That’s all the time that Hartland needed to score as the Redmen fell 3-2 in the Division 2 tourney at USA Hockey Arena in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth.

Ashton Trombley scored for the Eagles, banging in a rebound on the first shift of the extra period to complete Hartland’s comeback and, for the first time since 2019, send the Eagles (24-5) into the state final this morning back at the same arena.

“I thought it was a great game. It was a great high school hockey game,” Marquette head coach Doug Garrow said. “I’m heartbroken for these kids. When they go home tonight, they’re going to lay in bed and think ‘We were seven minutes away. We had a two-goal lead with seven minutes.’

“But I just told them in there, I said that the guys coming back and even the guys leaving, if they go play another level, that should reinforce that the game is never over until the final buzzer. It is never over. You can always come back.”

Marquette's Brayden Grange moves the puck up ice as Redmen goalie Wylen Cambensy watches in an MHSAA Division 2 state semifinal game played against Hartland at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth on Thursday. (Journal photo courtesy Timothy Arrick)

Marquette led most of this contest, getting on the board early when a pair of juniors, Jacob Garrow and Ethan Phillips, broke away on a 2-on-1 opportunity. Garrow threaded a pass to Phillips, who was alone in front of the net, and Phillips snapped home a quick shot just 3:04 into the game.

The Redmen rolled all four lines through the first two periods, and it paid off for Marquette as they were able to consistently cut off any attempts by Hartland to sustain momentum. Instead, MSHS maintained an edge both on the scoreboard and in shots on goal throughout the first two periods and into the third.

The Redmen made it 2-0 early in the third on a goal by Theo Adams and looked to be in control.

But that’s when Hartland began its comeback. The Eagles cut its deficit to 2-1 on a power play goal from Braden Pietila with 7:48 remaining. Hartland then tied the score just 46 seconds later when the Eagles capitalized on a turnover at the Marquette blue line with Jack L’Esperance netting the equalizer.

“I think the difference was they capitalized on their power play to get their first goal, and we couldn’t score on our power play,” Coach Garrow said. “I said at the beginning of the year, the beginning of the playoffs, I think the team that is going to win it is going to win the special-team battle and get good goaltending.

The Marquette Redmen take the ice before an MHSAA Division 2 state semifinal game played against Hartland at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth on Thursday. (Journal photo courtesy Timothy Arrick)

“I think our goaltending was fine. It’s just that their special teams were better than ours tonight, and that was the difference.”

Marquette goalie Wylen Cambensy turned in a solid performance, stopping 27 of 30 shots.

The game matched teams that not only finished the season ranked first and second in the coaches’ state rankings, but teams that had perennially been in the semifinals the last few years even though they hadn’t played each other.

“Really, right now, it’s just about soaking this in for a few minutes and then focusing on whoever is next,” Hartland head coach Rick Gadwa said. “We have a proud tradition now at Hartland, and a lot of teams have had a ton of success.

“But, especially this team, not one guy has been here yet, and everything is earned. And we talk about it all the time. Everything’s earned. Everything’s earned. So they had to pave their own way, and it wasn’t easy.

Redmen players celebrate their first goal in an MHSAA Division 2 state semifinal game played against Hartland at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth on Thursday. (Journal photo courtesy Timothy Arrick)

“There was some redemption there with Byron Center in the quarterfinal. We’re down 2-0 tonight, and just to see the adversity and see the way they respond. That’s all you can ask for, and to get here now they’re setting that stage for the next teams to come as well. So that’s a great job by the guys.”

Marquette ended its season with a 23-5-1 overall record, including another regional playoff title and a Great Lakes Conference championship.

“We wanted Hartland,” Coach Garrow said. “We looked at the bracket, and I wanted Hartland and all my guys wanted Hartland to beat Byron Center because we wanted to play the No. 1 team. Those kids aren’t scared to play anybody, and that’s who (we) got.

“Unfortunately, we ended up on the wrong end, but it is what it is. In 20 years, they’re going to look back and have a great experience of high school hockey. So I’m really glad about that.”

Michael Wallwork is a sports writer for the Oakland Press of Pontiac.