Brighton, Hartland icers meet in clash of No. 1s — with broadcast link

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It’s unusual, to be sure, to have two No. 1-ranked teams in any sport in adjacent school districts.

But Brighton, ranked No. 1 in Division 1 in the latest coaches poll, and Hartland, top-ranked in Division 2, meet tonight at the Hartland Sports Center.

Not that anyone puts any significance to it.

happy-bulldogs“Is that what it is? I don’t know,” Brighton coach Paul Moggach said, apprised of the rankings. “It’s Brighton-Hartland. We can control what Brighton is. We can’t control Hartland of what the number is.”

Certainly, the rivalry is enough of a draw, especially between teams that have each gone to Plymouth in two of the last three years.

Tonight’s game will be broadcast on The Livingston Post, starting at 6:50 p.m. 

But the players know each other, the rivalry and their home rinks very well.

“We know they’re a really good team,” Hartland’s Jake Behnke said. “We played them in the fall, and it was a great game. We know it’s going to be a tough one. A lot of fans get into it, and it’s a great rivalry.”

Both teams come in undefeated. Hartland is 4-0, although Eagles coach Rick Gadwa was less than thrilled with his team’s performance in Monday’s 4-1 win over Howell.

But he had nothing but praise for the Bulldogs.

“They’re good in all facets of the game,” he said. “They’ve got good, strong goaltending, good puck-moving defensemen and they probably have the best player in the state, arguably.”

Gadwa was referring to Brighton’s Jake Crespi, but added he wasn’t the only standout on the Bulldogs.

Brighton is 3-0 after winning the Cranbrook Invitational with a 1-0 win over Livonia Stevenson on Saturday.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” Moggach said. “We aren’t where we want to be. There are some things that are going well and some things we have to work on. It’s a work in progress.”

But the coach’s irritation at talk of 1 vs. 1 didn’t mean he couldn’t have fun with it.

Asked if it was a big game, he joked, “You mean U-D Jesuit on Saturday?” Then he got serious.

“I know they have a good team,” he said. “They’re well coached. They have a good squad. It’s a good rivalry and we appreciated having that opportunity.”

“It’s big because Hartland’s a good team,” Brighton’s Sam Brennan said. “They were good last year, and they’ve gotten even better, must like we have. It’s a big rivalry. I’ve got a lot of friends on that team. It’s just the same old game of hockey.”

Hartland's Josh Albring (left) skates to join his teammates after Carter Eiden scored late in the second period Monday. (Photo by Tim Robinson)
Hartland’s Josh Albring (left) skates to join his teammates after Carter Eiden scored late in the second period Monday. (Photo by Tim Robinson)

Hartland’s Josh Albring is in his second year on the Eagles squad, but he’s well aware of what’s at stake tonight.

“I think it’s , if not the biggest, the second biggest rivalry game they play,” he said. “The crosstown rivals. There’s nothing better. Everyone knows everyone on each team, and we hate losing, so everyone gives it 100 percent all of the time.”

And, it was pointed out, if both teams win their respective KLAA conference title, they could meet at the end of the season, prompting Albring to break out in a grin.’

“I hope so,” he said.

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