Last-Second Goal Sets Off Brother Rice Celebration

By Tim Robinson
Special for MHSAA.com

March 27, 2021

PLYMOUTH – Second chances don't come along very often in hockey, especially in the final seconds of a hard-fought state championship game. 

But Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice's Alec Hamady made good on his Saturday, jamming a rebound into the net for the game-winning goal with 6.7 seconds remaining to lift the Warriors to an eventual 2-1 victory at USA Hockey Arena. 

The championship was the fourth in Division 2 and fifth overall for the Warriors (15-4). 

For Byron Center (17-1), it was a sudden, heart-stopping end to a memorable season. 

"There's no way to describe it," Hamady said of winning Saturday after his team's 2020 championship bid was thwarted when the season ended before the Semifinals due to the coronavirus. 

The winning goal came as the Warriors were swarming in front of the Byron Center goal.

"I hit (the goalie’s) blocker, and the puck slid back to me," Hamady said. "I hit it backhanded, and it slid under his blocker."

The Bulldogs then pulled goalie Carson McKenzie for an extra attacker during the final seconds, but Brother Rice shot the puck into the Byron Center end with three seconds left and began celebrating.

Division 2 Hockey Final

The first two periods were a defensive battle, led by McKenzie and Brother Rice goaltender Drake Danoo.

The spell was broken when Brother Rice's Carson Moilanen scored on a rebound with 10:56 left in the third.

But the Bulldogs responded immediately when Logan Nickolaus skated in on Danoo, then passed to Mason Breit, who tied the game just 10 seconds after Moilanen's goal.

Brother Rice coach Kenny Chaput, who won his second Finals title, said his team's response was critical.

"We could have collapsed," he said. "We told the kids it was the same game as before and to keep playing. They did a good job of that."

Byron Center was playing in its first Final after it reached the 2020 Division 1 Semifinals before the season ended early. 

"We have 10 seniors who built this program from nothing," Byron Center coach Taylor Keyworth said. "I couldn't be more proud of our team. No one's had it tougher than the teams that got cut short last year at the end of the season. We go into this season thinking we had a good team, only to get cut short in November. We finally get a chance to play and our guys stayed positive and stuck with it, banded together and had a fantastic season."

After the game, several Brother Rice players, including Hamady, skated to their Byron Center counterparts.

"I used to play with those kids on the TPH Top 80 team," Hamady said. "I became really close with them. I told them they played an outstanding game, they are amazing players and not to worry. It was a battle."

Click for the full box score.

PHOTOS: Brother Rice celebrates after scoring the eventual winning goal with six seconds to play in Saturday's Division 2 Final at USA Hockey Arena. (Middle) Brother Rice's Alec Hamady and Byron Center's Ryan Pratt line up for a face off. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)

Performance of the Week: Houghton's Jack Sayen

March 12, 2026

Jack Sayen headshotJack Sayen ♦ Houghton
Senior ♦ Hockey

The Gremlins senior forward capped his high school career with a game his community will never forget. Sayen scored the opening goal of Houghton’s Division 3 championship game against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, then a full hat trick during the third period including the tying and go-ahead goals in a 5-2 win that earned the Gremlins their first Finals title since 1982.

Sayen was the third player in MHSAA history to have three goals in one period of a championship game, and one of four players – and first since 1993 – to score four goals in a Final. He also had two assists in Houghton’s 4-0 Semifinal win over Traverse Bay Reps and finished this season with 19 goals and 21 assists in making the Division 3 all-state second team. The Gremlins entered the postseason ranked No. 2 and finished the winter 25-6-1.

@mhsaasports 🏒POW: Jack Sayen #houghton #icehockey #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA

@mhsaasports 🏒POW: Jack Sayen #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA

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Previous 2025-26 honorees

March 5: Devin Patrick, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - Report
Feb. 26: 
Madison Nieuwenhuis, Plainwell wrestling - Report
Feb. 20: Sophie Ramey, Allen Park competitive cheer - Report
Feb. 13:
Cam Ryans, Grand Rapids Northview basketball - Report
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Jan. 29:
Stella Musialowski, Huron Valley United gymnastics - Report
Jan. 22:
Baylor Perkins, Grand Blanc swimming - Report
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