Jackson United hockey team to put impressive record on the line in playoff opener
By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
Jackson – After a season of winning, a year of entering nearly every game as the favorite to skate away with victory, the Jackson United hockey team is about to be on the other side of that equation.
Coach Andy Sinkovitz has coached enough hockey, at many different levels, to approach every game with a realistic vision.
And that won’t change Monday as his Jackson squad begins the Division 1 state playoff at 6 p.m. against Brighton at the Kensington Valley Ice House.
“We know they are very good, they are very deep, they have good defense, they move the puck well,” Sinkovitz said. “I’ve been around long enough to know you have to play a perfect game to have a good shot. But we’re not a slouch of a team. If we show up with our A-game, we’ll have a good chance.”
Brighton, ranked No. 2 in all of D-1, is 16-8-0 and placed second in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Central Division standings.
Jackson, ranked No. 13 in D-1, was 20-3-1 entering Saturday night’s season finale.
“Team depth is something we have, and that’s the thing that will give us the chance,” Sinkovitz said. “Brighton has depth and skill, as well, which is why they are so good.”
Jackson reached last year’s quarterfinals before finally seeing the season come to an end. To duplicate that performance the Vikings will have to knock off a team that has balanced scoring, gives up less than two goals per game and is riding a three-game win streak into the postseason.
“It’s a beatable team,” Sinkovitz said. “The key is going in there with plenty of confidence. We don’t want the Davis and Goliath mentality. We’re not a team with 20 wins by mistake. We took care of the teams we had to, and we beat some good teams along the way.”
Sinkovitz pointed out how just about anything can happen come playoff time.
“We have the chance to do something special here,” he added. “Now it’s on us to do it.”
The Brighton-Jackson winner faces No. 7 Howell (16-7-1) in the regional semifinal.
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports. You can reach him at mjm12@albion.edu. He’s also the author of ‘Love, Defined; A Dedication to the Love, Sacrifice, and Magic of Motherhood.’
Love, Defined is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tate Publishing or by contacting Mike directly.