The Gibraltar Carlson ice hockey team (blue) plays strong in the second half in a 7-4 win over rival Brownstown-Woodhaven during a summer league game at Southgate Civic Center on June 26, 2024. (Samantha Elliott — Courtesy of MediaNews Group)
SOUTHGATE – Local ice hockey will have a number of new faces on the coaching staff next season, but there will be a familiar face leading the Gibraltar Carlson program.
The new head coach is Andy Watson, but he was an assistant with the Marauders under former head coach Trent Begemann for the past four years and knows a thing or two about the team.
Carlson said goodbye to 10 seniors from last season, so the team must fill the gaps, but Watson said the team has done just that so far this summer.
“We have some young guys who are really growing and rising to the challenge and taking charge,” he said. “It's summer and we have a lot to work on, but we're looking forward to getting on the ice this fall and getting things moving.”
Photo Gallery: Ice Hockey – Summer League, Southgate Arena, 06.26
Carlson and three other area hockey clubs continued their summer adventure with two more games Wednesday night at Southgate Civic Center.
The opening game featured two teams that struggled throughout the 2023-24 season, with Watson's Marauders playing a hard-fought game against longtime rival Brownstown-Woodhaven.
Unlike a typical winter game, summer games feature halftimes instead of periods, and each match lasts 22 minutes instead of the usual three 17-minute stanzas.
The Marauders exploded in the second half to defeat the Warriors, 7-4, after leading 2-1 at halftime. It's only June, but Watson is thrilled with his team's performance so far.
“I like the way some of our returning players are playing and some of our new guys have been pleasant surprises,” he said. “We're still figuring out what to work on heading into the fall, but we've seen a lot of good things and are excited to get started.”
“We're trying to play some better teams and challenge our guys,” Watson added. “I think our guys are up to it this year.”
The second game saw Allen Park and Grosse Ile take to the ice in a battle between two of the top teams in the area this winter.
The night's match featured penalty kicks from both teams, with the Islanders coming out victorious 4-3.
Allen Park, meanwhile, is coming off a 15-win season and is saying goodbye to nine graduating seniors and head coach Andrew Graves, but like Carlson, the Jaguars will have some familiar faces on their coaching staff.
New to the staff is Sean Nicklaus, a Riverview Gabriel Richard alumnus, who served as an assistant under head coach Ricky DeSana at the school.
Nicklaus will assume the same role under new Allen Park head coach Kyle Kirkpatrick, who is in his second stint with the Jaguars, having led them to the state semifinals in 2008.
“We have a lot of great talent and we're looking forward to a great year,” Nicklaus said. “Now is the time to give our young guys some playing time and we had a lot of young guys out there tonight.”
“We have some guys out,” Nicklaus added, “but we're hopeful that when we get everyone together in the fall we'll have two great lines and maybe a third great line.”
Nicklas said that although he also comes from a strong local program, his focus is all on Allen Park and he's not trying to emulate Richard.
“We're not going to Allen Park to bring GR to Allen Park,” he said. “We're going to Allen Park to be Allen Park. That's our primary purpose.”
“We're still learning our identity,” Nicklaus added. “It's a different group, it's a learning process, and I hope they're enjoying it as much as I am.”
All four teams that took to the field on Wednesday have completed their play for the week. Teams will now enter the annual dead period and Fourth of July holiday before resuming play the week of Monday, July 8.
Monday, July 8
7:00p l Grosse Ile vs Dearborn Divine Child
8:30p l New Boston United vs. Carlson
Tuesday, July 9
7:00p l Woodhaven vs Riverview Cabrini United
8:30p l Allen Park vs Gabriel Richard
Wednesday, July 10
7:00p l Riverview Cabrini vs New Boston United
8:30p l Woodhaven vs Gros Isle
Thursday, July 11
7:00p l Gabriel Richard vs Karlsson
8:30p l Divine Child vs Allen Park
