Performance: Stevenson's Seth Lause
January 9, 2020
Seth Lause
Livonia Stevenson senior – Hockey
The four-year varsity center accomplished one of the rarest of hockey feats Saturday against No. 3 Hartland, scoring three short-handed goals in No. 2 Stevenson’s 5-2 win to earn the MHSAA “Performance of the Week.” Although the National Federation of State High School Associations does not keep a record for short-handed goals in one game, it is possible that Lause was only the second player nationally to score three at the high school level, following Lucas DeBenedet of International Falls, Minn., in 2011.
Lause is tied for the team lead in goals this winter with eight and ranks second with 12 assists as Stevenson is off to a 9-1-1 start. He made the Division 2 all-state second team last season with five goals and 12 assists over 19 games. The MHSAA also has not previously tracked a record for short-handed goals in one game – but for added perspective, the feat has been achieved only once in NHL history. Lause’s first goal came in the second period, and his second and third scores came during the same power play over 1 minute, 29 seconds, during the third period.
Stevenson has had one of the state’s strongest programs over the last decade, making at least the Quarterfinals five straight seasons, finishing Division 2 runner-up twice and winning the championship in 2013. After helping his team to another title pursuit, Lause hopes to continue playing at the junior level after graduation in the spring. Whether he begins college later or right away, he’s interested in the medical field and particularly psychology – and carries a 4.4 GPA at Stevenson.
Coach David Mitchell said: "Seth is a tireless worker ... both on the ice and in the classroom. He is an extremely high-character student-athlete that works tirelessly on his craft. It's been a real honor and pleasure to watch him grow as a player, as a person and as a leader. The sky's the limit for Seth with regards to his future. He is for sure leaving his mark on Livonia Stevenson hockey."
Performance Point: “The first goal was just a fortunate bounce. I think one of their guys missed a pass, and I ended up being on a line rush 2-on-1 with my teammate Noah (Turner). I was just looking for a shot on the first one, just trying to go low stick, since he had the low stick kinda showing me a little bit of that, and the rebound just came out to me when I shot it there, and I ended up burying it,” Lause said, describing his three goals. “The second one was (Ian) Kimble had a good play with his stick. He poke-checked it around one of their defensemen, came in, and created space for himself in the zone and saw my flying into the net. And so he threw it down into the corner and I picked it up down low, and I came around the net on my backhand side and I was looking around to see where everyone was at. I kinda looked off the goalie, and the goalie I saw was low and he had the high short side open, and so I flipped it up over and went up on the high far side. And then the third one was just a good play by Adam Heard. I was calling for it. I got behind their D at the far blue and he found me and gave me a great pass on my tape, and I just came in and shot it high glove. Honestly I didn’t even know we were still short-handed on my third goal, but everyone told me after the game that it was still short-handed and I’d scored three shorties, and I thought it was pretty cool. At first … I didn’t realize to scale how big of a deal it was.”
Fueled by fun: “It’s just been fun. Last year, I was more focused on just doing as much as I could to win. I still do now, but I don’t put as much pressure on myself now. It’s just a great thing, since it is my last year, just kinda taking a different approach to it this year and just letting everything go and going out and having a blast. This may or may not be my last moments playing; with my friends and for my high school, obviously this is the last year. It’s just been a lot of fun playing with these guys. I think that’s just been the big difference – me letting go mentally and just having a blast doing it. … I’ve always known there’s been something special (with this team), just every year we’ve been here. But this year especially, it’s been just a lot of guys bought in earlier. It just happens quicker with some teams than others. The approach that we’ve had has just been a lot more relaxed, a lot more fun. This group has really connected with one another, and everything’s just clicking right now.”
Play hard, cheer hard: “We usually go to all the other events that we have (at school). So basketball, swimming, volleyball, other sports – we always attend their games. We try to show support that way by going and trying to create a small student section if you will, the whole hockey team. We go to every sport that we can, even tennis we go to. …. Our coach really takes pride in that too, because for everyone who comes to our games, all the peers who come to our games, he likes to give back to them and say thanks, honestly, just for a support they give us. Without them, it’s totally a different environment.”
