The 1998 Grosse Pointe Bulldogs swept their way through the MAHA State Championships in Midland on March 10-12, winning the Michigan Bantam A title just 27 hours after head coach Robb McIntyre coached his high school team, the Unversity Liggett School, to the Division III High School State Championship.

The Bulldogs dominated pool play winning all three of their games. The Bulldogs first defeated Belle Tire-Taylor 6-2, in the tournament opener. The line of Marshall Vyletel, Sam Knoblauch and Logan Jenuwine were responsible for all the scoring. Jenuwine registered a hat trick; Vyletel had 2 goals and a playmaker (3 assists); and Knoblauch added the 1st of his 7 goals he scored in the tournament. Goaltender Alex Grimm turned in the first of three great performances between the pipes, and the defense was led by Harrison Wujek, Zack Kaiser, JP Navetta and Andrew Tomasi.

The second victory against Bay County was nearly disastrous for the Bulldogs, as they lost the services of two speedy defensemen. Wujek broke his arm, while the ever so nifty Jack Flynn strained his hip and back. Despite the injuries, the Bulldogs came up big on offense once more. The fleet-footed all-lefty line of Jonathan Theros (2 goals), Mac Welsher (1 goal/2 assists) and Zack Pearson (2 assists) provided plenty of firepower in the 8-1 victory. Brett Abdelnour scored his first goal of the tourney, assisted by CJ Ramsdell and Mac Cimmarrusti. Jenuwine contributed two more goals to his total. Harrison Griffin was outstanding in net, giving up only one goal late in the 2nd period. Coach Welsher pointed to the defensive play of Zack Kaiser and Griffin Brooks as being particularly strong for the Bulldogs.

Game 3 featured the return and outstanding performance of defenseman Flynn and his defensive mates Tomasi, Navetta and Brooks. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 5-0 lead over Mackinaw City, and never looked back. Knoblauch scored midway through the first, with assists from Vyletel and Jenuwine. Twenty seconds later, Vyletel and Knoblauch fed Jenuwine for the second goal. Abdelnour kept his hot hand, scoring on a pass from Cimmarrusti. In the second period, Ramsdell notched his first goal of the tourney, with assists to Abdelnour and Cimmarrusti. Theros scored the fifth goal with assists to Pearson and Welsher. Mackinaw scored twice in the final minutes, but it was too little too late, as Harrison Griffin was strong in the net once again. 

The semi-final game Sunday morning featured two powerhouse teams. The Bulldogs, ranked number 2 in the nation by myhockeyrankings.com, faced off against the number 3 ranked Grand Rapids Griffins. The Bulldogs came out firing on all cylinders against the Griffins, as Knoblauch stole a puck in the first minute and fed it to a streaking Jenuwine for the opening breakaway score. Grand Rapids responded with a score of their own by defenseman Ryan Stapleton in the opening minute of the 2nd period, but Mac Welsher answered thirty seconds later with a dazzling move and top-shelf backhand  to put the Bulldogs up to stay. Marshall Vyletel rounded out the scoring with an open net goal for a 3-1 victory. Goaltender Alex Grimm and defensemen Andrew Tomasi, Jack Flynn and Zack Kaiser had huge games for the Bulldogs. 

The finals would feature perennial power and archrival Plymouth Stingrays, who came into the game ranked number 1 in the nation. The teams, however, were 2-2-1 against one another during the season.  The Bulldogs were white hot, enjoying an 18-game unbeaten streak (16-0-2) coming into the game. The Bulldogs came ready to play, as Knoblauch scored first at the seven-minute mark, with assists from Vyletel and Jenuwine. Plymouth's Grant Reszczyk scored two minutes later, but Jonathan Theros responded with a snap shot to put the Bulldogs ahead for good. Mac Welsher and Griffin Brooks assisted. Jenuwine scored the 3rd Grosse Pointe goal on a pass from defenseman Flynn, at 11:45 in the 2nd period. Knoblauch put the Bulldogs up by 3 just two minutes later, on a pass from Mac Cimmarrusti. But Plymouth answered with back-to-back goals by Evan Nowel and Joe Mancinelli to make it 4-3. Twenty seconds into the final period, however, Knoblauch completed his hat trick with a great catch-and-shoot pass from Jenuwine, out racing a Plymouth defensemen to the puck. With Grimm between the posts, and the defense anchored by the Secretary of Defense, Zack Kaiser, and fellow defensemen Tomasi and Navetta, the Stingrays were held at bay for the final 14 minutes of regulation. 

