04/08/2001

IRVING – Billy Cotton could have put the kibosh on this request real quick.

His son, B.J., wanted to become a goalkeeper. Not a soccer goalkeeper. A hockey one. Few parents in Southlake would let their eighth-grader get out on a sheet of ice covered in padding and face flying frozen pieces of rubber.

Billy Cotton would have rather seen his son handle frozen dinners.

The Cottons were a football family, not a hockey one. Billy had a football background. B.J.'s older brother, Toby, was an offensive lineman and helped the Dragons win two state football championships (1992-93).

But here was B.J., asking his father for a chance to be a hockey goalie. Reluctantly, Billy agreed.

"When he started asking me for about $2,000 for goalie equipment, I began to wonder if it was the right decision," he said.

Was it ever.

There's no telling where the Carroll hockey program would be without B.J. Cotton's services the past four years. The senior has helped the Dragons turn their fledgling program into a state tournament contender. He also helped the program notch its first Southwestern Bell High School Hockey League championship with a 2-1 victory against Plano East on Thursday.

In the process, Cotton has become one of the best goalies in area high school hockey. He's arguably the best.

During the regular season, Cotton posted eight shutouts and never allowed an opponent to score more than two goals. Richland came close. One of the Rebels' goals in their 3-1 win against the Dragons was scored in an empty net.

Little else has gotten past Cotton this season. In 17 games during the regular season, he allowed 14 goals on 244 shots (.943 save percentage). Cotton stopped 15 of 16 shots in the league championship game.

He has been a member of the varsity hockey team the past four years. Cotton remembers each year by remembering the different coach he had for each one. He also remembers how Carroll established a disturbing playoff trend: one-and-done.

That kind of inconsistency would make some want to quit. Not Cotton, though.

The feeling of finally winning a league title was worth the hard work, frustrations and everything else associated with the past four years, he said.

"I've played varsity all four years, been through four different coaches, and I've seen everything this program has done so far," Cotton said. "I never thought about walking away, because I've always thought it was great to play for your school and in front of your classmates.

"This is the city championship, and it's what every high school player wants to play in. When we get down to Austin, it may be a different story. But right now, this is the biggest game that everybody here wanted to play in and win."

Carroll had to rely on somebody. No Dragon was ranked in the top 20 in scoring.

Three players were suspended during the stretch drive of the regular season. But there was Cotton, rock-solid and ready to lead the way, Carroll coach Laddy Tresl said.

"B.J.'s a senior, and it's finally paid off for him," Tresl said. "This [championship] is the biggest reward he could have gotten. It's like he's a kid under the tree waiting for a great Christmas present. He finally got one."

Now, Cotton is ready for the future. He plans on trying out for the Texas Tornado, the Junior A hockey team in North Richland Hills, or play hockey at a small college.

Even though Cotton and his fellow senior teammates are set to go their separate ways, the annals of the Carroll hockey program will never forget Cotton's contributions. Some, like forward Brian Jacobowski, may say that Cotton put Dragon hockey on the map forever.

"B.J. was probably the biggest reason that we got here," Jacobowski said. "He's played so well, and it's hard to lose with a goalie like that."

And to think he could have been an offensive lineman.

Brian Davis can be reached at 214-977-8101 or at brdavis@dallasnews.com.