Stevenson strong: “We just work hard. Our effort is our floor here. We’ve always prided ourselves on being one of the hardest-working teams, both on and off the ice, also involving ourselves in the community (and) we reach out to a lot of teams. We go to a lot of other team events here at our school. We just put a lot of pride in ourselves and the extra stuff we do. It’s just what makes us, us. We’re very involved in development and trusting the process of development and just being a team that works hard. We really just pride ourselves on that.”
The doctor is in: “Anything medical, I’m really interested in. … I’m mostly focused on the brain. I just love how the brain works. There are other organs like the heart that everyone knows about – we know every single little detail about the heart. But the brain is just something that’s so mysterious that a lot of people haven’t figured out yet. So that’s a thing that intrigues me – what is really going on, and something to just figure out because it’s a developing thing right now.”
– Geoff Kimmerly, Second Half editor
Past honorees
Dec. 5: Mareyohn Hrabowski, River Rouge football - Report
Nov. 28: Kathryn Ackerman, Grand Haven swimming - Report
Nov. 21: Emily Van Dyke, Southfield Christian volleyball - Report
Nov. 14: Taylor Wegener, Ida volleyball - Report
Nov. 7: Carter Solomon, Plymouth cross country - Report
Oct. 31: Jameson Goorman, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian soccer - Report
Oct. 24: Austin Plotkin, Brimley cross country - Report
Oct. 17: Jack Spamer, Brighton cross country - Report
Oct. 10: Kaylee Maat, Hudsonville volleyball - Report
Oct. 3: Emily Paupore, Negaunee cross country - Report
Sept. 26: Josh Mason, South Lyon soccer - Report
Sept. 19: Ariel Chang, Utica Eisenhower golf - Report
Sept. 12: Jordyn Shipps, DeWitt swimming - Report
PHOTOS: (Top) Livonia Stevenson's Seth Lause is a four-year contributor to one of the state's top programs. (Middle) Lause also is serving as a captain this winter. (Photos courtesy of the Livonia Stevenson hockey program.)
Preview: Major Changes, Potential for Ice Champions New & Old On Display
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 9, 2023
This weekend’s MHSAA Hockey Semifinals and Finals will show off two of the most significant changes this sport has seen in some time in Michigan – with the potential for more “new” when trophies are presented Saturday.
A new classification system equally splitting up standalone and cooperative programs has moved some annual powers into different divisions. And also for the first time, the four semifinalists were reseeded for the final two games in each bracket.
At least two champions will be new this season, as the reigning Division 2 winner Hartland is now in Division 1 and last season’s Division 3 champion did not return. Additionally, seven of 12 teams playing at USA Hockey Arena are seeking a first Finals title, and an eighth – Houghton – its first since 1982.
Division 1 – Friday
#1 Detroit Catholic Central (27-1) vs #4 Forest Hills Central (17-12) - 5 p.m.
#2 Hartland (22-6) vs #3 Brighton (21-7) - 7:30 p.m.
Division 2 - Thursday
#1 Byron Center (27-1) vs #4 Detroit U-D Jesuit (14-13) - 5 p.m.
#2 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (19-9) vs #3 Saginaw Heritage (16-11) - 7:30 p.m.
Division 3 - Friday
#1 Houghton (26-2) vs #4 East Grand Rapids (15-11-2) - 11 a.m.
#2 Riverview Gabriel Richard (20-7-1) vs #3 Flint Powers Catholic (21-6) - 1:30 p.m.
Saturday – Finals
Division 1 - 7:05 p.m.
Division 2 - 11:05 a.m.
Division 3 - 3:05 p.m.
All Semifinals and Finals will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv and viewable with subscription, with free audio broadcasts via the MHSAA Radio Network. For information on tickets and more, go to the Ice Hockey page – and see below for a glance at all 12 contenders.
Division 1
#1 DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 27-1, No. 1
Championship history: Sixteen MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), five runner-up finishes.
Coach: Brandon Kaleniecki, eighth season (188-29-2)
League finish: First in Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League North
Best wins: 7-1 over No. 2 Hartland, 2-1 over No. 3 Brighton, 4-1 over No. 4 Clarkston, 5-0 over No. 5 Livonia Stevenson, 6-2 and 6-3 over Division 2 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 3-1 over Division 2 No. 10 Detroit U-D Jesuit, 5-1 over Division 2 No. 6 Trenton, 5-2 over Division 3 No. 1 Houghton, 6-0 over Division 3 No. 2 Riverview Gabriel Richard, 3-1 and 3-1 over Division 3 No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
Players to watch: Landon West, sr. F (25 goals, 17 assists); Ryan Wantuck, sr. F (7 goals, 26 assists); Griffin Crampton, sr. F (9 goals, 23 assists); Andrew Urbain, sr. F (18 goals, 11 assists). (Statistics do not include postseason.)
