Finals Preview: The Puck Starts Here
March 6, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Two things are sure to occur at this weekend's MHSAA Ice Hockey Finals.
At least one Division 2 finalist will play in a title game for the first time. And no matter which wins Saturday, that team will take leave Plymouth's Compuware Arena with its first MHSAA Finals championship trophy.
None of this weekend's Division 2 Semifinalists have won the biggest prize, adding another layer of intrigue to a tournament that traditionally draws contenders from all corners of the state.
Divisions 1 and 3, meanwhile, feature two of the most successful programs in MHSAA history. Although both missed Finals weekend in 2012, Detroit Catholic Central is back in Division 1 going for its 11th title, and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood is back in Division 3 going for its 16th championship.
The pairings are as follows:
Division 2 Semifinals - Thursday
Port Huron Northern (15-13-1) vs. Hartland (18-8-2), 5 p.m.
Saginaw Heritage (24-5) vs. Livonia Stevenson (21-7-1), 7:30 p.m.
Division 3 Semifinals - Friday
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood (26-2-1) vs. Riverview (20-7-1), noon
Sault Ste. Marie (21-8) vs. Flint Powers Catholic (22-5-1), 2:30 p.m.
Division 1 Semifinals - Friday
East Kentwood (15-12-2) vs. Detroit Catholic Central (21-7), 6 p.m.
Brighton (26-2-1) vs. Detroit U-D Jesuit (19-8-2), 8:30 p.m.
FINALS - Saturday
Division 2 – 10 a.m.
Division 3 – 2 p.m.
Division 1 – 6 p.m.
All Semifinals and Finals will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv, with live audio available on MHSAANetwork.com. The Finals also will appear later this month on Comcast channel 900. Division 1 will be broadcast at noon March 18, 9:30 p.m. March 19 and 10:30 a.m. March 20; Division 2 at 8 a.m. March 16 and 6 p.m. March 17, and Divsion 3 at 3 p.m. March 16, 9 a.m. March 17, 7 p.m. March 19 and 8 a.m. March 20.
Click for a full schedule of this weekend's games plus full results as they come in. Players statistics below are through the Regional round and were submitted by participating schools. And check back on Second Half this Saturday night for coverage from all three Finals.
Division 1
BRIGHTON
Record/rank: 26-2-1, No. 3
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recently 2012).
Coach: Paul Moggach, 18th season (328-112-37)
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association (Central and overall)
Best wins: 5-1 over No. 5 Plymouth, 4-3 over Division 3 No. 2 Houghton,4-1 over Division 3 No. 3 Calumet, 6-0 over Division 3 No. 5 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 6-2 and 8-1 over Division 2 No. 8 Novi, 5-3 over Division 2 No. 6 Livonia Churchill, 6-1 over Division 2 No. 9 Hartland, 4-2 over Division 3 No. 8 Farmington.
Players to watch: Michael Yuhasz, senior right wing (34 goals, 26 assists); Danny Bosio, junior left wing (26 goals, 27 assists); Jimmy Milletics, sophomore goaltender (1.60 GAA, 0.91 save %, eight shutouts).
Outlook: Brighton rode a sturdy defense to last season’s championship, and is strong stopping the puck again with Milletics providing quite an obstacle in net. The Bulldogs had given up one or no goals in eight straight games before allowing three to Bay City Central in the Quarterfinal. This team can score too, with seven who have netted at least 10 goals this season and 13 with at least 10 assists. Another result that could become important depending on how Friday shakes out – Brighton closed the regular season with an 8-0 win over East Kentwood, a Semifinalist on the other side of the bracket.
DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 21-7, No. 1
Championship history: 10 MHSAA titles (most recently 2010), three runner-up finishes.
