Hockey

Published February 18, 2016

St. Mary’s and other local teams set to embark on hockey and hoops playoffs

ORCHARD LAKE — Compared to recent years and recent opening-round draws, a first glance at the 2016 playoffs would suggest a relatively easy path for the Orchard Lake St. Mary’s hockey team.

Coach Brian Klanow would suggest otherwise.

“You never know. I mean, the playoffs can be a crazy time,” Klanow said last week. “We faced a struggling Birmingham team a few years ago and had to go to double overtime and outshoot them by 50 or so before we won. You just never know.”

Published February 17, 2016

Farmington Press

Farmington hockey teams to square off for final time as season winds down

FARMINGTON HILLS — Bill Newton called this the type of game that players remember for a lifetime.

Maybe not so much who won or what the final score was, but facing off against a city rival and guys you’ve played against, or with, your entire life.

For the second and final time this winter, the Farmington High and Farmington Hills United hockey teams will drop the puck and add another chapter to their rivalry.

Published February 10, 2016

Grosse Pointe Times

Liggett’s four-year seniors aiming for second MMGHSHL title

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — The seniors on Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett’s girls hockey team have quite the résumé.

In their freshman year, they made it to the final four in the Michigan Metro Girls High School Hockey League playoffs. Sophomore year, they won the MMGHSHL Division I title. Junior year, they played in the championship game.

Liggett’s seniors are proud of what they’ve accomplished so far, but would like to go out with a bang. They want to bring home another MMGHSHL title.

Published February 9, 2016

Macomb Township Chronicle

L’Anse Creuse North hockey on a roll

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — To this point in the season, the Macomb L’Anse Creuse North hockey team has been dominant.

The Crusaders at press time had a mark of 19-1-0 overall, 5-0-0 in the Macomb Area Conference Blue Division. The team’s lone blemish came in a 5-2 loss to Canton High on Jan. 31.

Published February 8, 2016

Woodward Talk

Berkley hockey team takes advantage of first trip to MIHL Showcase

TRENTON — Making his way through the throngs of congratulatory fans was one mission.

The next was shaking hands with a half-dozen scouts representing junior teams.

“And this is exactly how it’s supposed to be,” Berkley Unified hockey coach Jeff Fleming said Feb. 5 from the Kennedy Ice Arena. “This is why you come here. There’s nothing else like this.”

As Fleming spoke, those scouts were introduced to, or got reacquainted with, a number of Berkley players.

Published February 5, 2016

Woodward Talk

Berkley Unified hockey team finishes 2-0 at MIHL Showcase; beats GR Christian 2-1 Friday afternoon

TRENTON — Jeff Fleming had never taken a team to the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League Prep Showcase before.

The Berkley Unified coach and his guys certainly made the most of their first trip, though, following up last night’s 9-1 victory against Toledo St. John’s with a 2-1 win this afternoon against Grand Rapids Christian at the Kennedy Ice Arena thanks to Ryan Austin’s goal with just 50 seconds remaining in regulation.

Published February 1, 2016

Grosse Pointe Times

Grosse Pointe University Liggett girls hockey shuts out Ann Arbor Skyron

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Monday was time for the new wave of talent of Grosse Pointe University Liggett's girls hockey team to shine.

The "newbies," as the Knights call their younger players, showed up, playing a major role in a 5-0 win against Ann Arbor Skyron.

Published February 1, 2016

Birmingham - Bloomfield Eagle

Schmidt Jr. says his team can play with anyone when on its A-game

BIRMINGHAM — There’s optimism, frustration and an encouraging outlook all tied together here.

There’s a team, when at its best, that can play with anyone in the state.

There’s also a team, when less than its best, that’s blown a 3-0 lead and a 2-0 lead in separate losses this year.

Published January 26, 2016

Grosse Pointe Times

Challenging schedule could help GP South boys hockey prepare for postseason

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — At press time, the boys hockey team from Grosse Pointe South owned an overall record of 12-3-1 and sat atop the standings of the Metro League East.

As good as that may look from the outside, it is going to take more than a solid regular-season start to truly impress head coach Bobby McKillop.

Published January 26, 2016

Birmingham - Bloomfield Eagle

Next couple of weeks key for Cranbrook girls hockey team

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — To this point, all has gone according to plan.

Some big games, some key wins, and a team coming together.

But the plan now, as Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood girls hockey coach Terry Brooks put it, “is to have our best team on the ice in the next week or so. We’re getting into the meat of our schedule, and we have to be at our best.”

The Cranes were 7-4-1 at press time and currently in third place of the Michigan Metro Girls High School Hockey League.