Outlook: Detroit Catholic Central is playing for a fourth-straight Division 1 championship (not counting 2020, when the Finals were canceled due to COVID-19), and the Shamrocks are the favorite this weekend given their results against the rest of the best this winter. They haven’t allowed a goal over three playoff games, and senior goalies Luca Naurato and Kyle Moore have combined for 14 shutouts. The lone loss came 2-1 to Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame. West and Wantuck made the all-state first team last season, and there is plenty of scoring to go around as junior Nolan Galda had 15 goals and junior Cael Rogowski had 14 entering the postseason, while junior Jackson Walsh had nine and 21 assists and Galda (11), Rogowski (10) and senior defensemen Jason Spiegel (14) and Nate Grondzieleski (22) also had reached double-digit assists by regular season’s end.
#2 HARTLAND
Record/rank: 22-6, No. 2
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), two runner-up finishes.
Coach: Rick Gadwa, 12th season (254-72-13)
League finish: Second in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Best wins: 6-1 over No. 4 Clarkston in Regional Final, 3-0 over No. 7 Salem, 4-3 over No. 5 Livonia Stevenson, 4-3 (SO) over No. 3 Brighton, 6-3 over Division 2 No. 1 Byron Center, 4-2 over Division 2 No. 2 Marquette, 3-1 over Division 2 No. 6 Trenton, 5-2 over Division 2 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 5-1 over Division 2 No. 5 Saginaw Heritage, 6-5 over Division 3 No. 3 Flint Powers Catholic, 4-1 over Division 3 No. 2 Riverview Gabriel Richard.
Players to watch: Ben Pouliot, sr. F (15 goals, 20 assists); Braden Pietila, sr. D (14 goals, 14 assists); Jack L’Esperance, sr. F (28 goals, 26 assists); Lucas Henry, sr. F (12 goals, 28 assists). (Statistics do not include postseason.)
Outlook: Hartland won last season’s Division 2 championship and three of the last four before making the jump this winter. The Eagles started with losses to DCC and Stevenson before catching stride with seven straight wins, and they’ve won 11 straight against in-state opponents since falling to Brighton in the rivals’ second meeting 5-4. Pouliot, Pietila and L’Esperance made the all-state first team last season, L’Esperance as a defenseman although he’s centering the second line now. Sophomore Ian Kastamo had added eight goals and 24 assists heading into the playoffs, with senior Jacob Lewis (12/17) and junior LJ Sabala (4/10) also providing offensive boosts from the wings and senior Isaac Frantti (3/22) and freshman Eli Sturos (5/16) setting teammates up well from their spots on defense.
#3 BRIGHTON
Record/rank: 21-7, No. 3
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2018), three runner-up finishes.
Coach: Kurt Kivisto, third season (53-18-4)
League finish: First in KLAA West and overall
Best wins: 3-2 (2OT – Quarterfinal), 4-2 and 4-2 over No. 5 Livonia Stevenson, 5-4 (OT) and 5-3 over No. 7 Salem, 5-4 (OT) over No. 2 Hartland, 7-6 over No. 8 Muskegon Mona Shores, 2-1 over Division 2 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 7-3 over Division 2 No. 5 Saginaw Heritage, 5-1 over Division 2 No. 10 Detroit U-D Jesuit, 2-1 over Division 3 No. 5 Detroit Country Day.
Players to watch: Cameron Duffany, jr. F (29 goals, 29 assists); Lane Petit, jr. F (28 goals, 17 assists); Mattix McMullen, sr. D (3 goals, 25 assists); Levi Pennala, jr. G (2.31 goals-against average).
Outlook: Last season’s Division 1 runner-up has strung together an impressive run over six straight wins with those over Stevenson twice, once against Jesuit and Brother Rice and in playoff shutouts of Ann Arbor Pioneer and Saline. Duffany, McMullen and Pennala all made the all-state first team last season, while Petit made the second. Seniors Dominic Vincent (13 goals/18 assists), Evan Wohlart (12/15) and Dylan Hunt (8/10); and juniors Charlie Burchfield (10/9) and Aiden Seiter (3/14) add more scoring punch to the top lines.