Coach: Todd Johnson, 13th season (277-58-23)
League finish: Second in Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League North
Best wins: 5-0 and 3-0 over No. 6 Grosse Pointe North, 6-1 and 3-1 over No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 2-1 over No. 7 Detroit U-D Jesuit, 3-1 and 3-1 (Regional) over No. 2 Birmingham Brother Rice, 5-1 over No. 5 Plymouth (Quarterfinal), 4-1 and 5-1 over Division 2 No. 5 Port Huron Northern, 8-0 and 5-1 over Division 2 No. 3 Trenton, 5-2 over Division 2 No. 6 Livonia Churchill, 4-2 over Division 3 No. 1 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood, 6-0 over Division 3 No. 7 Dearborn Divine Child, 8-0 over Division 3 No. 5 University Liggett.
Players to watch: Michael Babcock, senior center (14 goals, 22 assists); Carson Gatt, junior defenseman (three goals, 17 assists), Charlie Green, senior right wing (16 goals, 18 assists).
Outlook: It’s fair to say DCC played the state’s toughest schedule this winter. On top of the 16 wins over ranked opponents, the Shamrocks’ losses came twice to Cranbrook-Kingswood, once to Brother Rice, once to Division 2 No. 1 Livonia Stevenson, twice to Indiana power Culver Academy and once to Canada’s Hill Academy. Babcock and Green made the all-state first team and Gatt made the second team in 2012.
DETROIT U-D JESUIT
Record/rank: 19-8-2, No. 7
Championship history: Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Coach: Rick Bennetts, 18th season (215-217-32)
League finish: Second in MIHL South.
Best wins: 5-2 over No. 6 Grosse Pointe North (Regional), 5-2 over Division 2 No. 1 Livonia Stevenson, 4-3 and 5-4 over Division 2 No. 3 Trenton, 5-4 over Division 2 No. 5 Port Huron Northern, 4-0 over Division 2 No. 7 Grosse Pointe South, 5-2 over Division 3 No. 3 Calumet, 5-1 over Division 3 No. 4 Sault Ste. Marie.
Players to watch: Tommy Apap, junior right wing (14 goals, 23 assists); Craig Pefley, senior center (26 goals, 32 assists); Pete McMahon, senior left wing (14 goals, 19 assists).
Outlook: Jesuit fell just one point shy of winning its league title, and then beat MIHL South champion Grosse Pointe North during the Regional. Five of the Cubs’ losses came to ranked Division 1 teams, with two more against Division 3 teams that will play for that title this weekend. Pefley and Apap both made the all-state second team in 2012.
EAST KENTWOOD
Record/rank: 15-12-2, unranked
Championship history: One MHSAA title (1993), three runner-up finishes.
Coach: Shawn Jensen, first season (15-12-2)
League finish: Third in O-K Red
Best wins: 3-2 over Division 2 No. 10 Grand Haven, 4-1 over Rockford, 6-5 (OT) over Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (Quarterfinal).
Players to watch: Tyler Layle, senior defenseman (eight goals, 11 assists); Trent Bravata, senior center (20 goals, 18 assists), Austin Adams, senior left wing (10 goals, 13 assists).
Outlook: East Kentwood is back at the Semifinals for the third straight season and this time under first-year coach Jensen, an all-state defenseman for the Falcons in 1997 and later an assistant coach for the team. East Kentwood advanced in part with overtime wins in the Regional final and Quarterfinal. Layle made the all-state second team last season and Bravata earned an honorable mention.
Division 2
HARTLAND
Record/rank: 18-8-2, No. 9
Championship history: Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Coach: Rick Gadwa, second season (33-18-4)
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association Lakes Conference
Best wins: 2-1 over No. 8 Novi, 7-4 and 5-4 over Howell, 7-2 over Walled Lake Central.
Players to watch: Nick Pleshakov, senior defenseman; Brett Bandyk, senior forward; Chris McRae, junior forward. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Hartland has won its Regional both times under Gadwa, and this season took the next step. Although the games ended in losses, the Eagles saw some of the state’s best competition this winter including Division 1 top-five teams Brighton and Plymouth and Division 3 No. 5 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett. Pleshakov made the all-state second team as a junior.
