Knights field a lot of firepower
By Bob St. John on November 19, 2020
https://www.grossepointenews.com/articles/knights-field-a-lot-of-firepower/

Last year’s run to a state title ended premature for the University Liggett School girls hockey team under then first-year head coach Gregory Paddison.

University Liggett School head coach Greg Paddison, second from left, is in his second year at the helm. Photo by Renee Landuyt

This year, the Knights return 16 players from last year’s team that finished with a 21-6-0 record and ranked No. 3 in the state.

The seniors this season are Kendall Zinn, Gabby Anubigian and Reese Martin; and the juniors are Logan Merriweather Maddy McKee, Natalia Dragovic, Ally Doppke and Elese Kogel, who coach Paddison said was one of the most improved players last season.

The Knights’ sophomores are Isabel Standish, Emmalyn Stahl, Christa Serventi, Gabby Noble, Ally Metry, Lindsay Kien, Giuliana Lutfy and Izzy Fruehauf.

Newcomers to the team are juniors Tori Roth and Ava Jacob, as well as sophomore Morgan Hamilton and freshmen Sofie Ancona, A.C. Doppke, Sully Estes, Bella Metry, Brooklyn Peshl, Elle Quinlan, and Allie Roth.

“The expectations for the Knights are exceptionally high heading into this season,” Paddison said. “Many of our girls were left with a sour taste after last season’s heartbreaking playoff loss to rival, Grosse Pointe South, which gave the Knights all the motivation they needed during the off-season. With increased depth at every position, the goals the team had set for the 2019-20 season are now expectations for the 2020-21 Knights.

“The team will feature no shortage of offensive fire-power as our top forward line from 2019-20, Doppke, Dragovic and Anusbigian, is going to be challenged by last-season’s breakout star freshman, Giuliana Lutfy, and newcomers, Hamilton, Jacob, Ancona, A.C. Doppke, Elle Quinlan, and Tori Roth, all of whom are hungry for ice-time on the front end.

Defensively, the Knights return all of their top four defensemen from last year, Zinn, McKee, Fruehauf and Standish, while Zinn and McKee are expected to carry the heavy minutes.

Sophomores Standish and Fruehauf have proven themselves as very capable blueliners and coupled with the addition of two very talented freshmen, Estes and Ally Roth, the Knights will have the luxury of rolling three lines on both side of the puck, capable of competing with any opponent in the state.

In net, the Knights have a tall task, replacing Evie Bournais, who was All-State.

However, incoming freshman, Brooklyn Peshl, according to Paddison, has done nothing short of wow her teammates and coaches in early season practices, with excellent positioning, reflexes, and rebound control.

They play Mercy, Cranbrook-Kingswood, Ann Arbor Pioneer, Grosse Pointe South, Livonia United, Grosse Pointe North, Brighton-Howell-Hartland, St. Catherine, Livingston United, Troy United, Sacred Heart and Regina.

The season is on a three-week COVID-19 enduced hiatus, and will return soon.