chemistry was there all season long.

“Since the summer and into the fall training program, this team got along great. They came together nicely throughout the season, no problems and a great bunch of kids to coach," he said.

Vellucci doesn't seem worried about how the Falcons will shape up for next year, despite the team losing 16 seniors, including goalie Rogers, who finished with 37 saves.

“Josh Cliff, our junior goalie, will be ready to go. We (have) some young talent, we should be ready to go,” Vellucci said.

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