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: 2022 Ice Hockey Semifinals
March 11, 2022
PLYMOUTH – Saturday’s MHSAA Hockey Finals are set after a six-game series of Semifinals on Thursday and Friday that featured two overtime games and one team’s advancement to championship day for the first time.
All three Finals are Saturday at Plymouth’s USA Hockey Arena:
Division 2 – 11 a.m. – Hartland vs. Trenton
Division 3 – 3 p.m. – Orchard Lake St. Mary’s vs. Midland Dow
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.
Brighton's Jack Sexsmith (2) celebrates with teammates after he broke up a scoreless tie early in the second period Friday over Grandville, as Brighton went on to score three more times in the period on the way to winning the Division 1 Semifinal, 4-1.
Brighton goalie Levi Pennala prepares to glove a shot on goal from Grandville, one of 18 saves he made in the 4-1 win.
Detroit Catholic Central's Nolan Galda celebrates his goal during the second period of the Shamrocks’ 6-0 win over Midland in a Division 1 Semifinals on Friday.
DCC's Ryan Wantuck is stopped by Midland goalie Aiden O'Malley.
Ashton Trombley (16) scores the winning goal for Hartland just 14 seconds into overtime as the Eagles defeated Marquette, 3-2, in a Division 2 Semifinal on Thursday.
Hartland goalie Kameron Ragon stops a Marquette shot late in the third period to keep the score 2-2.
Trenton goalie Noah Miklos makes a glove save during the third period of his team’s 4-2 Division 2 Semifinal win over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice.
Trenton peppered Brother Rice goalie Tommy O'Donnell with 32 shots, including this one that he had to stop with his face mask.
Orchard Lake St. Mary's defenseman Dylan Magdich fires the game-winning shot at the Warren De La Sale Collegiate net at 5:41 of the third overtime of a 2-1 Division 3 Semifinal win Friday.
Eagles teammate Caden Berninger celebrates as the puck reaches the net for the deciding goal.
Midland Dow's assistant captain Billy VanSumeren is all smiles after his second goal gave his team a third-period 4-2 lead Friday that withstood a Calumet last-minute comeback attempt. The 4-3 win put Dow into Saturday’s Division 3 Final against Orchard Lake St. Mary's, which will be its first appearance in a championship game.
A lot of bodies went flying in the Calumet/Dow Semifinal, including Nolan Sanders of Dow who took a hard landing after his short stint in air out front of the crease of Calumet goalie Aksel Loukus.
TOP PHOTO Trenton's Hayden Oboza celebrates his goal in the third period Thursday that proved the game winner against Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice in a Division 2 Semifinal. Oboza would then add an insurance goal into an empty net after the Warriors pulled their goalie in their effort to tie the game during the last minute.