Published January 25, 2016

Shelby - Utica News

Former Shelby Township resident, Connor, is now part of the University of Michigan hockey roster

It has been quite an eventful period in the life of former Shelby Township resident Kyle Connor, as aside from being in his freshman season with the University of Michigan hockey team, he was also selected 17th in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Winnipeg Jets.

While Connor — who moved to Youngstown, Ohio, after ninth grade — is going to have to wait for his opportunity to play in the NHL as he continues to develop his game, he does get to play for the school he grew up rooting for.

Published January 22, 2016

Royal Oak Review

Shrine Unified falls to Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard in Catholic League hockey contest

ROYAL OAK—This season hasn't been a smooth ride for Shrine Unified, but its looking to improve.

On Jan. 22, the Knights fell 6-1 to Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard. Shrine's defense and goaltending was impressive, but it struggled to match the speed and intensity of Gabriel Richard's offense.

"They're the best team in the Catholic League," said Shrine Coach Eric Button. "We didn't get mercied, that's a plus. The boys played well in the third (period), that's a huge plus."

Published January 22, 2016

Royal Oak Review

Shrine Unified hockey to face off against Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard

Shrine Unified and Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard will face off at 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at Royal Oak's John Lindell Ice Arena. The Knights fell to the Fighting Irish by a score of 9-3 in the last meeting between the two teams on Jan. 3.

Shrine has a record of 3-8-3 overall and 2-2-2 against Catholic League opponents. Gabriel Richard is a perfect 5-0 in league play, with a 9-3-1 overall record and a perfect 5-0 league record

Published January 22, 2016

West Bloomfield Beacon

Smith’s scoring prowess helping power WLC hockey team

WALLED LAKE — There was an adjustment period needed, both from the player’s standpoint and from the team’s perspective.

It wasn’t something that was going to occur overnight, but Walled Lake Central hockey coach Gary Quitiquit knew if he could figure out exactly how to tinker, the results could be dynamite.

Well, bombs away.

Published January 22, 2016

C&G Newspapers

MIHL Prep Showcase set to launch Feb. 4

METRO DETROIT — An event that began as a 12-team get-together has grown from one year to the next and is now one of the most anticipated high school hockey events on the calendar, short of the state playoffs.

And on Feb. 4, for the 16th year in a row, the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League Prep Showcase will drop the puck at the Kennedy Recreation Center in Trenton.

Published January 20, 2016

Troy Times

Troy United hockey team to learn about itself these next few weeks

TROY — Whether it was lopsided or came down to the final moments, the result was the same.

The first 10 games of the winter season came and went for the Troy United hockey team, and all 10 ended with the Colts exchanging congratulations following another win in the books.

But 10-0-0 became 10-3-0.

And now, as coach Tim Zimmerman put it, the real test of what his team is made of is about to unfold.

Published January 14, 2016

C&G Newspapers

Charity hockey game to feature matchup between Stahls', Red Wings alumni

A team of employees and executives from Sterling Heights-based Stahls’ will take on a squad of former Detroit Red Wings in a game that will benefit the Clark Park Coalition at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at Detroit’s Clark Park, and they’re taking the game seriously.

“We don’t want to get embarrassed,” said Paul Sabatini, sports marketing coordinator for Stahls’. The Stahls’ team features 17 players, all of whom have extensive experience on the ice.

Published January 12, 2016

Grosse Pointe Times

New league affiliation could help Liggett hockey prepare for postseason play

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — After having previously competed independent of a league affiliation, Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett’s hockey program is in the midst of its first season in the Metro League.

Aside from the opportunity it provides to compete for league championships, head coach Mike Hamilton discussed other ways in which the move could benefit the Knights’ program.

Published January 12, 2016

Farmington Press

Linemates Petras and Marjoros share scoring lead in OAA Red

FARMINGTON HILLS — They have speed, power shots and a nose for the offensive zone.

But more than anything, Jason Petras and Joe Marjoros have a knack to score — and score plenty.

“They’ve been nothing short of outstanding,” Farmington High hockey coach Bill Newton said of his top two offensive standouts. “They play on our top line, log a ton of ice time and do everything we’ve expected out of them.”

Published January 7, 2016

C&G Newspapers

After lengthy layoff, Cranbrook and St. Mary’s get hockey schedule going

ORCHARD LAKE/BLOOMFIELD HILLS — There’s really no way to avoid it, and every winter when the holiday season launches, the game action for most hockey teams shifts into low gear.

That’s all about to change, though, as two of the stronger teams in the state prep for their second meeting of the 2015-16 season when Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood travels to take on Orchard Lake St. Mary’s at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16.

And it’s a meeting that both teams welcome.