Chippewa Valley United ‘on fire’ as regional approaches
Chippewa Valley United is playing well at a perfect time — with the state hockey playoffs at hand.
“The kids are just on fire right now,” coach Jim Andonoff said after his team won its ninth game in a row with a 5-2 victory over Lake Orion at the MAC/OAA Showcase on Saturday.
“They’re working really hard,” Andonoff continued. “Practices have been good.”
The victory over Lake Orion capped an impressive 48 hours for the team composed of players from Dakota and Chippewa Valley.
CVU defeated L’Anse Creuse Unified 8-0 on Friday to win a share of the Macomb Area Conference Red Division championship.
Andonoff said he sensed something special during practices that led up to the L’Anse Creuse game.
“They knew the end of the season was coming,” he said. “It’s been non-stop; they’ve been focused, and they’ve wanted to keep winning.”
Evan Johnston had three goals and two assists and Anthony Paperi had a goal and three assists against Lake Orion at Mount Clemens Ice Arena.
Josh Sosnowski made 32 saves as Chippewa Valley United elevated its record to 19-6-0.
“I thought everybody had a fantastic game,” Andonoff said. “Everybody did their jobs.”
Sosnowski echoed his coach. “We’ve really been playing great these last couple of games,” he said. “Everybody’s been producing. First line, second line — everybody’s jumpin.’”
CVU will learn Wednesday night who it’ll face to open Division 1 regional play.
L’Anse Creuse Unified skates against Port Huron at 7:30 at Mount Clemens Ice Arena, and the winner plays Andonoff’s team at 5 p.m. Saturday in the first half of a doubleheader. Anchor Bay plays MAC White champion Utica-Ford Unified at 7:30.
In a regional hosted by Romeo at Suburban Ice Macomb, Stoney Creek plays Romeo at 6 and Oxford plays Rochester United at 8:30 Wednesday night.
On Friday, Lake Orion plays the Romeo/Stoney Creek winner and MAC Red co-champion Eisenhower plays the Oxford/Rochester United winner.
St. Clair Shores Unified was the first Macomb County team to play in the tournament. The Lakers met Grosse Pointe North on Tuesday night in the Division 2 regional hosted by De La Salle Collegiate at Mount Clemens.
In a Thursday doubleheader, Grosse Pointe South plays the Shores/North winner and De La Salle takes on Port Huron Northern.
Division 1
AT MOUNT CLEMENS ICE ARENA
• WEDNESDAY, FEB. 22: L’Anse Creuse Unified vs. Port Huron, 7:30
• SATURDAY, FEB. 25: Chippewa Valley United vs. L’Anse Creuse Unified/Port Huron, 5; Anchor Bay vs. Utica-Ford Unified, 7:30
• WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1: Championship, 7:30
At Suburban Ice Macomb
• WEDNESDAY, FEB. 22: Romeo vs. Stoney Creek, 6; Oxford vs. Rochester United, 8:30
• FRIDAY, FEB. 24: Lake Orion vs. Romeo/Stoney Creek, 6:30; Eisenhower vs. Rochester United/ Oxford, 9
• WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1: Championship, 6
Division 2
AT MOUNT CLEMENS ICE ARENA
• TUESDAY, FEB. 21: St. Clair Shores Unified vs. Grosse Pointe North, 7:15
• THURSDAY, FEB. 23: Grosse Pointe South vs. St. Clair Shores/ Grosse Pointe North, 5; De La Salle Collegiate vs. Port Huron Northern, 7:30
• WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1: Championship, 3:30