Sam Knoblauch was selected by the Tournament Committee as the MVP of the Championship game. Coach Geoff Welsher and defensive coach Mark Brooks captured their third District Championship but first State Title in their six years of leading the Bulldogs. Head Coach Robb McIntyre has won 53 District Championships, including these last two with the Bulldogs. This was his 27th State Championship, which include the two from this past weekend with University Liggett School and the 1998 Bulldogs. 

The 1998 Bulldogs are: kneeling, L-R: Harrison Griffin, Mac Cimmarrusti, Zack Pearson, Mac Welsher, Harrison Wujek, Jonathan Theros, Bret Abdelnour, Sam Knoblauch and Alex Grimm. Standing, L-R: Zack Kaiser, Griffin Brooks, CJ Ramsdell, Marshall Vyletel, Logan Jenuwine, Jack Flynn, Andrew Tomasi and JP Navetta. Coaches, L-R: Mark Brooks, Robb McIntyre and Geoff Welsher.  

The '98 Bulldogs marched through this year's District 3 tournament beating the Rochester Rattlers 5-1 in the championship game to win their third district championship in 5 years.  

The Bulldogs entered the tournament ranked 3rd in the US but faced some tough games if they intended to repeat as district champions.  The Rochester Rattlers had beaten the Bulldogs twice earlier this year and the St. Clair Shores Saints were coming into the tournament ready to prove they belonged with the Yzerman teams.

It turns out that the opening game against the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies was probably the Bulldogs' toughest test.  The Grizzlies gave the Bulldogs everything they could handle.  After a rough couple of periods, the Bulldogs prevailed 3-1.

Next up, the SCS Saints.  The Saints came into the tournament 31-5-3 and just off a big win over Midland, a tough Yzerman opponent.  The Bulldogs scored first and never relinquished the lead.  Each time the Bulldogs scored, the Saints tied it up --  1-1, 2-2 and 3-3.  Then, the Bulldogs took over.  They scored the next two goals and held off a late Saints' surge to win 5-3.

Next up...the Rochester Rattlers.  What many anticipated would be a tough game, turned into a 5-0 win for the Bulldogs.  

With Rochester and the Saints in the loser's bracket, the Bulldogs could sit back and wait to see who they would face in the championship game.  Each would have to get past other opponents before seeing each other, with the winner facing the Bulldogs.  They did exactly that.  Although the Saints skated out to a 2-0 lead, the Rattlers came storming back and beat the Saints 3-2.  The Bulldogs - Rattlers rematch was set for Sunday morning. 

The championship game picked up right where the prior game ended.  The Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the first; scored the fourth goal with 21 seconds left in the second; and scored the fifth and final goal midway through the 3rd period.  The Rattlers scored a power play goal to make the final score 5-1. 

As the boys poured onto the ice, Coach Rob was quietly reflective about his team's back-to-back district championships.  "Wow, nice win, but I'm not sure we held the blue line all that well.  In the end, the boys earned it.  I'll see them at practice."  Coach Welsher was a bit more excited. Donning the tuxedo he promised the boys he would wear if they won the championship, he exclaimed:  "Holy Cow, I look darn good in this thing!  I'm glad the boys won.  Now they'll finally let me into The Hill for dinner!"  

The boys will head to Midland for States on March 8.   Go get'em Bulldogs!