LIVONIA STEVENSON
Record/rank: 21-7-1, No. 1
Championship history: Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Coach: David Mitchell, fifth season (89-33-11)
League finish: Second in KLAA Kensington Central
Best wins: 9-2, 7-3 and 3-1 (Regional final) over No. 6 Livonia Churchill, 6-1 over No. 7 Grosse Pointe South, 6-1 over No. 8 Novi, 1-0 over Division 1 No. 1 Detroit Catholic Central, 4-0 over Division 1 No. 9 Macomb Dakota, 7-6 over Division 3 No. 5 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett.
Players to watch: Dominic Lutz, junior left wing (39 goals, 31 assists); Tyler Irvine, junior right wing (15 goals, 29 assists); Devin Kelly, junior center (14 goals, 35 assists).
Outlook: Stevenson survived a scare in the Quarterfinal before beating Ann Arbor Pioneer 3-2 in double overtime, but has won big against some of the best teams from all three divisions. Senior defenseman Trent Harvey has added 14 goals and 14 assists this season in front of senior goaltender Connor Humitz, who has five shutouts.
PORT HURON NORTHERN
Record/rank: 15-13-1, No. 5
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up in 2001.
Coach: Daryel McCarrel, 21st season (373-213-47)
League finish: Fifth in Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League North
Best wins: 5-2 over No. 3 Trenton, 4-3 over No. 7 Grosse Pointe South (Quarterfinal), 6-1 over Division 3 No. 6 Flint Powers Catholic
Players to watch: Bryce VanHorn, junior left wing (18 goals, 25 assists); Tyler Hughes, senior defenseman (four goals, 12 assists); Matt Fernandez, senior goaltender (2.78 GAA, four shutouts).
Outlook: The Huskies’ MIHL league finish again is deceptive, as it shares the league with Division 1 No. 1 Detroit Catholic Central, No. 2 Birmingham Brother Rice and No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, and Division 3 No. 1 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood. After facing that group, Northern no doubt is ready for anything this weekend. VanHorn earned an all-state honorable mention last season and is one of five Huskies with at least 10 goals and one of eight with at least 10 assists. Fernandez made the all-state second team last season and Hughes made the first team.
SAGINAW HERITAGE
Record/rank: 24-5, unranked
Championship history: Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Coach: JJ Bamberger, fourth season (66-37)
League finish: Second in Saginaw Valley Association
Best wins: 4-3 over Howell, 4-1 and 3-2 (Regional) over Midland, 4-1 over No. 10 Grand Haven (Quarterfinal).
Players to watch: Tyler Angers, junior center (27 goals, 27 assists); Sami Abdelaziz, senior left wing (25 goals, 22 assists); Jacob Tweedle, senior center (13 goals, 12 assists).
Outlook: The Hawks are Regional champs for the second time in four seasons and after down finishes of 7-16-2 and 12-12 the last two winters. Heritage was ranked most of this season and peaked at No. 5, and is riding a 10-game winning streak. Junior goalie Kevin Cressey also has been outstanding, with a 2.40 goals-against average and .916 save percentage.
Division 3
BLOOMFIELD HILLS CRANBROOK-KINGSWOOD
Record/rank: 26-2-1, No. 1
Championship history: 15 MHSAA titles (most recently 2010), two runner-up finishes.
Coach: Andy Weidenbach, 20th season (387-145-34)
League finish: First in MIHL North.
Best wins: 5-2 and 5-1 over Division 1 No. 1 Detroit Catholic Central, 2-0 and 5-2 over Division 1 No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 9-3 over Division 1 No. 2 Birmingham Brother Rice, 7-4 over Division 1 No. 5 Plymouth, 3-2 and 4-3 over Division No. 6 Grosse Pointe North, 5-3 over Division 1 No. 7 Detroit U-D Jesuit., 7-0 over Division 2 No. 1 Livonia Stevenson.
Players to watch: Christopher Brown, junior center (21 goals, 24 assists); Alex Alger, junior right wing (29 goals, 24 assists); Austin Alger, junior center (20 goals, 27 assists); Michael Romund, senior left wing (20 goals, 27 assists).
