Little Caesars is the 2016 AAA Girls 16U champion.By Michael Nestlehut

Hockey Weekly Special Writer

A trio of three-point performances led Little Caesars’ 16U Girls to a 8-1 victory over Honey Baked at the AAA Michigan Amateur Hockey Association Girls State Championship at the Taylor Sportsplex March 6.

Grace Middleton had two goals and one assist. Carlie Magier and Taylor Whitney each added a goal and two assists for Little Caesars, which advance to next month’s Nationals. Grace Markey also scored a goal and had an assist.

“The goal is always to win the State Tournament but this year’s goal was to do better in the National Championship,” Little Caesars coach Paul Goleniak said.

The Little Caesars line of Middleton, Whitney and Markey’s tape-to-tape passing pinned HoneyBaked in its own zone early, causing HoneyBaked’s defense to run around chasing the puck.

Little Caesars struck first with 11:32 left in the first period when Magier dug the puck out of the corner and patiently waited for Abby Latorella to walk into the slot, where she fed a pass Latorella top shelved. Little Caesars added three more goals within a minute and a half around the seven minute mark to push their lead to 4-0. First, while on a power play, Whitney tipped in a Middleton pass with 7:43 left in the first. Then Haley Hodge’s point shot found the back of the net through a screen. Magier finished the scoring flurry poking home a rebound alone in front for a power play goal. The shot totals after one period was slanted 17-4 in Little Caesars favor.

“The girls seemed different coming to the rink today. We had a day off yesterday and the rest seemed to help,” Goleniak said. “We didn’t want to play another game (which would of happened if they lost).”

Little Caesars added two more goals within the first five minutes of the second adding to its lead. Middleton scored coming in off the wing, moving left to right before sliding the puck five-hole past HoneyBaked goalie Lauren Rippy, who replaced starting goalie Julie Maguire to start the second, with 15:16 left in the middle period. A minute later, Magier’s pass out of the corner found Megan Roe sneaking in from the slot and she went top shelf, making it 6-0.

Little Caesars’ defense core of Kayla Goleniak, Emily Curlett and Morgan Hatcher made sure Hone Baked did not spend time in their zone. HoneyBaked’s best chance came when Savannah Veri had her point blank shot knocked away by Lambert, leaving Veri visibly frustrated.

Little Caesars scored a power play goal at 7:50 when Grace Markey popped Whitney’s initial shot over the fallen Rippy. Lambert’s shutout was spoiled on a rare Little Caesars defensive breakdown. Lena Carabelli, followed her own shot to the net and slid the puck under Lambert to put HoneyBaked on the board with 4:41 left. However, two minutes later Little Caesars’ Middleton scored her second of the day poking in a rebound from the side of the net to push their lead to the final 8-1.

“We have played them (HoneyBaked) a lot and almost all the games were close, within a goal or two. Today we got at them early and we did a better job defensively. Our forwards came back at made it a lot easier (for Lambert). She knew they would be coming hard and tough at her and she battled through it,” Goleniak said. “It was our best game of the weekend.”

Members of the AAA Girls 16U Little Caesars team are: Kayla Goleniak, Natalia Asimakis, Hannah Bates, Megan Roe, Grace Middleton, Taylor Whitney, Emily Curlett, Grace Markey, Anna Fairman, Carlie Magier, Morgan Hatcher, Haley Hodge, Genna Wais, Ripley Crosley, Emily Lambert and Abby Latorella.