The Novi Varsity Inline Hockey team ended the season just 1 goal short of being state champions in their overtime loss to Walled Lake Western in the MRHA tournament last weekend at Joe Dumars Field house.

The 'Cats would work their way through round robin play even though they suffered a loss in game one 3-5 to WLW. Novi then faced off against Sterling Hts. Dakota and West Bloomfield, earning victories in both to find Novi a spot in the final four.

The semi final game saw the Novi wheelers roll past Henry Ford Falcons 7-4 which set the stage for a re-match against Walled Lake Western. In the final, Novi pulled together and put on there best performance of the season.

In a up and down battle and behind by a goal the 'Cats struck back with 4 minutes to play in regulation on a beautiful play which Jared Beers found the back of the net. In overtime, Novi was penalized twice 30 seconds apart and faced one the toughest situations in roller hockey, a 4 on 2 penalty kill. Not to be denied Novi would get superb goal tending from Vince Vitale and kill off the first penalty while almost scoring twice.

However with just under 20 seconds to kill in the second penalty Walled Lake Western would score on a mad scramble in front of the net and end Novi's third season as a varsity program, and as state runners up.

"I really enjoyed this years group, of all the kids on this team only three had previous inline hockey experience. They made incredible improvement from our our first practice and did it all while having a great time and representing Novi with first class behavior, said Coach Smith.

Special congratulations goes out to two Novi Varsity Inline players: Zach Trotman was drafted by the Waterloo Blackhawks of the United States Hockey League and Jared Beers was drafted by the Traverse City Stars of the North American Hockey League. Both leagues are development programs for ice hockey players that assist in making the jump to a NCAA college hockey team.