Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Woods

South, Liggett duplicate last year’s success in regionals

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Sean Work South’s Max Corden, left, and Andrew Wright are pictured with the D-2 regional title trophy. South and Liggett each moved on to the quarters, playing those games after press time. Photo by Sean Work South’s Max Corden, left, and Andrew Wright are pictured with the D-2 regional title trophy. South and Liggett each moved on to the quarters, playing those games after press time.

A new year brought the same old results for a pair of local hockey teams.

And that’s just fine by them.

Grosse Pointe South and Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett both claimed regional titles last weekend, advancing in their respective divisions.

The teams played quarterfinal games after press time.

“It’s great. You have to enjoy it,” South coach Bob McKillop said a day after his squad beat Rochester Hills Stoney Creek 5-2 in a Division 2 regional final. “They worked so hard to get here, and they deserved it. The state title is the ultimate goal, but this was something they earned. This was a step along the way.”

South faced Port Huron Northern in a March 5 quarterfinal.

The D-2 semifinal is set for 5 p.m. March 7 at Compuware Sports Arena, with the final to take place at 10 a.m. March 9.

“The thing you have to enjoy about high school hockey is having the chance to play these games and be ready for this run,” McKillop added. “There’s nothing better than a playoff run. We’re happy with this so far, but hope there’s more.”

South had a bye in the pre-regional, and then beat Warren De La Salle 3-2 in overtime in the semifinal.

In the D-3 tournament, Liggett kept its title hopes alive with an impressive regional round.

The Knights — the 2012 state champ — beat Country Day 7-4 in a March 2 regional final after beating Bishop Foley 13-0 in a semifinal.

Liggett faced Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood in the quarters.

The D-3 semifinal is set for 12 p.m. March 8, with the final at 2 p.m. March 9.

In D-2, Grosse Pointe North fell to the University of Detroit Jesuit 5-2 in a regional semifinal two days after beating St. Clair Shores Unified 8-0 in an opener.

The Norsemen end a successful season as the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League South Division champs.

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