Outlook: Cranbrook-Kingswood likely would be considered the favorite to win any of the three divisions this weekend, despite playing among the smallest schools. The Cranes beat six of the top 10 in Division 1 this season, and 18 of 23 games played against in-state opponents were against ranked teams. They didn't give up a goal in the postseason until beating No. 5 University Liggett 7-2 in the Quarterfinal. Brown made the all-state first team last season, and Alex Alger made the second team.
FLINT POWERS CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 22-5-1, No. 6
Championship history: Seven MHSAA runner-up finishes (most recently 2010).
Coach: Travis Perry, seventh season (144-41-11)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley Association.
Best wins: 5-1 over Division 1 No. 7 Detroit U-D Jesuit, 2-1 over Division 2 No. 10 Grand Haven, 2-0 over Saginaw Heritage, 2-1 (2 OT) over East Grand Rapids (Quarterfinal).
Players to watch: Garrett Gormley, junior right wing (21 goals, 15 assists); Casey Korhonen, senior goaltender (1.27 GAA, 0.93 save %); Mike Forman, sophomore center (12 goals, 16 assists).
Outlook: Powers has won six straight Regional championships and is back in the Semifinals for the first time since 2010. Its defense has been staggering. The Chargers have given up one or zero goals in 16 games this season, and Korhonen has nine of the team’s 10 shutouts. He and Gormley both earned all-state honorable mentions last season.
RIVERVIEW
Record/rank: 20-7-1, No. 10
Championship history: Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Coach: Al Taurence, third season (38-39-1)
League finish: Huron League, finish unavailable.
Best wins: 4-3 and 4-3 (Regional) over Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 5-3 over Chelsea (Quarterfinal).
Players to watch: Brian Bachnak, senior left wing (52 goals, 42 assists); Timothy Lyons, senior center (21 goals, 46 assists); Alex Testy, senior right wing (16 goals, 18 assists).
Outlook: Bachnak made the all-state second team last season and has put up incredible numbers in leading Riverview to the Finals after it finished 4-20 only two seasons ago. He’s one of a number of veterans, with 11 seniors among team’s 21 players. The Quarterfinal win over Chelsea avenged a 4-2 loss midway through the season.
SAULT STE. MARIE
Record/rank: 21-8, No. 4
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recently 1989), five runner-up finishes.
Coach: John Ferroni, second season (33-19-2)
League finish: Does not compete in a league.
Best wins: 8-2 over No. 9 Hancock, 6-3 and 4-1 (Quarterfinal) over No. 2 Houghton, 1-0 over No. 7 Dearborn Divine Child, 5-2 over No. 5 University Liggett, 2-1 over Division 2 No. 5 Port Huron Northern, 5-4 over Division 2 No. 7 Grosse Pointe South
Players to watch: William Gauthier, junior center (17 goals, 18 assists), Blake Mastaw, junior left wing (15 goals, 22 assists); Eric Hillock, senior left wing (21 goals, 14 assists); Chase Gamelin, junior right wing (15 goals, 20 assists).
Outlook: Sault Ste. Marie has done exceptionally well against a tough slate after finished 12-11-2 in 2011-12. Four of its losses are to ranked Division 1 or 2 teams – including 5-4 in overtime to Division 1 No. 2 Birmingham Brother Rice. While there is obvious scoring punch, the defense has been impressive as well – the Blue Devils didn't allow a goal in the playoffs until Houghton got one Wednesday. Senior defenseman C.J. Wilkins earned an all-state honorable mention as a forward last season.
PHOTO: Saginaw Heritage (right) will attempt to advance to its first MHSAA championship game by defeating top-ranked Livonia Churchill in one of today's Division 2 Semifinals. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Preview: Hockey's Championship Chases Resume
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 24, 2021
Just over a year ago, the 2019-20 school sports year ended only hours before the puck was to drop for the first Semifinal of that hockey season’s championship weekend at USA Hockey Arena.
