Two of the most storied high school hockey programs in Michigan faced off in the 2010 Outdoor Classic Sunday, Jan. 17, at Detroit’s Clark Park in commemoration of the 75th year of competition between the schools.

   Defending Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 Champion Novi Detroit Catholic Central beat defending Division 3 champion Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 5-2 in front of a sell-out crown in the first high school hockey game held outdoors in decades.

 

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   Both teams donned throwback jerseys for the event. Cranbrook wore replica jerseys from the 1930s. Catholic Central sported replica jerseys from the 1960s.

   Even the coaches and referees got into the throwback moment. Catholic Central coaches donned varsity jackets and Cranbrook coaches wore suits, ties, overcoats, and snazzy fedoras. The referees skated in old school sweaters and ties.

   The Shamrocks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second period on goals from senior Ian Jacobs and junior Austin Hervey. But Cranbrook stormed back to tie the game at 2-2 as junior Tyler Waterman and sophomore Cameron Heath found the back of the net later in the second.

   The third period was all Catholic Central. Junior Ryan Keller netted the game-winner with 12:28 left in the game. Freshman Charlie Green and senior Eric Winkler added goals.

  “It was a once in a lifetime chance, you don’t get to do this often,” Keller told the Oakland Press. “It was some rough conditions later on in the game, but it was a great experience.”

   Senior Zack Cisek got the win in goal for the Shamrocks, holding Cranbrook scoreless in two of the three periods.

   Both teams had to deal with cold temperatures and difficult skating on the outdoor ice.

   “Your players are so much more tired and shorter in their shifts with these conditions,” Catholic Central head coach Todd Johnson told the Oakland Press. I’m not sure we adjusted to the conditions any better than Cranbrook did, but we’re just fortunate that we’re able to play four lines and keep players fresh.”

   The win was the 27th straight for Catholic Central as they improve to 13-0 on the season. The Shamrocks ended the 2009-10 season with 14 consecutive wins, including a 7-0 pounding of Howell in the D1 state final. Cranbrook moves to 10-3-0 on the season. The Shamrocks were coming off a 6-1 win over Cranbrook the night before at Compuware Arena.

   Detroit Catholic Central and Cranbrook have been competing against each other in the sport of hockey since 1935. And it has been an incredible rivalry that has been played out in rinks all across Metro Detroit - from the hallowed outdoor facility at Cranbrook, the Wallace Ice Arena, Olympia Stadium, Riverside Arena (Ont.), Redford Ice Arena, and to the Compuware Arena, and many rinks in between.

   Cranbrook won the very first exhibition game between the two teams by a 11-1 score 75 years ago. The teams played their first regular season game in 1937, with Cranbrook coming out on top, 4-2. The game was regularly held outdoors, but according to Cranbrook archives, poor ice conditions prohibited the teams from squaring off on a regular basis until the 1940s.

    The two teams, both currently ranked at No. 1 in their divisions, have earned a combined 23 MHSAA state boys hockey championships.

   In addition to the varsity game, the schools’ junior varsity teams also played and two separate groups of alumni battled in front of the packed crowd.

   The event went off nearly flawlessly thanks to the incredible planning and efforts of countless volunteers from Cranbrook and Catholic Central.

"All the pieces came together well," Cranbrook coach Andy Weidenbach told the Detroit News. "We gave high school hockey some exposure, and none of the kids got hurt."

Photos: StudentandAthlete.com

Novi Detroit Catholic Central sophomore Jimmy Peplinski (10) and senior Eric Fragoso (8) race down the ice against Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood Sunday. Photo gallery

Novi Detroit Catholic Central seniors Eric Winkler, Nick Crowley and Zack Cisek pose with the Great American Rivalry Series trophy presented after the game.