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ST. CLAIR SHORES — The National Hockey League's Original Six style of physical play has evolved in many areas of hockey. In a sport that now emphasizes finesse and the speed with which a skater shoots, it's a breath of fresh air to see a team embrace the tough, gritty side of the game.
You probably have some idea in your head of what a team that embodies this philosophy might look like, but you probably didn't imagine it to be a group of 8-10 year old girls. There probably wasn't.
For the St. Clair Shores (SCS) 10U Saints Whites, assistant coach and SCS girls hockey director Brian Carithers said the team's physical play was effective, but comical in itself.
“It (the physicality) is not common. As coaches, we laugh at it,” Carithers said. “It's easier to get them involved than to let them feel because they have a bit of a passive nature. These girls, when you throw the puck to the corner, they're there like bulldogs trying to win a puck battle. It's fun and easier to coach than having more shy girls who are afraid of going into a corner, breaking a nail, or getting hurt. These girls are relentless.”
Carrithers credited his lack of fear and desire for aggression on the ice to his older brothers, who also grew up in the Saints hockey organization.
Carrithers said the team has 16 girls, more than half of whom have older brothers who currently play hockey, and the young skaters are coming into their own.
“I think these younger brothers came together and took out years of frustration from their older brothers bullying their female opponents,” Carithers said.
A pee-wee version of the 1970s Philadelphia Flyers, who cruised through the regular season with a 21-3 record, played at the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association from March 8-10 at Patterson Ice Arena in Grand Rapids. Participated in a tournament.
There, the Saints went up 5-0 and defeated the Detroit Bulldogs 3-1, giving the Saints their second consecutive state championship after winning the 8U division title last year.
Before facing the Bulldogs, the Saints had a tough game against Fox Motors in Grand Rapids, which went to three overtimes and two penalty shootouts before Mia Baratta scored the winning goal.
The Saints have retained the majority of their 8U squad for this season and are looking to bring together key players for another run at the championship.
“At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if we do it again next year,” Carithers said.
Girls hockey as a whole in the Macomb County area has seen growth over the past few years, particularly in St. Clair Shores, where the SCS Unified High School Girls Hockey team competed in its inaugural season this year.
On March 16, the Women's Professional Hockey League was held at Little Caesars Arena, with Boston and Ottawa competing in front of a national record 13,736 spectators for women's professional hockey.
The SCS Saints watched both teams play live, and Carithers said it was an exciting moment for the young hockey players.
“Most of our officials went to that game, and they (PWHL) did a really good job,” Carithers said. “The quality of hockey was good. It was really exciting for the younger girls to see the older girls perform at their highest level.”
The Saints will raise the pennant at St. Clair Shores Civic Ice Arena at the start of the 2024-2025 fall season.
Introducing the U10 Saints
SCS Saints 10U Roster: Melena Reynolds, Daisy Eichhorst, Ellie Carithers, Mia Hunter, Harper Abell, Avery Gray, Emma Gersh, Olivia Gersh, Adalynn Gersh, Peyton Gersh, Abby Kosiala, Eva Gasweiler, Bianca Colonese, Emerson Giuliano, Liv Grisenia, Mia Baratta, Rhiannon Cassel.
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