This story was updated from an earlier version.
FLINT — Keith Robertson’s admonition for Bryce Eskola is the same advice shouted by every power play coach in the stands.
“We’ve been begging him to shoot more,” said Robertson, Howell’s hockey coach.
This time, Eskola heeded that advice in the biggest hockey game of the season yet for top-ranked Howell.
Eskola, an extraordinary set-up man on the Highlanders’ powerful No. 1 line, scored two goals during Howell’s 6-3 victory over third-ranked Hartland in a Division 1 regional championship game Wednesday, Feb. 25 at the former IMA Sports Arena.
Eskola’s second goal was the biggest, giving Howell a 5-3 lead with 12:35 left in the game after Hartland had scored three straight goals to cut a four-goal deficit to one after two periods.
The senior centerman came into the game with 46 assists, the most by a Howell player since Paul Mitter had a school-record 54 in 1983-84, but only six goals. He had only one goal in his last 17 games.
“They’ve been telling me all season, ‘Shoot the puck,’” Eskola said. “I just got to the front of the net and was able to find a couple.”
Eskola’s natural instinct is to be a pass-first guy.
“The game I like to play is finding my teammates, just make plays,” he said.
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The Highlanders’ third victory of the season over the Eagles in the first postseason matchup ever between the M-59 rivals was their 26th in a row. Howell hasn’t lost since dropping its season opener to Detroit Catholic Central, the Highlanders’ opponent in the state quarterfinals.
Howell has won three straight regional championships for the first time after winning back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000, then in 2009 and 2010.
As is customary among many hockey teams with higher aspirations, the Highlanders didn’t touch the championship trophy. They did pose for a team photo with the trophy on the ice in front of them.
Howell didn’t deviate from tradition, even after beating a major rival that was ranked third in the state and was considered a state championship contender.
“Ever since I’ve been in high school, that’s what we’ve been doing,” Eskola said. “No one touches the trophy until we win it all.”
Robertson is behind his players’ decision to treat regional hardware like it’s the Campbell Bowl or the Prince of Wales Trophy in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
“I get it 100%,” Robertson said. “The ultimate prize is what they have their eyes set on. It’s something they do.”
Treating the trophy like it’s poising was a customary approach for Hartland when it won 12 regional championships in a row from 2012-23. But the Eagles have been given considerably tougher draws the last three years.
They have now lost in three straight regional finals to fourth-ranked Clarkston, top-ranked Catholic Central and top-ranked Howell. Hartland (21-8) was ranked in the top three in the Division 1 all three years.
Hartland coach John Brown was as eager to touch the subject of the Eagles’ playoff draws as the Highlanders were to touch the trophy.
“There’s probably some things I could say about that,” Brown said. “At the end of the day, this is the regional we were assigned. We gave it our best effort. Howell was just better today.”
Howell jumped out to a 4-0 lead by early in the second period. The Highlanders scored twice during a five-minute major to take a 2-0 lead on goals by Marco Wolf and Eskola in the first period.
Bryce Pietila made a terrific individual effort to make it 3-0 with 3:27 left in the first.
It appeared this would be a runaway when Luke Storm’s goal 21 seconds into the second period increased the lead to 4-0.
Hartland stormed back to make a game of it, much like it did after falling behind 4-1 in its previous meeting with Howell.
Second-period goals by Havi Sarcevich, Bryce Fletemier and Nate Halonen made it a 4-3 game.
“That’s the makeup of our team,” Brown said. “A lot of guys with heart, character, resilience. They never quit. They learned that as the season went on. We had some adversity come up during the season at certain times. You never want to get down 4-0, but I’m proud of the group to fight back. We had our chance.”
After Eskola put Howell back up by two goals, Chase Rayburn made the save of the night by sprawling across the crease to get his left pad on a shot by Ian Evans with about 6:30 remaining.
Egan Sturos clinched the victory by scoring into an empty net with 1:30 left in the game.
Howell will return to Flint to face six-time defending Division 1 champion Catholic Central in a state quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28. The winner will advance to the state semifinals Friday, March 6 at USA Hockey Arena.
Northville 3, Brighton 1
After losing to Brighton in regional championship games three of the last four years, the Mustangs finally knocked off the Bulldogs to win their first regional championship since 2017 at Novi Ice Arena.
Brighton took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Eddie Wheeler with 14:09 left in the second period. The key juncture in the game was the final four minutes of the second, as scored twice to take the lead.
Rip Repotski tied it with 3:54 left in the second and Ethan Egelski put fifth-ranked Northville (21-8) ahead with 43 seconds left in the period.
Alex Cassey provided an insurance goal with 3:47 left.
Sixth-ranked Brighton finished with a 17-12 record, going 12-3 in its last 15 games.
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Howell wins showdown with Hartland for regional hockey championship
Reporting by Bill Khan, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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