Highlight Reel: Ice Hockey Finals

March 14, 2015

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
 

This MHSAA hockey season came to a close Saturday with all three championships won by teams from the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League. 

Click below for highlights from all three Finals, with one for each of the six teams that took the ice at Compuware Arena.

Division 1: Detroit Catholic Central 5 Grandville 2 

BANG-BANG BULLDOG GOALSGrandville got both of its goals 14 seconds apart. Jacob Baum on the power play, and Gianni Vitali on a scramble in front of the net closed the CC lead to 3-2.

BUT CC ANSWERS A power play gave Detroit Catholic Central an opportunity to quell the Grandville rally. Evan Rochowiak scores the first of his two goals a minute after the Bulldogs pulled close.

Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here. 

Division 2: Birmingham Brother Rice 6, Livonia Stevenson 3

STEVENSON TIES IT UPLivonia Stevenson got two goals two minutes apart in the second period to tie the Division 2 Final at 2-2. Joe Alcantara scores for the Spartans on the deflection. 

PYC-ING UP THE REBOUNDBrendan Pyc put Birmingham Brother Rice on top to stay with two power play goals late in the third period. Here he scores his second on a rebound with 40 seconds left.

Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.

Division 3: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 3, Houghton 0

CRANES LIGHT IT UP QUICKLY It took less than a minute for Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood to get on the board in the Division 3 Final against Houghton. Mason Schultz goes top shelf on the rebound.

ADASKAVEG ADDS TO THE LEAD Cole Adaskaveg picks up the second goal for Cranbrook Kingswood with Sean O'Leary getting his second assist of the game on the play. 

Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here

Multi-Sport Coach Kalleward Molds Multi-School Eagles Into Formidable Foe

By Pam Shebest
Special for MHSAA.com

January 21, 2025

KALAMAZOO – When it comes to hockey, JD Kalleward has a different challenge than many high school coaches.

Southwest CorridorHis Kalamazoo Eagles team is a cooperative of six schools: Richland Gull Lake, Parchment, Vicksburg, Plainwell, Kalamazoo Christian and Paw Paw.

That is not a problem for Kalleward, who has more than 30 years of coaching experience to help meld his players into a family.

“In the locker room we sit by our linemates,” Gull Lake senior forward Carter Dominowski said. “My line is one from Vicksburg, one from Gull Lake. 

“It’s all team bonding, hanging out, having fun. We have team dinners every Tuesday (at The Nest at Wings Event Center, where the Eagles practice).”

Kalleward went from Eagles assistant coach to head coach when Matt Kruzich stepped down after last season. The team has rebounded from a 1-3 start this winter to reach 8-7 with eight games remaining before the start of the MHSAA Tournament. 

“JD was the perfect replacement for many reasons: his meticulous preparation, practice planning, management skills,” Kruzich said. “But most of all, I’ve seen the positive impact that he has had on 100 percent of young men and hockey players specifically.”

Gull Lake is the sponsoring school and providing nine of the 23 players.

“It’s a challenge.” Kalleward said of bringing the players together. “You work together, do exercises for bonding in preseason, and you make certain they’re playing for each other.”

The veteran coach has almost 1,000 high school hockey games under his skates. Add the 170 games coaching lacrosse, and he has eclipsed that milestone total.

Coaching across multiple net games

Kalleward started his coaching career with Art Missias in KOHA youth hockey, then moved to Portage Northern when Missias took that head coaching job in 1986. He took over the Northern coaching reins five years later when Missias retired.

Kalleward expanded his coaching experience, becoming Northern’s assistant boys lacrosse coach for three years until being named head coach in 2016.

Comparing hockey and lacrosse, Kalleward said the field sport is a bit harder to coach because of numbers.

Kalleward and his Portage Northern lacrosse team receive the Matt Thrasher trophy in 2019 from then-Portage Central athletic director Joe Wallace (speaking into microphone).“Both are chess games, and both are very fluid,” he said. “Lacrosse has 10 (players) instead of six, but it’s also easier to hide some of your weaker kids in lacrosse.”

