Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey

Hartland tops Trenton to win MHSAA Division 2 state championship

By @MichaelCaples –

PLYMOUTH – With a five-on-three power play in the middle of the second period, the Trenton Trojans had the perfect opportunity to climb back into the Division 2 championship game.

Then Jake Behnke scored again.

After already scoring Hartland’s first goal of the game, Behnke won a race to the puck and slipped the puck through Trenton goaltender Joey Cormier’s legs.

A heartbreaking moment for Trenton. A crucial one for Hartland.

Thanks to a three-goal second period, the Hartland Hawks survived a late rally en route to the school’s first-ever state championship in boys’ ice hockey, as they beat Trenton 4-2 in the MHSAA Division 2 state title game Saturday morning at USA Hockey Arena.

Behnke scored two of the goals for the Hawks, while Josh Albring and Joey Larson also found the back of the net.

Brett Tome recorded the win between the pipes for the Hawks – the final victory in an impressive march through the MHSAA playoffs for coach Rick Gadwa’s club.

Coming into the contest, Hartland had out-scored the opposition 44-2 in the state playoffs.

Stay tuned for more from Plymouth…