#4 GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS CENTRAL
Record/rank: 17-12, unranked
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Coach: Bill McSween, third season (36-38)
League finish: Fifth in Ottawa-Kent Conference Baum
Best wins: 3-1 (Regional Final) and 3-1 over No. 8 Muskegon Mona Shores, 3-0 over Mattawan, 3-0 over East Grand Rapids.
Players to watch: Sammy Mielock, sr. F (38 goals, 25 assists); Benny Mielock, fr. F (15 goals, 11 assists); Gibson Grendel, soph. D (6 goals, 24 assists); Anthony Ott, sr. F (12 goals, 6 assists).
Outlook: This will be the Rangers’ first trip to the Semifinals since 1987 and comes after they played in Division 3 last season. Forest Hills Central is 12-1 over its last 13 games and has avenged early losses to Mona Shores, East Grand Rapids and Jenison. Sammy Mielock made the all-state second team last season and gets some additional offensive help from junior Owen Barber (8 goals/12 assists) and sophomore Rocco Gonzalez (6/15). Junior Peter Nemmers is expected to start in net and has a 1.77 goals-against average and five shutouts.
Division 2
#1 BYRON CENTER
Record/rank: 27-1, No. 1
Championship history: Division 2 runner-up 2021.
Coach: Jordan Steger, first season (27-1)
League finish: First in O-K Rue.
Best wins: 4-2 (Regional Final) and 4-1 over No. 8 Grand Rapids Christian, 4-1 over No. 5 Saginaw Heritage, 2-1 over No. 2 Marquette, 4-1 over Division 1 No. 5 Livonia Stevenson, 7-0 over Division 1 No. 6 Lake Orion, 6-3 over Division 1 No. 8 Muskegon Mona Shores, 4-0 and 4-2 over Division 3 No. 6 Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 4-1 over Division 3 No. 3 Flint Powers Catholic.
Players to watch: Jackson Froysland, jr. F (21 goals, 35 assists); Josh Philo, sr. D (7 goals, 14 assists); Brady Breit, sr. F (23 goals, 22 assists); Carson MacKenzie, sr. G (1.25 goals-against average, .934 save %).
Outlook: After a Quarterfinal loss last season to eventual champion Hartland, Byron Center has stormed back and then some with its only defeat this winter to the Eagles – who are now in Division 1. Froysland, Philo, Breit and MacKenzie all made the all-state second team last season. Byron Center is averaging 5.6 goals per game, with senior Logan Nickolaus (24 goals/26 assists), junior Cade Pratt (12/37), senior Eli Kamminga (15/15) and junior Ben Passeno (10/13) also putting up double-digit goals and junior Dalton Clark (3/15) and senior Matthew Brougham (4/12) among assists leaders. Steger served as an assistant for three seasons before taking over the program this winter.
#2 BLOOMFIELD HILLS BROTHER RICE
Record/rank: 19-9, No. 4
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2021), two runner-up finishes.
Coach: Kenny Chaput, seventh season (123-56-9)
League finish: Second in Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League North
Best wins: 9-2 over No. 10 Detroit U-D Jesuit, 6-0 over No. 6 Trenton, 4-2 over No. 2 Marquette, 4-1 over Division 1 No. 8 Muskegon Mona Shores, 4-3 and 2-1 over Division 3 No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
Players to watch: Peter Rosa, sr. F (32 goals, 42 assists); Andrew Marone, sr. F (40 goals, 34 assists); Caiden Ramos, jr. F (10 goals, 17 assists); Jack Cassidy, sr. F (11 goals, 17 assists).
Outlook: After winning Division 2 in 2021, Brother Rice finished up in the Semifinals last season but again is paced by multi-season all-staters Rosa and Marone – who made the first and second teams, respectively, last winter. They and Cassidy make up an intimidating top line, while Ramos centers the second. Johnny Kunz (19), Andrew Lindsay (15) and Roman Villaire (10) are among assists leaders, the first two making up the top defensive pair. The Warriors have won nine of their last 10 games against in-state opponents, the lone defeat during that string to Division 1 contender Brighton in the regular-season finale.
#3 SAGINAW HERITAGE
Record/rank: 16-11, No. 5
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2019 and 2018.