Like in other winter and spring sports, a number of teams that were set to play for championships last season have unfinished business because of COVID-19 – and now an opportunity.
This season’s championship weekend returns to Plymouth, with Division 2 Semifinals on Thursday, Divisions 3 and 1 on Friday and all three championship games Saturday.
SEMIFINALS
DIVISION 1 - Friday, March 26
Mid-Michigan (15-2) vs. Rockford (14-5-1), 4:30 p.m.
Detroit Catholic Central (16-1) vs. Brighton (10-4-3), 8 p.m.
DIVISION 2 - Thursday, March 25
Byron Center (17-0) vs. Marquette (14-4), 4:30 p.m.
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (13-4) vs. Trenton (13-7), 8 p.m.
DIVISION 3 - Friday, March 26
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood (13-4) vs. Flint Powers Catholic (14-3), 10 a.m.
Calumet (17-0-1) vs. Chelsea (17-1-1), 1:30 p.m.
FINALS
Saturday, March 27
Division 1: 7 p.m.
Division 2: 11 a.m.
Division 3: 3 p.m.
Spectator limits remain in effect, but all Semifinals and Finals will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv and viewable with subscription, with free audio broadcasts via the MHSAA Radio Network.
Below is a glance at all 12 teams contending this weekend. Click for the full program.
Division 1
BRIGHTON
Record/rank: 10-4-3, No. 3
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2018), two runner-up finishes.
Coach: Kurt Kivisto, first season (10-4-3)
League finish: Third in Kensington Lakes Activities Association Gold
Best wins: 3-2 (OT) over No. 10 Plymouth, 6-5 over No. 5 Saginaw Heritage, 5-4 over No. 2 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
Players to watch: Chris Wozniak, sr. G (2.63 goals-against average); Nick Baker, jr. F (9 goals, 9 assists); Nick Przysiecki, sr. F (8 goals, 10 assists); Lars Erkkila, sr. F (8 goals, 11 assists).
Outlook: Kivisto, who played at Brighton and most recently served as an assistant coach, has led one of the state’s most annually-successful programs back to the Semifinals for the seventh time in nine seasons. He inherited 11 seniors including Wozniak, who made the all-state second team last season. Defense has been a key in the team’s 6-0-2 run heading into this weekend. Brighton has outscored its three postseason opponents by a combined 16-1.
DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 16-1, No. 1
Championship history: Fourteen MHSAA titles (most recent 2019), five runner-up finishes.
Coach: Brandon Kaleniecki, sixth season (138-24-2)
League finish: First in Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League North
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 9 Salem in Quarterfinal, 2-1 over No. 2 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 5-0 over No. 4 Rockford, 5-0 over No. 3 Brighton, 3-2 over Division 2 No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 2-1 over Division 2 No. 4 Livonia Stevenson.
Players to watch: William Shields, sr. F (4 goals, 14 assists); Tommy Shea, sr. F (10 goals, 3 assists); Brenden Cwiek, sr. F (7 goals, 8 assists); Bobby Masters, jr. G (1.14 goals-against average, .940 save %).
Outlook: DCC has advanced to the Semifinals for the ninth straight season, and even got some help from the junior varsity when the varsity had to quarantine during Regional week. The only loss this season was early to Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, which the Shamrocks avenged with a 3-0 win near the end of the regular season. DCC also has defeated Division 3 No. 3 Detroit Country Day (7-1), No. 5 Flint Powers Catholic (4-2), No. 2 Detroit U-D Jesuit (2-1) and had another win in its season opener over the No. 4 Cranes (2-0). Masters has split time in net with junior Nick Galda, who entered this week with a 0.74 goals-against average.
MID-MICHIGAN
Record/rank: 15-2, unranked
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Coach: Rob Husulak, third season (42-25-1)
League finish: First in South Central Hockey League Central
Best wins: 5-2 over No. 5 Saginaw Heritage in Quarterfinals, 6-1 over Capital City, 5-4 (OT), 7-4 and 5-4 (Regional Final) over Okemos.
