Division 3: Knights in Champions' armor
March 10, 2012
PLYMOUTH – Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett played sharper hockey at times this season on its way to beating six of the top 10 teams in Division 3.
But the Knights did everything necessary this weekend to finish No. 1 at Compuware Arena.
They needed 17 minutes to get on the scoreboard Saturday. But junior James Counsman scored twice during the second period and junior Jacob Soyka added one more goal in the third as University Liggett downed No. 4 Houghton 3-0 to win its first MHSAA title since 1990.
“I had visions of trotting out my show ponies and having them be perfect. Coming out like the Globetrotters. But I think we made things hard on ourselves and were a little tight at times,” University Liggett coach Robb McIntyre said. “But I think that in turn is what shows we’ve got an extremely deep team that works really very hard. We found different ways to win all year long.”
Knights freshman goaltender Lucas Soyka notched the 23rd shutout in MHSAA Finals history, stopping all 17 Houghton shots. Total, University Liggett (27-3) outscored its six playoff opponents by a combined score of 41-5.
Houghton’s appearance this weekend was its third trip to at least the Semifinals in the last 11 seasons – and first to a championship game since 1995. The Gremlins finished this winter 24-5.
“This will be big for our team,” Houghton coach Corey Markham said. “The underclassmen got a taste of how special this is to make this run, and they’ll be hungry to try to get back. It’s a real nice stepping stone for our team, something for us to build on.”
Click for the Division 3 Final box score.
PHOTO courtesy of Hockey Weekly. University Liggett's Jacob Soyka (21) sends his third-period goal past Houghton goaltender Tony Peltier.
Story in Photos: 2023 Ice Hockey Semifinals
March 10, 2023
PLYMOUTH – This season’s MHSAA Hockey Finals will include a Division 1 rematch of last season’s deciding game, a Division 2 rematch of the 2021 finale and a Division 3 championship game guaranteed to produce a first-time title winner.
All three Finals are Saturday at Plymouth’s USA Hockey Arena:
Division 2 – 11 a.m. – Byron Center vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
Division 3 – 3 p.m. – Flint Powers Catholic vs. East Grand Rapids
Division 1 – 7 p.m. – Detroit Catholic Central vs. Brighton
Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured plenty of action from the Semifinals – all photos and text below are by John Castine. Click for more as they are posted.
Evan Wohlart (8), who later scored the game winner in Brighton’s 4-3 triple-overtime win in Division 1 on Friday, has a shot blocked by Hartland goalie Colin Babcock.
Detroit Catholic Central gets a breakaway goal from John Rocco despite being shorthanded two players on the way to a 2-0 Division 1 win Friday over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central.
DCC goalie Kyle Moore makes a save during his shutout performance.
Byron Center goalie Carson MacKenzie turns away a shot during the second period against U-D Jesuit on Thursday.
Byron Center players celebrate their 8-4 Division 2 Semifinal win over the Cubs.
Brother Rice’s Luke Sacca scores during the first minute of the third period of his team’s 11-3 win over Saginaw Heritage in Division 2.
Jack Cassidy (21) and teammate Peter Rosa celebrate Cassidy’s game-ending goal Thursday.
East Grand Rapids' Charlie Hoekstra (16) fires the game-winning overtime goal with 1:11 left to play in the first extra period to give his team a 2-1 win over Houghton.
EGR players rush to the glass in front of their fans Friday to celebrate the comeback win.
Mason Czarnecki scores Flint Powers Catholic’s fifth goal of a 6-0 win Friday over Riverview Gabriel Richard in Division 3.
Chargers goalie Nicholas Kurtiak makes one of 25 saves in his shutout performance.
TOP PHOTO Brighton’s Charlie Burchfield nearly flies over the goal after getting stopped during the third period of his team’s win over Hartland.