Detroit

Shamrocks take the Classic

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

Cranbrook and Catholic Central hockey teams make history

Catholic Central scores three in the final period to upend Cranbrook 5-2

DETROIT — Two of the top hockey teams in the state met for the 75th time in their storied history Jan. 17, only this time around there was eye black, winter hats and even a little wind involved.

Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood and Novi Detroit Catholic Central made history on a Sunday afternoon, playing in the first Outdoor Classic from Clark Park in downtown Detroit. The Shamrocks are now perfect in outdoor games, picking up a 5-2 victory.

“I told the guys after the second period that we had one more chance to do something special,” Catholic Central coach Todd Johnson said. “This was a game they were going to watch the rest of their lives, so I challenged them. I asked them how they want to remember it.”

The Shamrocks certainly listened, scoring three times in the final frame after allowing Cranbrook to come back from a 2-0 deficit in the second period.

“I was happy with how we responded,” said Johnson, whose team is now 13-0 and currently ranked No. 1 in Division 1. “This was a great win.”


“Win or lose, this was a great day,” Cranbrook coach Andy Weidenbach said of the Classic, which drew a crowd of nearly 2,000. “We wanted to come out of here with a win, but this was great. They just played a little better than us today.”

Catholic Central led 2-0 midway through the game after goals by senior Ian Jacobs and junior Austin Hervey. Cranbrook (10-3 and No. 1 in D-3) bounced back, though, tying the game at 2-2 on goals by junior Tyler Waterman and a power-play tally by sophomore Cameron Heath.

Catholic Central sophomore Jim Peplinski scored the winner four minutes into the third. Freshman Charlie Green and senior Eric Winkler (empty net) added insurance goals.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1038.