Brighton's Landon Whitlock learned playoff hockey from state final run
NOVI — Sometimes Landon Whitlock came back to the Brighton hockey bench in the celebration line after contributing to a goal.
Sometimes he came limping back after eating a puck for the team.
Whatever it takes, especially at playoff time.
Whitlock learned what the postseason is all about while playing as a sophomore forward on a veteran team that went to its third consecutive state Division 1 championship game two years ago.
It’s those lessons he’s applied to his own game as a senior leader on one of the hottest teams in Michigan.
Whitlock had a goal and two assists and blocked four shots in the playoff opener for sixth-ranked Brighton, which beat Ann Arbor Pioneer 7-1 in a regional semifinal on Thursday, Feb. 19 at Novi Ice Arena.
“It’s just a Brighton thing to be a dog,” Whitlock said. “It’s what we’re known for is blocked shots. It’s just what we do. It’s just what you do for the team.
“I’m fine with taking one off the leg. It stings for a second, but it’s better than one going in the back of the net and costing us the game.”
Whitlock’s teammates were as excited to greet him back at the bench followed his blocked shots as they were for his first-period goal. In hockey culture, sacrificing the body for the team is revered.
“He just works,” Brighton coach Kurt Kivisto said. “He’s an absolute dog. He does a tremendous job on the penalty kill blocking shots and just grinds. He’s a guy who goes and retrieves pucks and makes things happen on the forecheck. He’s just really, really valuable for our team.”
As a sophomore, he had two goals and three assists in 30 games playing on a team spearheaded by all-state forwards Cam Duffany and Lane Petit.
“He was more of a third-line type of role, go eat minutes and do that dirty work,” Kivisto said. “He’s taken that and elevated his game this year. It’s been awesome to see.”
Whitlock’s points Thursday came when they mattered most, as he contributed to Brighton’s first three goals while Pioneer was flirting with an upset.
It was a 1-1 game until Eddie Wheeler scored with 4:57 left in the second period. That began an onslaught of four goals in a span of 8 minutes and 13 seconds spanning the second and third periods.
Whitlock opened the scoring with 3:10 left in the first period. After Pioneer’s Sean Stone tied it on the power play with 12:47 left in the second, the game settled into a bit of a stalemate until Wheeler broke the tie and Max McKenzie made it 3-1 with 16.4 seconds left in the second.
The Bulldogs broke it open with goals by Connor Duffany and Nic Smith early in the third. McKenzie scored his second goal with 7:39 remaining and Tim Peterson capped the scoring with 1:17 left.
Whitlock was Brighton’s eighth-leading scorer during the regular season with five goals and eight assists in 26 games. He’s picked up the pace late in the season, scoring three goals and six assists in the last seven games.
He credits the uptick in production to being paired with McKenzie and Wheeler later in the season.
“It’s the people I’ve been playing with,” Whitlock said. “I’ve been playing with the right players. Being with them puts me in the right place and in the right spots. I can get the puck and get some points.”
Brighton (17-11) is 12-2 in its last 14 games after losing six in a row. The Bulldogs will seek their sixth consecutive regional championship at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25 against fifth-ranked Northville or Novi at Novi Ice Arena. Brighton beat Northville 1-0 on Dec. 6 and rallied to beat Novi 4-3 in overtime on Jan. 10.
Contact Bill Khan at [email protected]. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Brighton hockey maintains hot streaks, beats Pioneer in playoff opener
Boston Red Sox trade idea sends Brayan Bello to AL contender for 27-year-old two-time All-Star
Boston Red Sox trade idea sends Brayan Bello to AL contender for 27-year-old two-time All-Star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox have made moves to solve third base and could play Marcelo Mayer there if needed, but it might not be the worst idea to find a veteran instead of playing Mayer or Caleb Durbin.
The Red Sox also have some assets they could move on in the form of prospects or existing players on the big league roster, so there are many ways to go about this if they want to add a third baseman.
Sports Illustrated’s Duke Demming proposed a scenario that would bring a big-time hitter to Boston, though the slugger has been inconsistent for parts of his career.
Red Sox get: Isaac Paredes
Houston Astros get: Brayan Bello
“Isaac Paredes would be an everyday hitter for the Red Sox at third base and designated hitter. The slugger even flashed the ability to move to first base last year in Houston after they acquired Carlos Correa. Paredes missed some time with a hamstring injury, but he was highly productive when on the field. In 102 games, he hit .254 with 20 home runs, 53 runs, 53 RBIs, and a .809 OPS. Paredes would be surrounded by a strong top of the order in Boston, including Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, Jarren Duran, Willson Contreras, and Wilyer Abreu. Fenway Park could also provide a boost, as the Green Monster in left field would play to the advantage of the pull-heavy hitter,” he wrote.