Coach: JJ Bamberger, 15th season (262-118-11)
League finish: Second in Saginaw Valley League
Best wins: 4-1 over No. 3 Alpena in Quarterfinal, 4-0 (Regional Final) and 3-0 over No. 9 Midland, 6-2 over No. 8 Grand Rapids Christian, 8-5 over Division 1 No. 8 Muskegon Mona Shores, 5-2 over Division 1 No. 7 Salem, 1-0 over Division 3 No. 6 Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Mason Cole, sr. C/D (20 goals, 35 assists); Cole Winter, sr. RW (15 goals, 17 assists); Owen Turner, jr. D (16 goals, 19 assists); Ethan Westendorf, sr. F (10 goals, 15 assists).
Outlook: Heritage is back for the first time since that most recent runner-up season of 2019 but won’t see anything too unfamiliar after playing a schedule that included games over 16 teams ranked at the end of the regular season. The Quarterfinal win over Alpena avenged a 3-2 loss from Jan. 14. Junior Owen Gohm (12 goals/8 assists) centers the top line, and junior forward Nolan Drapp (9/14) also is among top scorers. Cole and Turner are expected to make up the top defense pair this weekend, but Cole played most of the season at center.
# DETROIT U-D JESUIT
Record/rank: 14-13, No. 10
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Coach: Paul Moretz, second season (22-32)
League finish: Third in Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League South
Best wins: 2-1 (OT - Quarterfinal), 6-3 and 4-3 over No. 6 Trenton, 7-2 over Livonia Churchill in Regional Final, 7-3 over Division 3 No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 4-1 over East Grand Rapids.
Players to watch: Aiden Charron, jr. F (16 goals/9 assists); Carter Cate, jr. F (15 goals/6 assists); Michael Shubeck, jr. F (3 goals, 15 assists); Nolan Davis, soph. D (6 goals/10 assists).
Outlook: Jesuit is headed to the Semifinals for the first time since 2016 in Division 1 and has faced off against many of the best in the state under Moretz, who previously coached Grosse Pointe South and Marysville to similar successes. The Cubs have given up only five goals over three playoff games against 15 scored and are on a four-game winning streak total as they’ve taken a jump from 8-19 in Moretz’ first season leading the program. A total of 11 players have at least six assists, with junior defensemen Henry Balasia also among leaders with nine and senior Jack Widgren (7 goals/7 assists) and junior Thomas Angell (8/6) providing more offensive boost.
Division 3
#1 HOUGHTON
Record/rank: 26-2, No. 1
Championship history: Class B-C-D champion 1982, five runner-up finishes.
Coach: Corey Markham, 24th season (396-163-22)
League finish: First in Great Lakes Hockey Conference
Best wins: 6-0 over Division 1 No. 3 Brighton, 5-1 over Division 1 No. 2 Hartland, 9-4 over Division 1 No. 7 Salem, 5-2 over Division 2 No. 10 Detroit U-D Jesuit, 6-5 over Division 2 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 6-3 over Division 2 No. 5 Saginaw Heritage, 3-0 over Division 2 No. 2 Marquette.
Players to watch: Landon Stevens, sr. F (40 goals, 36 assists); Camden Markham, sr. F (37 goals, 45 assists), Gaborik Carlson, sr. F (15 goals, 42 assists), Michael Maillette, jr. F (32 goals, 21 assists).
Outlook: Perhaps the most impressive part of an incredibly impressive run for the Gremlins is that they’ve faced – and gone 5-1 – against six other teams playing at USA Hockey Arena this weekend, and all six are in Divisions 1 and 2. The two losses came in February, 5-2 to DCC and 4-3 to Division 2 No. 2 Marquette. Houghton has reached the Semifinals six times since its lone championship and finished Division 3 runner-up most recently in 2019. Camden Markham made the all-state first team last season and Carlson made the second. Junior Bryant Lee sees almost all of the action in net and has 1.70 goals-against average and seven shutouts, while senior Sully Rajala (8 goals, 30 assists), sophomore Jace DeForge (12/15) and junior defensemen Connor Raffaelli (3/28) and Wyatt Jenkins (2/10) also have put up some big numbers.
#2 RIVERVIEW GABRIEL RICHARD
Record/rank: 20-7-1, No. 2
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2003, Class B-C-D runner-up 1992.
