Grosse Pointe News

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South and Knights play thriller to end tournamentFree Access


Liggett celebrated Ian Gudenau’s game-winning goal against the Blue Devils. Photo by Barbara Johns

It was a weekend packed with hockey action at McCann Ice Arena as the University Liggett Knights boys hockey team hosted a tournament with three other schools, including Grosse Pointe North and Grosse Pointe South. With the M-1 United Griffins from Royal Oak and Berkeley getting in on the action too, it was the Knights who emerged victorious at the end of their own tournament Saturday night.

The weekend’s games in the boys tournament began Friday night. First up on the slate was a rivalry showdown between the Norsemen and the Blue Devils. The first matchup between the two teams in November was a one-sided affair, with South winning 5-0. This weekend’s rematch was not much different.

South found the scoreboard early and often in what ended up being a blowout win. Sam Adams was first to light the lamp just over a minute into the game to put the Blue Devils up right out of the gate. Jack O’Keefe found the back of the net later in the period to make it 2-0 in favor of South after the opening 17 minutes.

O’Keefe added another to start the second period and extend the Blue Devils’ lead to three goals. Liam Mathieson scored to stretch the advantage even more for South. After two periods, the scoreboard read 5-0.

Jake Spitz and Anderson Tigges each scored in the third period to seal the commanding win for the Blue Devils. For the second time this season, South shutout North, winning this time 7-0.

Friday’s second game saw the host team University Liggett taking on the M-1 United Griffins. The Knights were able to jump out to an early advantage and use it to help fight off a potential Griffins comeback as Liggett went on to a 6-3 victory.

Stephen Wheatley put the Knights on the board first with the opening goal of the game just over 10 minutes into the first period. Doug Wood added another for Liggett before time ran out in the first 17 minutes to make it 2-0.

In the second period, Ethan Schlenker found the back of the net early to put the Knights up by three. The Griffins were able to finally crack the scoreboard after that, making it a 3-1 game.

M-1’s first goal did not seem to rattle the Knights one bit. Wheatley scored again to put Liggett back in front by three and then added another before the end of the period to complete his hat-trick and make it 5-1 Knights.

The Griffins struck twice within the first five minutes of the third and final period to make things interesting. Liggett’s defense was able to hold strong after that and an empty-net goal by Ryan King late in the game wrapped up the win for the Knights.

M-1 United went on to defeat North 8-2 in the third-place game Saturday. After that, the table was set for the exciting final matchup of the weekend’s tournament between South and Liggett.

South got an early power-play, but it was the Knights who ended up taking advantage of the best opportunity. Liggett captain Doug Wood blocked a shot at the blue line and ended up with a clear breakaway down the ice. The senior put the puck into the top shelf for a shorthanded goal to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.

Wood’s goal ended up standing as the only one of the opening period. However, it took just under five minutes in the second frame for South to pull back to even. Sophomore Hayden Crane received a golden opportunity with a rebound in front of the net and took full advantage to put the Blue Devils on the board and tie the game 1-1.

The teams continued battling back and forth as they went through the rest of the second period without another goal. The score remained tied 1-1 well throughout the third as it looked as though the weekend finally might be decided in overtime.

A couple of days filled with great hockey deserved an exciting finish and that is exactly what happened. With just one second left in regulation, Liggett’s Ian Gudenau launched a back-handed shot on goal and the crowd erupted as it found the back of the net to give the Knights a 2-1 victory.

South is back in action after the holiday break Jan. 6, hosting Catholic Central. The Knights return to the ice that same day as they hit the road to face Riverview Gabriel Richard. North returns from its break Jan. 7, with a road game against U of D Jesuit.