Grosse Pointes

Time to see how the chips fall

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

Grosse Pointe North, South hockey in same pre-regional, University Liggett looks to continue winning ways

GROSSE POINTE — He was speaking about his team and the journey it would soon embark on in the state playoffs, but Scott Lock could have been the voice of any coach of any team prior to the start of any postseason.

“Would we like a cakewalk to the state finals and have a shot to play for the title? Sure, who wouldn’t?” the Grosse Pointe North hockey coach said with a laughed. “The reality is, come playoff time, nothing is easy, nor should it be. This is the time of the year where teams get to prove themselves.”

Truth time for North, and the rest of high school hockey, begins March 1 when the puck officially drops on the 2010 tournament and 175 teams across three divisions set their sights on one very specific goal.

Luck of the draw

There are many who consider the Division 2 regional No. 16 as one of the toughest in the state. Top-ranked Warren De La Salle will host the pre-regional; the other side of the bracket includes No. 4 Birmingham Brother Rice.

Grosse Pointe South and first-year coach James Bufalino will get the first chance to toss a wrench at the early predictions when South takes on De La Salle at 5:15 p.m. March 1 at Great Lakes Sports City in Fraser.

“To be totally honest, we’re looking forward to this,” Bufalino said. “Our boys have played their best on the road all season long. We expect a big crowd, and one that’ll be rooting against us. We have to build and feed off that.”

South saw De La Salle once this season, a 4-3 loss Jan. 6 at home. When asked about that game and the prospects of the second meeting, Bufalino beamed with confidence.

“They were ranked No. 2 at the time, and we lost by one goal in a game where we made three critical mistakes,” he said.

South, 9-10-1 at press time, has been playing much better in the second half of the season. Bafalino said if there is any advantage his guys can take heading into the playoff opener, it’s the fact all pressure will be on the Pilots.

“Everyone has talked about De La Salle being the team to beat all season, and with good reason,” he said. “They’re a team that is senior-loaded and very experienced. They have four steady lines and they’re going to play well, but they are expected to win. We can come into the game, really, with nothing to lose and play relaxed. If we do that, we’re going to have shot.”

A different view

In each of the past three seasons, North has found itself as one of the final four teams in the Division 1 playoffs. Those same expectations follow the Norsemen into this year’s D-2 tournament. The Norsemen, 10-11 overall at press time, will be put to the test when they face Warren Mott 7:30 p.m. March 1 at Great Lakes.

The winner will face the De La Salle-South winner at 7:15 p.m. March 3.

“If I knew very much about Mott, I’d love to share it,” Lock said of his first-round foe. “The truth is, we haven’t seen them play at all. We’ve looked at their stats and some of the teams they’ve played, but beyond that, it’s a mystery for both teams.”

North will certainly be playoff ready when the do-or-die format begins.

To end the regular season, the Norsemen faced De La Salle, Cranbrook (No. 1 in D-3) and Brother Rice. They’ll square off against Catholic Central (No. 1 in D-1) at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at Compuware Arena.

“With the schedule we play, you can’t help but be playoff ready,” Lock said. “But our goals and expectations never change. We believe we’re an elite program, and this is the time of year you go out and prove that.”

Time to keep rolling

Looking back at what’s already happened this season, Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett coach Robb McIntyre couldn’t be happier.

Looking forward, he couldn’t be more hopeful.

“We’re in a pre-regional where I think we could beat anybody we play,” said McIntyre, whose team was 20-0-1 at press time. The Knights begin the D-3 playoffs at 6 p.m. March 2 against Marysville High at McMorran Place in Port Huron.

The winner will face the Madison Heights Lamphere-St. Clair High winner March 4.

“We’ve got a top line as good as anyone’s and depth throughout the lineup,” McIntyre added. “We have to play our game and be good at it. If we do, we’ll put together a pretty good run here.”

Should the Knights win their pre-regional, they’ll most likely see the two-time defending champs Cranbrook in the regional final.

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