Sticks, gloves and helmets went flying Saturday as jubilant Orono players celebrated their first Class 1A state championship.
In December, a thrown water bottle in the locker room told a different story.
A late change brought Will Scholz over from the junior varsity just before the start of the season. Former varsity coach Mark Parrish, a NHL veteran, took a broadcasting job with the New York Islanders.
The difference was akin to a tap on the shoulder pads versus a swift kick in the breezers.
"I'm always loud, whether we're up 6-0 or down 4-0," said Scholz, whose rasp worsened as his team's state tournament run deepened.
Scholz inherited a team eager to expand on youth-level success. Orono's seniors won a Bantam A state championship and sought to add some high school hardware.
"Everyone just had that thought that, 'Hey, once we get to high school we could have a shot at winning the state tournament,' " senior goalie Evan Babekuhl said.
By mid-December, the Spartans rose to No. 1 in the Let's Play Hockey coaches poll. They dropped three of four games to close the month, however, and Scholz had had enough.
