Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Grosse Pointes

Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood girls hockey wins state title

By Mark Vest
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Andrew Potter Cranbrook coach Terry Brooks is pictured with one of his players during a semifinal game against Grosse Pointe North. After winning that game, the Cranes went on to beat Grosse Pointe South to capture a state title. Photo by Andrew Potter Cranbrook coach Terry Brooks is pictured with one of his players during a semifinal game against Grosse Pointe North. After winning that game, the Cranes went on to beat Grosse Pointe South to capture a state title.

LIVONIA — The girls hockey team from Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood captured a Division 1 state title, and did so in dramatic fashion with a 3-2 overtime victory against Grosse Pointe South March 9.

It was Cranbrook's Hana DeClerck who had the game-winning goal with 5:40 remaining in overtime.

The Cranes had a 2-1 lead late in the third period until South's Meghan Polack scored with 3:47 remaining. According to Cranbrook's Tara Chelios, despite the late game-tying goal, she still had confidence her team would leave the ice as state champs.

"We felt confident," she. "We wanted it. We didn't let up until we got it."

Cranbrook's Keiko DeClerck got the scoring started with a goal 3:19 into the first period. Later in the period, South's Tenley Shield scored to even the score at one.

 Keiko DeClerck was also responsible for Crabrook's second goal of the game, which came early in the second period.

The state title game was the third game of the season between Cranbrook and South, with the teams splitting their first two meetings.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mark Vest at mvest@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1112. Follow Mark on Twitter.