St. Clair Shores’ Ancona named Miss Hockey

The 2023-24 Miss Hockey award in Michigan fell in the hands of somebody who always dreamt of being named its winner.

Sofie Ancona, who has been skating since she first enrolled in the St. Clair Shores Learn to Skate program at was three years old, was given the honor this season by the Michigan Girl High School Hockey League this season.

“My coach called me and told me that I won,” Ancona said. “It had been an end goal for me for a while now and knowing that I won it was a literal dream come true. I have worked so hard to be where I am today and to be able to be recognized for my achievements will always feel incredible.”

The award is given annually to the top female hockey player in Michigan. It recognizes the athlete who best encompasses the qualities of leadership, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Ancona had that and more: She scored 48 goals with 25 assists in just 25 games this season with University Liggett in Grosse Pointe Woods.

Before that, she would play up an age group on the SCS boys team, which she first joined when she was five. She eventually moved onto the SCS Saints girls team. She played a year of AAA for Little Caesars, where she won a state championship. She eventually stepped back to play Tier 2 with the Saints, which afforded her time to play soccer, too.

With Liggett, she won back-toback state titles, one of which she won MVP for.

Before she put up Gretzky-esque numbers, it was uncertain if she would even play this season. Ancona tore her ACL and MCL just two games into her junior year’s spring season while playing soccer — a setback she had already faced once before, having torn an ACL once already in eighth grade while playing basketball.

But the injuries never stopped her. Ancona ended her hockey career as a two-year captain with an all-state first team selection and honorable mention, a league top scorer achievement and two all-catholic selections. Ancona won three state championships with Liggett.

Of course, she added her most prestigious award yet with the

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED — LEON HALIP St. Clair Shores resident Sofie Ancona, who plays for University Liggett, has been named the state’s Miss Hockey for 2023-24.