Coach: Rick Desana, 18th season (260-193-2)
League finish: First in Metro League East
Best wins: 6-1 over No. 10 Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard/Greenhills in Quarterfinal, 4-3 and 3-2 over No. 5 Detroit Country Day, 6-3 over No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 5-0 over Division 1 No. 3 Brighton, 5-1 over Division 2 No. 6 Trenton, 5-4 over Division 2 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice.
Players to watch: Aidan Gonzalez, sr. RW (21 goals, 27 assists); Robbie Chiles, sr. LW (13 goals, 21 assists); Jimmy Monks, sr. LW (24 goals, 53 assists); Brody Kirkpatrick, sr. C (16 goals, 25 assists). (Statistics do not include postseason.)
Outlook: Gabriel Richard is back at the Semifinals for the first time since back-to-back trips in 2018 and 2019 and after winning a sixth-straight Regional title. The Pioneers are on a seven-game winning streak since a 4-3 loss to Flint Powers, their Semifinal opponent. The other six losses were to ranked teams from Division 1 or 2 or an out-of-state opponent. Monks made the all-state first team last season, and Chiles earned an honorable mention. Senior Brenden Paden (19 goals/11 assists) was the second-leading scorer, and senior Nick DiSanto, junior Brendan Brothers and sophomore Tony Venturini also had reached double-digit assists heading into the postseason.
#3 FLINT POWERS CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 21-6, No. 3
Championship history: Seven runner-up finishes (most recent 2010).
Coach: Travis Perry, 17th season (340-105-21)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League
Best wins: 4-3 (Quarterfinal) and 3-0 over No. 5 Detroit Country Day, 4-3 No. 2 Riverview Gabriel Richard, 3-1 over No. 9 Chelsea, 8-1 over No. 6 Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 4-2 over East Grand Rapids, 6-2 over Division 1 No. 5 Livonia Stevenson, 4-3 over Division 2 No. 9 Midland, 6-3 over Division 2 No. 8 Grand Rapids Christian, 5-3 over Division 2 No. 5 Saginaw Heritage.
Players to watch: Mason Czarnecki, sr. F (27 goals, 30 assists); Kyle Barbour, sr. D (8 goals, 28 assists); Cooper Gerhardt, sr. F (12 goals, 25 assists); Nicholas Kurtiak, sr. G (1.76 goals-against average).
Outlook: Powers is making its fourth trip to the Semifinals over the last seven seasons and first since 2021, paced by 11 seniors including the top two goalies and nine who help fill the top four lines. Czarnecki and Barbour made the all-state first team last season, Gerhardt and Kurtiak made the second and senior forward Weston Reinig (8 goals, 17 assists) earned honorable mention as a defenseman. Sophomore Andrew Parmenter (5/14), junior Nolan Berner (12/9), seniors Michael Tucker (16/12) and Jack Dawley (9/8), and junior Brendan Sly (4/12) are just some of the rest who have put up strong numbers.
#4 EAST GRAND RAPIDS
Record/rank: 15-11-2, unranked
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2002.
Coach: Christopher Newton, fifth season (68-52-5)
League finish: Sixth in O-K Baum.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 7 Traverse Bay Reps in Quarterfinal, 4-2 over No. 6 Grand Rapids Catholic Central in Regional Final, 5-3 over No. 5 Detroit Country Day, 3-1 over Division 2 No. 8 Grand Rapids Christian, 4-0 over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central.
Players to watch: Ian MacKeigan, jr. F (11 goals, 13 assists); Tyler Sikkenga, sr. F (18 goals, 14 assists); Scotty Millman, jr. F (9 goals, 13 assists); Charlie Hoekstra, jr. F (11 goals, 8 assists).
Outlook: East Grand Rapids provides plenty of evidence of the power of playing a strong schedule, going from sixth in its league to its second-straight Regional title and a return to the Semifinals for the third time in five seasons. EGR’s league also includes Division 1 semifinalist Forest Hills Central and two ranked teams, and the Pioneers have strung together seven straight wins including four in the playoffs by a combined 14-5 margin. Sophomore Brady Ross (5 goals/12 assists) is another important offensive contributor.
PHOTO Detroit Catholic Central’s Jackson Walsh (12) sends a shot toward Brighton goalie Levi Pennala during last season’s Division 1 Final.