By Journal Sports Staff

MARQUETTE — Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral & Cremation Services won the playoff championship of the Marquette Adult Hockey League’s 40-and-older division earlier this month.

F-S-H defeated Vango’s-3rd Base Bar 5-3 at Northern Michigan University’s Berry Events Center in Marquette on May 2.

The playoff champs were also the leaders in the league’s regular season, with Vango’s-3rd Base runner-up. Following them in order was Switzer Construction, Pike Distributors-3rd Base Bar-906 Sports Bar, KFC-Inkwell Tattoo and North Country Disposal-Rock Shop.

In the playoff finale, Fassbender’s Mike Parks, a former Finlandia University hockey player, and Bob Luke each scored a pair of goals, while teammate Dan Ragusett, a former NMU player, had a single tally.

Scoring for Vango’s-3rd Base were ex-Wildcats Dave Bonk and Ryan Riipi along with teammate Aaron Ranta.

Winning goalie Aaron LaBelle made several key saves late in the contest, according to a team spokesman, while teammate Dave Raudio earned his first playmaker patch of the season that day.

This year’s 40-over division featured an 11-game playoff involving all six teams for the first time.

Despite being considered possibly the oldest team in the division by team player-coach Jon Kamps, Fassbender won its fourth consecutive regular season title, starting 9-1-1, and even after slumping a bit to a 1-3-2 January, finished at a solid 16-5-3. The team has players ranging from the minimum 40 years old up to 71.

The league’s 18-over division has turned into a great feeder program for their elders in the 40-over.

Players all over the league have high-level experience, including collegiately at NMU, Michigan Tech and Finlandia, along with minor pro hockey, high school and juniors that include the Marquette Electricians.

F-S-H compiled a 9-1 record in the playoffs to finish as the No. 1 seed.

“This win is a testament to the character and resilience of this team,” Kamps said in an emailed release detailing the season. “We’re looking forward to a long summer break before defending our league and playoff titles.”

For more information about the league or for anyone interested in joining, follow the group on Facebook or visit its website at http://www.mqtadulthockeyleagues.com/.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.