OKEMOS - 2015 was one to remember for the Okemos hockey team, regardless of where their journey ended.

The chiefs won nearly 20 straight games, and finished the regular season with a 22-2 record, cruising past Eastside to snag the outright CAAC title. The finished the season with a 25-4 record, and never lost in the regular season in the year of 2015, with their only loss coming in the state quarterfinals.

The eight Okemos seniors on the team pushed through to regionals after celebrating senior night in front of friends and families.

"Starting out as freshman, it's special to those kids and it feels like those four years have goes by so fast," said coach Bill Sipola. "Four of the seniors that started for us were four year seniors."

With experience and motivation that any game may be their last, the seniors pushed forward into the regional finals. After their clinching win over Eastside the Chiefs notched wins over Chelsea and Lumen Christi, Okemos claimed their regional championship with a 5-2 win over Pinckney. A hat trick by Jake Faustyn led the Chiefs to their first regional final in 15 years.

The next challenge for the Chiefs was the state quarterfinals against Riverview. With a 3-0 lead after the first period, the Chiefs fell apart and gave up two goals in the second and two in the third. They played defenseive hockey and paid the price, as Okemos was knocked out of competition with a 4-3 loss.

But the seniors and all the players don't leave without accolades The men have the distinction of hoisting the CAAC trophy for the Chiefs, and earned a trip to States for the first time since 2000.