Effort and Attitude: How the Ann Arbor Cougars Became the Best Team in the State

Twenty and “0”. The Ann Arbor 16U Cougars, a team made up of almost entirely 1999 birth year players, have built up quite the reputation for themselves with this number. As the only undefeated team in the Little Caesar’s Amateur Hockey League’s Under 16 division, a reputation is expected by players and coaches alike.

What makes this team any different from the other five teams in the league? Their mentality.

“Our biggest opponent is us,” says head coach Brian Gibson, who has coached this team of girls for the past eight years.

When asked what the key element to their success was for this season, his response was not their skating ability, their goaltender’s impressive goals against average, but their attitude and effort.

There definitely is not a lack of effort when it comes to training both on and off the ice. Each practice begins off the ice with warm ups forty-five minutes beforehand.

“Off- ice training helps with chemistry, physical conditioning, injury prevention, focus, etc. It’s critical,” says Coach Gibson.

Practices are ran with high intensity, you play the way you practice, is another one of the phrases that these girls are constantly reminded of. Each drill mirrors a game situation or focuses on fine-tuning the basic skills of skating, shooting, and stickhandling. There is always room for improvement, no matter the skill level of the player.

It’s not just on the athletic skills of the girls that Coach Gibson and his assistant coaches think about. The team begins every season by setting goals. Three personal goals, one of which is academic, the other long term, and the third hockey related, and two team goals.

“Setting goals is good,” says Coach Gibson, “It makes you think about the future and it makes you accountable to the team and each other when everyone see the goals. Goals without accountability or measurement are worthless.” And held accountable they certainly are. Not only do the girls share their goals with the rest of the team, but each coach is “in charge” of encouraging three or four of the girls to keep trying to attain their goals.

The goal for the majority of the girls? Win the 16 and Under State Championship title. The team made it all the way to the championship game last season, falling in overtime in a 1-0 game.

“We have the talent to make it to states, not sure if we will be hungry enough, [but] I like our chances,” says Coach Gibson.

Before reaching their ultimate goal of the State Championship game, the team played in the first round of the Little Caesar’s Michigan Girls Hockey League (LCMGHL) 16U/19U Tier 2 division, where they went 5-3-2 against the top 16U and 19U Tier 2 teams in the state.

The State Championship began with a sweep of round robin play, scoring 25 goals in three games against St. Clair Shores, Grand Rapids, and Kensington Valley and not allowing a single goal in all three games. They faced Grand Rapids once again for the semi-finals, shutting them down 6-0 to advance to the State Championship game against league rival Livonia.

The first period remained scoreless as both goaltenders turned away every shot they faced. The Cougars soon had their first lead of the game in the second period, but Livonia tied the game with only a few minutes remaining in the second period. The game did not stay tied for long, two unanswered goals proved to be all the Cougars needed as the final horn sounded and the players poured onto the ice to celebrate.

The next step, USA Hockey Girls Tier II National Championships. The Cougars made it all the way to the National Quarterfinals, falling to the NE Falcons in overtime. The Cougars became the only Ann Arbor girls team to make play in the National Tournament this season and finished as the fifth best team in the nation.

These girls are well rounded athletes, the majority of them play other sports as well. They have the attitude, the tenacity, the skills to make it not only to the top of the podium, but to the next level.