Celebrating more than 40 years HOCKEYAPRIL 5, 2017 Vol. 43, WEEK Issue 14 $2.00 LY U.S. WOMEN SCORE BIG WIN OFF ICE - P. 3 www.hockeyweekly.com HIGHHIGH SCHOOLSCHOOL HOCKEYHOCKEY ROYALTYROYALTY Two Miss Hockeys bracket the 2017 Mr. Hockey at the Hockey Weekly High School All-State Awards Luncheon March 19. The three top High School players as chosen by the coaches are, left to right, Katie Hayward of Ladywood, Jake Crespi of Brighton and Julia Barrett of Walled Lake. At far left is guest speaker Dave Moss, former High School, college and NHL player who announced the awards. See stories and more photos on Pages 3 and 12-14. Hockey Weekly photo by Rena Laverty Hockey Weekly photo by John Castine ACharging Kensington Valley player the makes net a move on a Little Caesars goalie during GoldenMark Wells of the 1980 touch “Miracle on Ice” gold-medal winners at the Lake action at the Little Caesars Michigan Girls Hockey League championships March Placid Olympics, shows a group of young players a photo of himself from that 17-19. Thirteen division winners were crowned. You’ll find photos of eight of legendary team. Wells, a St. Clair Shores native, appeared on opening day of them on the Back Page; the rest will appear in the April 19 issue. the Amateur Athletic Union North American Championships in Fraser March Hockey Weekly Action Photo by Jacek Zdziarski 24-26 to encourage the teams and share some golden stories. See more on Pages 5-6. SHOWDOWNSHOWDOWN ININ MOTOWNMOTOWN –– PAGE PAGE 1919 PAGE 2 HOCKEY WEEKLY APRIL 5, 2017 APRIL 5, 2017 HOCKEY WEEKLY PAGE 3 HS season ends with Mr. Hockey, 2 Miss Hockey awards Barrett, Brighton’s Hayward Crespi led take top team to girls honors state crown By Alexis Bohlinger By Alexis Bohlinger Hockey Weekly Staff Writer Hockey Weekly Staff Writer Julia Barrett, a junior from Jake Crespi of Brighton High Walled Lake Northern, and School is Michigan High School Katie Hayward, a senior from Hockey’s Mr. Hockey for 2017. Ladywood High School, have Just one week before receiving both been named Miss Hockey the award at the 15th annual 2017 for the Michigan Metro Hockey Weekly High School All- Girls High School Hockey State Luncheon, the senior cap- League in the second-ever tie in tain helped lead his team to a league history. state championship against “It was a huge surprise to Detroit Catholic Central. Crespi win,” said Barrett. “I didn’t scored the empty-net goal for a 5- even know I was nominated 2 lead with 68 seconds remain- until I was called up there.” ing. Once the moment sank in, The game capped off an she felt very excited to be impressive season for Crespi, named Miss Hockey. “This was who had 30 goals and 29 assists the best season in Walled Lake for 59 points in 31 games. history,” she said. “We beat When asked how he felt about teams we have never beaten in his name being called above the the past. I am super proud to other Dream Team members at have been a part of it.” the luncheon, he replied, “It felt Walled Lake finished fourth amazing to win. It’s such a huge overall in the league and made honor to get that kind of recogni- it to the semifinal game of the tion from the rest of the coaches Division 1 state championship, in the league.” where it lost to Ladywood. Crespi began playing hockey Barrett was a strong force on after living in Europe for five defense but also an offensive years with his family. “When we threat. She scored 29 goals, and moved back to Michigan, my dad earned 18 assists for a total of put me in football and I played 47 league points. one year,” he said. Hayward, who had just min- Although Crespi was a natural utes before won the Zetterberg Hockey Weekly photos by Rena Laverty and picked up football quickly, scholarship, excitedly took her Michigan’s top High School players for 2016-17 show off their hardware. From left are Miss Hockey Katie Hayward he did not seem too enthused place next to Barrett. of Ladywood, Mr. Hockey Jake Crespi of Brighton and Miss Hockey Julia Barrett of Walled Lake. about the sport. It wasn’t until he “I feel really honored and attended a skating birthday party grateful to be named Miss that he fell in love with the idea of being a Hockey,” she said. “There were a lot of really Barrett thanks her parents, Gary and the Blazers, and she certainly did not take the hockey player. good girls in the league, most of whom I’ve Kristen, for all they have