Many rumors have suggested that the Astros be willing to move on from Paredes, though the team just traded for him an offseason ago. Paredes has the talent to be very good, but has also struggled for parts of his career.
Nonetheless, I like the fit as a right-handed bat at Fenway, and I think the move would be a wise one if the Red Sox don’t feel comfortable with their current setup.
More MLB news:
- Boston Red Sox trade proposal moves on from Jarren Duran and also lands a much needed third baseman
- Philadelphia Phillies trade pitch answers outfield question by landing recent All-Star Game MVP
- New York Yankees trade proposal moves Cam Schlittler, George Lombard Jr, and Spencer Jones for generational award winner
- New York Yankees fans will love Aaron Judge’s slight shot at Brian Cashman
- New York Yankees urged to pair Aaron Judge with Bryce Harper for World Baseball Classic reason
- New York Yankees get excellent injury news on Giancarlo Stanton as Spring Training gets underway
Hilary Knight more nervous for marriage proposal than gold-medal hockey game
MILAN — The U.S. women's national hockey team captured gold over Canada in a dramatic overtime victory at the 2026 Winer Olympics, but that wasn't the most nerve-wracking part of Hilary Knight's week.
"I was more nervous for the proposal than I was for the gold medal game" Knight said Thursday, Feb. 18, following the gold-medal win.
The five-time Olympian proposed to U.S. speed skater Brittany Bowe one day before the U.S. faced Canada in the women's hockey final. Knight said her plan to propose was making her so anxious that she ultimately decided to pull the trigger because her “legs felt like Jello” throughout the tournament.
So Knight did what any elite athlete would do. She penciled in her proposal on Wednesday before Team USA's final practice ahead of the gold-medal game.
"Call me crazy, but doing it before a gold medal game, it just seemed fitting for us,” said Knight, whose goal forced overtime on Thursday. "I kind of wanted to (propose) and then set my mind and intention for hockey prep. And so just with scheduling and Britt's schedule, it just made sense to do it that morning."
Knight didn’t tell anyone of her plans, not even her teammates. She got down on one knee following a morning coffee run, similar to how the two first connected at the 2022 Beijing Games amid COVID-19 protocols. Knight announced the news on Instagram without a second thought, captioning a video of the proposal, "Olympics brought us together. This one made us forever." She then went back to hockey mode and prepared for practice.
Business as usual, right? Wrong.
"I was a little naive to just throw the video up on social and put my phone away for practice," Knight joked. "I thought I could skate on by... I don't know what I was thinking."
Well, the engagement announcement quickly went viral and is up to nearly 100K likes, eliciting responses from fellow Olympians like Madison Chock, Elana Meyers Taylor and Ilona Maher. The video also made its way to Knight's teammates, who found out with the rest of the world. “She didn’t tell us,” added Megan Keller, who scored the game-winner in overtime to win the gold.
They immediately jumped into celebration mode and greeted Knight at practice to the tune of Bruno Mars’ “Marry You.” Her team's love and support is exactly why Knight opted to propose before the big game on Thursday.
Barcelona defender tells-all on Hansi Flick meeting
Barcelona are in one of their most difficult moments of the season, and head coach Hansi Flick is very aware of it. On Thursday, he called a meeting with his players to discuss where things have gone wrong, following back-to-back defeats against Atletico Madrid and Girona.
Eric Garcia, who started both matches, has now spoken to Tot Costa (via MD) on what was discussed during the hour-long discussion between Flick and the Barcelona players.
“We wanted to talk about what has happened (in the last week). The way we lost the first and then the second goal (vs Girona), everything is magnified. The Copa semi-final was very significant, and in Girona we lost the lead after taking the lead.
“It has been a positive meeting and we have all left happy. Since he arrived, we have had this style of play with the defensive line high. In La Liga we have conceded 23 or 24 goals and it is not a barbarity but in the Champions League they have been games with many goals. We know that with the style we have, the opponents know us. The key is that the other players make it easier for the defenders. We’ve been having a lot of turnovers lately that are killing us. In Girona, if instead of it happening 15 times, they do it six or seven… We’re human, but it’s about regaining control of the ball to find balance.”
Image via David Ramos/Getty Images
Eric: Barcelona can come back in La Liga and Copa del Rey
Despite the poor results in the last week, which have put Barcelona on the back foot in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, Eric is of the belief that he and his teammates can turn things around.
“In La Liga we have been in worse situations. When we left the Bernabeu we were five points behind, but the league is very long and we depend on ourselves. In the Copa, I think it is possible to come back against Atlético. If we have shown anything, it is that we can achieve any result. If we score a quick goal, even if they close themselves in at the back, we can create danger for them.”