Kalleward has had more success in lacrosse, making the MHSAA Division 2 Quarterfinals three of the last five years and winning the Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference three times.

Kalleward said he enjoys coaching both sports, and there are some common elements – especially defensively.

“In hockey, you have to keep your head on a swivel, be aware of your surroundings the entire time,” he said. “Same in lacrosse. Always one more pass you’re looking to make.”

When it comes to drills, especially in hockey, the coach readily admits to “stealing” them from other programs to instruct his players.

“That’s how you learn,” he said, naming drills after former coaching friends. “(Portage Central’s) Jim Murray drills. (Kalamazoo Wings) Mark Reeds drills, (Western Michigan University’s) Bill Wilkinson drills, (K-Wings) Ken Hitchcock drills, (Fox Motors AAA U16) Travis Richards drills.”

Learning more than hockey

Kalleward coaches life skills as well as hockey techniques, assistant coach Ken Rogers said.

“These kids aren’t going to be NHL players after high school, so it’s trying to develop some responsibility, some accountability, what’s it like to be on your own,” Rogers said. “We’ve got a lot of seniors, and they’re going to be away from home next year. 

Eagles assistant coach Ken Rogers. “For most of them, that’s a big step in their lives. What we try to do along with hockey is instill those life lessons. Being part of a hockey team, you’re going to have to face those challenges when you get a job, become a good employee.”

Kalleward, who is on the ice with the team every day but Sunday, said that with tournaments the Eagles play 25 games a season plus MHSAA playoffs.

“I enjoy coaching,” he said. “We’re not here for you to try to be the next Sidney Crosby, that next pro. We’re here to have a good experience in high school, be competitive, have fun.

“I’m very big about life lessons. I’m very old school: manners, how we behave in public, address each other.”

Gull Lake senior defenseman Evan Kares appreciates that leadership.

“He has taught me to make smart decisions,” Kares said. “He’s developed the way I think about hockey and the way I play. He’s really introduced the physical aspect for me. I’m still not there yet, but I’m working on it.”

Forward Hank Livingston, another Gull Lake senior, added, “He’s always pushing the team to be the best players and best young men we can be. He’s always trying to help everyone.”

Kalleward, standing, coaches his Eagles hockey team.Other Gull Lake players are Owen Anderson, Joey Blondia, Henry Ludmer, Ryan Rocco, Henry Worgess and Jacob Worgess. Players from Vicksburg are Aidyn Garza, Blaine Herson, Cody Klesko and Grant Stopher, while the two from Paw Paw are Colton Gronau and Caleb Ranger. 

Kalamazoo Christian players are Isaac Riggs, Matthew Rohrer, Ryan Rohrer and Ari Wilkinson. The lone Comstock player is Brody Woolsey. Ryan Baranoski, and Carter Monette are from Plainwell and Kayden Hailey is from Parchment.

One of the downsides to coaching hockey is how player numbers are dwindling, Kalleward said.

The South Central Michigan Hockey League is down to six teams and four besides the Eagles are co-ops: the Capital City Capitals (Lansing), Eastside Stars (East Lansing), Kalamazoo United, and Portage. Mattawan is the only team that is not made up of players from multiple schools.

“That’s the sad thing about hockey,” Kalleward said. “It’s hard to grow the sport with the expense. I like to joke that (renting the ice) costs $6 a minute.”

Pam ShebestPam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She can be reached at pamkzoo@aol.com with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.

PHOTOS (Top) Kalamazoo Eagles coach JD Kalleward talks strategy with Gull Lake seniors (from left) Hank Livingston, Evan Kares and Carter Dominowski. (2) Kalleward and his Portage Northern lacrosse team receive the Matt Thrasher trophy in 2019 from then-Portage Central athletic director Joe Wallace (speaking into microphone). (3) Eagles assistant coach Ken Rogers. (4) Kalleward, standing, coaches his Eagles hockey team. (Top photo and headshot by Pam Shebest. Lacrosse and hockey game photos courtesy of JD Kalleward.)