done to support her moment for granted. “I had never skated before, and the first played against for three or four years. Any one and also her coaches, Erik Carlson, Tim “I’m so proud of my team for making it all time I got out there I could immediately skate of them deserved it.” Hawley, and Jane Eustice. “My coaches have the way to the finals,” she said. “Nine of us really fast,” he said, “It was way faster than Hayward helped her team secure a spot in always been huge supporters of mine since started together as freshmen and became real- running. I thought that was cool. the state championship game with an impres- day one. They have made me a better player.” ly close throughout our four years. “I came home and told my parents I wanted sive season of 21 wins and just two overtime Hayward, like many other younger sisters, “We were a really close team. If you can to play hockey.” losses. Hayward earned 27 goals and 14 wanted to be just like her big brother, Richie, support each other off the ice, you can sup- Crespi spent his first year in House hockey assists for a total of 41 of her team’s points. and play hockey. port each other on the ice.” acclimating himself to the game. The follow- Barrett started playing hockey about eight In sixth grade she began participating in the In addition to the team camaraderie, ing year he tried out for Compuware on a years ago when her cousin gave her some Ladywood summer hockey programs and Hayward attributed much of her success this whim and made the team. He spent two years hand-me-down hockey gear. started her career with the 10U Livonia season to her coaches, teammates and family. with Compuware and the next four with Belle “My dad said, ‘No, you cannot play hock- Knights. She knew then she wanted to be a “Thanks to my coaches for supporting me Tire. ey,’ so obviously when someone tells me I member of the Ladywood Blazers high the past few years and being incredible men- After six years of Tier 1 hockey, however, can’t do something it makes me want to do it school team. tors,” she said. “Thanks to my teammates for Crespi came to a crossroads in his career. He even more,” she said. “I love everything about hockey,” she said, always being there for me, and thanks to my felt as though he was losing passion for the Barrett played a few years of Girls Tier 1 “When I started playing, I would have to get parents, Rich and Debbie, for all the sacri- game he loved. When it came time for him to hockey, but juggling the rigorous schedule up at 6 a.m. for initiation in the Livonia fices they make for my hockey career.” decide between Midget Majors and High with elite softball became very difficult. league, and I was always so excited to go. I Hayward is a two -sport athlete, also partic- School hockey, he chose the path of playing “I decided to play hockey for my high think that feeling stuck with me. ipating on the high school tennis team. for his school. school and I have loved it so far,” she said. “Every day I was so excited to go to the Throughout her busy high school career she “In high school hockey, you get to play “I’ve made so many friends and it’s been a rink, even if I knew we were getting bag skat- maintained a 3.85 GPA. Hayward plans to with your friends and have more fun,” he great experience.” ed,” she said with a laugh. attend Adrian College next year to major in said. “When you’re losing touch with some- Although only a junior, Barrett already is This was Hayward’s first opportunity to athletic training and play hockey for the See MR. HOCKEY, Page 18 hoping to play hockey after high school. participate in a state championship game with ACHA team. ByUSA Lou Issel Hockey, Women’stiations lasting team more than a year. celebrate accordsince 1990. The team over has also won medalswages in every Olympics Hockey Weekly Special Writer The players wanted an improvement to what they saw as a since 1998, when it won gold. USA Hockey and the National Women’s Team have paucity of financial, training, public exposure to grow the The tournament runs through April 7 with the best women reached an agreement on wages, expenses and training and game and other support in comparison to boy’s and men’s players from national teams of the USA, Canada, Russia, growth support for the team that promises a bright future for programs. Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Germany women’s hockey in the U.S.