Players to watch: Brock Mason, sr. D (24 goals, 12 assists); Jadon Reimer, sr. D (14 goals, 11 assists); Eli Reimer, sr. F (27 goals, 20 assists); Carson Finney, sr. F (14 goals, 40 assists).
Outlook: Mid-Michigan includes players from Holt, Eaton Rapids, Potterville, Grand Ledge and Portland, and qualifies as arguably the surprise of the tournament after its upset of Heritage in the Quarterfinal. But the Marauders have been impressive all season; their only league loss came against a team they also beat, and the other defeat was to Division 2 quarterfinalist Muskegon Mona Shores early. Senior defenseman Danny Abdouch had added another 10 goals and seven assists entering the week.
ROCKFORD
Record/rank: 14-5-1, No. 4
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Coach: C.J. Pobur, fifth season (75-53-4)
League finish: Tied for second in Ottawa-Kent Conference Rue
Best wins: 4-3 (Quarterfinal) and 4-1 over No. 6 Grandville, 4-3 over No. 8 Traverse City West in Regional Final, 6-4 (Regional Semifinal) and 2-1 over No. 7 Traverse Bay Reps, 6-3 over Division 2 No. 7 Muskegon Mona Shores.
Players to watch: Carson Korte, sr. F (27 goals, 16 assists); Owen Devries, sr. F (13 goals, 22 assists); Braeden Fouchea, sr. F (3 goals, 19 assists); Will Haggerty, jr. F (13 goals, 9 assists).
Outlook: Pobur has led the Rams to three Regional titles over his five seasons, and this will be the program’s first Semifinal appearance after finishing at the Quarterfinal round seven times over the last two decades. Rockford has had one of the toughest playoff roads in any division the last two weeks and was able to avenge one of its losses – the Rams avenged another during the regular season, with the other three coming either to DCC or Division 2 top-ranked Byron Center (twice). Senior Dayton Perroud entered this week with 11 assists from his blueliner spot.
Division 2
BYRON CENTER
Record/rank: 17-0, No. 1
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Coach: Taylor Keyworth, third season (57-16-2)
League finish: First in O-K Rue
Best wins: 2-1 over No. 2 Hartland in Semifinal, 3-2 over No. 7 Muskegon Mona Shores in Regional Final, 4-2 and 8-3 over Division 1 No. 4 Rockford, 4-0 over Division 1 No. 7 Traverse Bay Reps, 4-3 and 5-4 over Division 1 No. 6 Grandville.
Players to watch: Logan Nickolaus, sr. F (23 goals, 25 assists); Luke Nickolaus, sr. F (10 goals, 18 assists), Trevor Davis, sr. D (7 goals, 24 assists); Josh Froysland, sr. D (1 goal, 11 assists).
Outlook: A roster with 11 seniors has elevated Byron Center to the Semifinals for the second time – and for the first time they’ll get to play as last year’s run was halted by COVID-19 after the Quarterfinals. The Bulldogs are averaging 5.8 goals per game – even more impressive considering seven of 17 games were against teams ranked in Divisions 1 or 2 at the end of the regular season. Davis made the all-state first team last year, while Froysland made the second and Luke Nickolaus earned an honorable mention. Seven players total had scored at least seven goals heading into this week, with senior forward Mason Breit adding 16 more (with nine assists) to those mentioned above.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS BROTHER RICE
Record/rank: 13-4, No. 3
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2017), two runner-up finishes.
Coach: Kenny Chaput, fifth season (89-34-8)
League finish: Second in MIHL North
Best wins: 6-0 (Quarterfinal) and 7-2 over No. 8 Port Huron Northern, 3-2 over No. 2 Hartland, 5-1 over Division 1 No. 6 Grandville, 4-1 and 4-3 over Division 1 No. 2 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 3-2 over Division 1 No. 5 Saginaw Heritage, 4-2 over Division 1 No. 3 Brighton, 1-0 over Division 3 No. 2 Detroit U-D Jesuit.
