Two Grosse Pointe-area girls hockey programs are preparing for the 2026-27 Michigan Girls High School Hockey League (MGHSHL) season, with regular-season games permitted beginning Monday, Nov. 2.
Grosse Pointe South, a combined program drawing players from Grosse Pointe North and Grosse Pointe South high schools, returns after reaching the Division 1 state championship game in March. The United, a partnership of University Liggett, Regina and Lutheran North, will compete in Division 2.
Both programs are part of a 21-team varsity field across three divisions, according to the league's Oct. 26 season announcement.
Grosse Pointe South returns after championship run
Grosse Pointe South enters the new season after three consecutive appearances in the Division 1 state championship game.
The program won back-to-back state titles in 2024 and 2025 before finishing runner-up to Traverse City in March 2026.
The league's 2026 championship recap confirms Traverse City claimed the Division 1 title, with Grosse Pointe South finishing second.
South will again compete in Division 1 alongside Traverse City Bay Reps, South Lyon, Jenison, Mid Michigan Alliance and Flint United.
The United will compete in the league's 10-team Division 2. Its opponents include Livonia United, Bloomfield-Birmingham, Cranbrook, Northville and Walled Lake.
League adds teams and partnerships
The MGHSHL is expanding for 2026-27, with 21 varsity teams, two junior varsity programs and two affiliate teams.
Jenison from West Michigan and South Lyon join as new full members. Copper Country from the Upper Peninsula and Gladwin United are joining as affiliate programs.
Four combined programs will compete this season:
- Grosse Pointe South: Grosse Pointe North and Grosse Pointe South
- The United: University Liggett, Regina and Lutheran North
- Mercy United: Mercy and St. Catherine's
- St. Mary's Unified: St. Mary's and Southfield Christian
The league said the partnerships allow neighboring schools to combine players and maintain competitive programs.
Cross-divisional play is another feature of the new season. Teams will face opponents outside their own divisions, creating additional regular-season matchups.
Division 1 has six teams, Division 2 has 10 and Division 3 has five.
The league also lists junior varsity programs at Ann Arbor Pioneer and Ann Arbor Skyline-Huron.
For Grosse Pointe-area hockey fans, the new season brings two local programs competing in different divisions. South will try to return to the Division 1 championship game, while The United begins its season in Division 2.
The league permits regular-season games beginning Nov. 2. Specific opening-week matchups for Grosse Pointe South and The United were not established in the reviewed announcement.
Schedules and results are available on the MGHSHL website.
