Howell wins hockey opener; shorthanded scores help finish off Pirates

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HOWELL — The thing about the first week of the hockey season is this: Everything looks good.

That even applied to Pinckney coach Ted Kroll, despite his team getting mercied by Howell, 9-1, on Friday night at Grand Oaks Ice Arena,

“We went out and we really skated,” Kroll said. “I think that’s some of the youth and inexperience (that hurt the Pirates). We’re just not as strong and we’ve got to build on that, and we will. But there was no quit in us, either.”

The Highlanders never trailed in the game, leading 2-1 after the first period and gaining momentum after that, finishing the game with an astonishing four shorthanded goals.

“It was a good game,” Howell coach Mike Mantua said. “Our kids were excited and there were a lot of sloppy passes, shots missing the net, that kind of stuff. It was good. The kids were ready to go, they worked really hard and we capitalized on some penalty kills as a direct result of the hard work.”

Defenseman Steve Mullally, a returning captain, was the unlikely beneficiary, recording his first hat trick after scoring just one goal last season.

Howell's Steve Mullally fires the puck on the net during Friday's 9-1 win over Pinckney. Mullally recorded his first-ever hat trick during the win. (Photo by Tim Robinson)
Howell’s Steve Mullally fires the puck on the net during Friday’s 9-1 win over Pinckney. Mullally recorded his first-ever hat trick during the win. (Photo by Tim Robinson)

“To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever had one,” Mullally said. “Maybe in mites, but it’s been a while if I did have one.”

Mullally scored the first, fourth and final goal for the Highlanders, while adding an assist. Sheldon Sturos, named a team captain by the coaches on Thursday, celebrated with two goals and two assists.

(Defensive partner) Austin Kantola and I have been working on moving the puck back and forth and getting shots on net,” Mullally said. “Last year, we didn’t have as much luck on those shots, and I got three today.”

Mullally’s first goal came with 11:03 left in the first period. Pinckney’s Logan Schmitt tied the game less than a minute and a half later, and the game stayed that way until Josh Seiter put the Highlanders ahead to stay with 3:01 left in the period.

Howell's Josh Seiter takes a shot in the first period Friday. He later scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal in Howell's 9-1 win over Pinckney. (Photo by Tim Robinson)
Howell’s Josh Seiter takes a shot in the first period Friday. He later scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal in Howell’s 9-1 win over Pinckney. (Photo by Tim Robinson)

The Highlanders added three goals in the second, then wore down the Pirates in the third with those four shorthanded goals.

“The kids were ready to go,” Mantua said .”They worked really hard and we capitalized on some penalty kills as a direct result of their hard work.”

“We just saw opportunities and took advantage of them,” Mullally said.

The Pirates won their opener, beating Dexter on the road 6-5 on Wednesday, but the Highlanders proved another level yet for a Pinckney team that has just three seniors.

“I think at one point (after the game) we were talking and I had 10 hands up,” Kroll said. “It was only their second varsity game, and those same 10 hands came up when i asked if it was the fastest hockey game they’ve ever played in.

“If we had played this way against Dexter, it wouldn’t have been 6-5,” he continued. “It would have been a lot more on our end. But we’ll grow. They’ll improve.”

For Howell, it was the first step for a team that hasn’t gotten out of a regional since 2010, when the Highlanders went to the semifinals.

“We’re looking to improve, every practice, every game,” Mantua said. “We’re looking to find our niche as a team, and as the season progresses, we’re going to get much better. We’ll be a work in progress until the end. Our ultimate goal is to be still playing in March.”

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