Players to watch: Andrew Marone, soph. F (11 goals, 10 assists); Ryan Marone, sr. F (6 goals, 15 assists); Peter Rosa, soph. F (8 goals, 9 assists); Brett Harris, sr. F (8 goals, 12 assists).
Outlook: Brother Rice has reached the Semifinals all four seasons since its most recent championship in 2017. The Warriors enter this weekend with four shutouts over their last five games, with senior Drake Danou handling most of the time in net this season and posting a 1.77 goals-against average and .923 save percentage entering this week. Senior Alec Hamady (7 goals, 8 assists) adds more scoring punch, and junior Matthew Herb had 13 assists from the blue line coming into Tuesday.
MARQUETTE
Record/rank: 14-4, No. 6
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2008), four runner-up finishes.
Coach: Doug Garrow, eighth season (139-60-12)
League finish: Third in Great Lakes Hockey Conference
Best wins: 1-0 over No. 9 Traverse City Central in Quarterfinal, 6-3 over Division 3 No. 7 Hancock, 2-0 over Division 3 No. 6 Houghton.
Players to watch: Ansel Frost, sr. F (4 goals, 12 assists); Jackson Potulny, fr. F (15 goals, 12 assists); Dylan Baldwin, sr. F (12 goals, 8 assists); Brennan Hakkola, sr. G (1.50 goals-against average, .915 save %, 5 shutouts).
Outlook: Marquette earned its third-straight Semifinal berth after prepping against all of the best from the Upper Peninsula including twice against Division 3 semifinalist Calumet. Frost earned an all-state honorable mention last season and he’s one of 10 on his team with at least 13 points. Senior Evan Kroll is another with 10 goals and six assists, and sophomore Jacob Garrow had five goals and 14 assists entering the week. Sophomore Joe DeMattia had added two goals and 15 assists from the blue line prior to the Quarterfinal.
TRENTON
Record/rank: 13-7, No. 10
Championship history: 14 MHSAA titles (most recent 2014), eight runner-up finishes.
Coach: Chad Clements, seventh season (126-61-7)
League finish: Second in MIHL South
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 5 Novi in Quarterfinal, 2-1 over No. 9 Port Huron Northern, 9-4 over Ann Arbor Pioneer in Regional Semifinal.
Players to watch: Caleb Kneiding, sr. D (5 goals, 17 assists); Nickolas Fields, jr. F/D (12 goals, 14 assists); Brad Nemeth, sr. F (11 goals, 18 assists); Collin Preston, sr. F (12 goals, 24 assists).
Outlook: Trenton finished Division 2 runner-up in 2018 and 2019 and had reached the Semifinals again last winter before the run was cut short by COVID. Kneiding earned an all-state honorable mention last season and helps pace a lineup that has replaced four others who received some level of all-state recognition. Trenton has won seven straight and outscored its four postseason opponents by a combined 30-6. Senior defenseman/forward Ryan Stanley had added nine goals and 10 assists entering the week, and senior Brendan Shaw was among assists leaders with 15.
Division 3
BLOOMFIELD HILLS CRANBROOK KINGSWOOD
Record/rank: 13-4, No. 4
Championship history: Seventeen MHSAA titles (most recent 2015), two runner-up finishes
Coach: John LaFontaine, second season (28-13-3)
League finish: Tied for second in MIHL North
Best wins: 1-0 over No. 2 Detroit U-D Jesuit in Quarterfinal, 2-1 over Division 1 No. 2 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 4-0 over Division 1 No. 1 Detroit Catholic Central, 6-1 over Division 1 No. 7 Traverse Bay Reps, 2-0 and 5-3 over Division 2 No. 10 Trenton, 4-2 over Division 2 No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice.
Players to watch: Leyton Stenman, sr. D (4 goals, 12 assists); Jack Wineman, sr. F (5 goals, 17 assists); Alex Ceritano, sr. F (9 goals, 9 assists); Isaac Cheli, sr. F (10 goals, 12 assists).
