Columbus -- It always helps to have things bounce your way, so why not make your own bounces?

Shaker Heights made the most of those funny puck antics to bring home the state hockey championship on Saturday night with a 3-1 victory against defending state champion Sylvania Northview in front of 2,348 at Nationwide Arena.

Not that the Red Raiders (28-7) had to rely only on good fortune to win their first state title since 2001, and fourth overall. But it sure helped.

"It's special," said veteran Shaker Heights coach Mike Bartley, who was coach for the program's first title in 1981. "Number one, it's about the kids, the seniors, having the opportunity to come here. We knew we could be competitive, and we've been close in years past."

•See a photo gallery from the state title game

This one was close, but the Raiders came up with the tightrope plays that decide championships.

Senior Connor Siwik was involved in the two pivotal scoring plays that secured the win, and both times he had to deal with that pesky little disk that doesn't always slide.

With the game tied, 1-1, in the first period, Siwik worked his way past two Northview defenders by controlling the puck after bouncing it off the near boards, somehow gathering it in each time, and then passing it, left to right, to senior scoring ace John Longman.

Longman notched his team-leading 42nd goal by getting Northview junior goaltender David Marsh to go left in the crease, then put the puck into the right corner for the 2-1 lead the Raiders never relinquished.

"I had the determination to move my feet and get past those two guys," said Siwik, who also plays baseball. "Longman finished it. We've actually practiced it."

The game stayed that way into the third period, with Shaker Heights denied on two power-play opportunities in the second period.

The Raiders got a huge break when the Wildcats (27-7-1) were whistled for two penalties only nine seconds apart in the final period. It nearly went to waste, but once again it was Siwik coming through.

Off a scramble in front, Siwik redirected the puck into the net with 9:13 to play after shots by senior Jacob Shick and junior Max Yauch. However, the goal was waved off for a high stick by Siwik, which did not appear to be the case.

"I was motioning to review the play," said Bartley. "From my point, it was a good goal. The stick was not above the cross bar."

The refs went to the video review of the play and quickly ruled it a goal, the Shaker Heights partisans erupting as they sensed this was their night.

However, there was one more crisis to get through as two Shaker players picked up penalties 40 seconds apart. Senior goaltender Eric Sterin, and the penalty-killing crew of sophomore Nathan Christman, Shick, Yauch, and of course, Siwik, denied every shot during Northview's final blitz of the net with three minutes to play.

"We've got kids crying, yelling and I can't stop smiling," said Sterin, holding the championship trophy after stopping 25 shots. "I just tried to keep my composure. It was definitely about being hot at the end of the season. A hot goaltender can keep you in the game."

Shaker Heights scored three minutes into the game as senior defenseman Jonathan Greenberg controlled a loose puck at the Northview blue line and skated in to beat Marsh to his stick side with a drive from 20 feet.

The Wildcats needed a minute to tie it up. They took advantage during a power play as senior Nick LaPlante sent home a slap shot from just inside the blue line.

SportsTime Ohio will replay telecast Sunday at 4 p.m.