 last year the Grand Rapids boys hockey team made it to their first state tournament in nine years. Now after a third place finish a year ago the Thunder Hawks are headed back to state with an even bigger goal. After a 27 and one season and a thrilling 3-2 double overtime victory in the section championship the Grand Rapids boys hockey team is heading back to state. I think if you went 20 times it would be just as exciting every time so a great group of guys really looking forward to it can't wait to get down there. Everyone thought it was fantastic last year it's just the greatest event you know of everyone's lives here so it's gonna be fun going back experience and that again. But a three game losing streak right before section tournament time. Those three games is just like a wart that everybody asks about. Had many worried the Thunder Hawks wouldn't make it. It was just one of those stretches where it wasn't good for us but I actually like instances like that because you you get to see what the kids are made of. But with their backs against the wall the team righted their ship just in the nick of time. It was definitely you know if we don't play good now the season can be over and I don't think anyone wanted that to happen so we really rally the troops and started playing good hockey like we know we could. And now with 12 players returning from last year's third place team the Thunder Hawks are looking to take care of some unfinished business and capture their first state title since 1980. They want to win. Playing in simple I mean you know we may lose two games and be home Friday night but this team wants to win three games and that's their goal it's been that all year long and I have no reason to doubt these guys so we'll see what happens. I have a lot of confidence in this group. I've known these guys for my whole life you know we've done a lot of special things in the past and you know now it's time for us to do something right here right now. I know we're all thinking that that we can do it so we just got to go on and grind and we know that we can take out any team in the state right now. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland news please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.