Outlook: Cranbrook might have the most impressive list of wins of any team playing this weekend as the best came against larger-division teams including the only defeat handed to DCC. This will be the Cranes’ first Semifinal appearance since 2016. They had two shutouts during the regular season, but haven’t given up a goal over three playoff games outscoring those opponents by a combined 20-0. Stenman made the all-state second team last season, and Wineman earned an honorable mention.
CALUMET
Record/rank: 17-0-1, No. 1
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2008), five runner-up finishes.
Coach: Dan Giachino, sixth season (108-40-8)
League finish: First in Great Lakes Hockey Conference
Best wins: 3-1 (Regional Final) and 3-1 over No. 6 Houghton, 4-1 and 4-2 over No. 7 Hancock, 5-3 and 2-1 over Division 2 No. 6 Marquette.
Players to watch: Dean Loukus, sr. F (25 goals, 43 assists), Nolan Sturos, jr. F (10 goals, 17 assists); Noah Jukuri, sr. F (9 goals, 17 assists); Jackson Rilei, jr. F (20 goals, 23 assists).
Outlook: The Copper Kings also would have played in last season’s Semifinals had they not been canceled, and they last played in a championship game in 2017. Only an early 3-3 tie against Houghton has kept Calumet from a perfect run so far this winter, and it avenged that loss twice. Loukus went over 200 career points this season and became the program’s all-time leader, and he made the all-state first team in 2020. Junior defenseman Tom Erkkila (4 goals, 18 assists) is another contributor to the offense, and sophomore Aksel Loukus (1.70 goals-against average) has stepped in well for a graduated all-state goalie.
CHELSEA
Record/rank: 17-1-1, No. 9
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Coach: Nick Vetter, third season (39-32-3)
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference White
Best wins: 4-1 (Quarterfinal) and 2-1 over Riverview Gabriel Richard, 1-0 over Ann Arbor Skyline.
Players to watch: Tyler Valik, sr. F (17 goals, 30 assists); Devin McIntyre, soph. F (25 goals, 13 assists); Jack Capper, sr. F/D (10 goals, 18 assists); Byron Bayer, jr. G (1.33 goals-against average, .940 save %).
Outlook: Chelsea has reached at least the Quarterfinals eight of the last 12 seasons, and this will be its first Semifinal since 2016. The only loss came in the season opener to Jackson Lumen Christi, which finished the regular season No. 8 in Division 3. Valik made the all-state second team last season and is one of only six seniors on a team that should continue to impress next winter. Corbin Steele is another of those six; the defenseman had added nine goals and 11 assists entering the week.
FLINT POWERS CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 14-3, No. 5
Championship history: Seven runner-up finishes (most recent 2010).
Coach: Travis Perry, 15th season (294-93-19)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League
Best wins: 3-1 over Grand Rapids Catholic Central in Quarterfinal, 5-1 over Division 2 No. 8 Port Huron Northern, 5-0 over Division 1 No. 5 Saginaw Heritage.
Players to watch: Nick Kurtiak, soph. G (1.17 goals-against average, .939 save %, 5 shutouts); Kyle Barbour, soph. D (1 goal, 12 assists); Tyler Lawrence, sr. F (10 goals, 22 assists), Mason Czarnecki, soph. F (16 goals, 13 assists).
Outlook: With only two seniors, this could be the start of another run for the Chargers, who will play in their first Semifinal since 2017. Barbour earned an all-state honorable mention last season, and he has reliable netminding behind him and lots of scoring in front. In addition to him, Lawrence and Czarnecki, three more players had at least 10 assists heading into this week. Junior forward Jacques Lavrack was the second-leading goal scorer with 12 heading into the Quarterfinal to go with his 10 assists. The team’s only losses came to Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central, Division 2 No. 4 Livonia Stevenson and Division 3 No. 3 Detroit Country Day.
PHOTO: Calumet's Jackson Rilei, left, gets past an Alpena player during Wednesday’s 6-0 Division 3 Quarterfinal win. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)