Story in Photos: 2024 Ice Hockey Semifinals
March 8, 2024
PLYMOUTH – The 2023-24 hockey season will conclude Saturday with a pair of championship matchups that followed the final coaches association rankings, and for the second straight season a Division 3 matchup that defies them.
Division 2 will start Saturday’s MHSAA Finals at 11 a.m. with top-ranked Byron Center facing No. 2 Trenton. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood will give the Division 3 Final an unranked contender for the second straight season, as the Cranes face No. 3 East Grand Rapids at 3 p.m. The Division 1 Final will feature top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central vs. No. 2 Brighton for the third straight season, with the puck dropping at 7 p.m. to finish the day at Plymouth’s USA Hockey Arena.
Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured plenty of action from the Semifinals – all photos below are by John Castine.
Detroit Catholic Central’s Cael Rogowski (8) sends a shot during his team’s Semifinal win over Muskegon Reeths-Puffer. Rogowski scored during the second period of the 8-0 victory.
Brighton’s Cameron Duffany (16) leads a rush up the ice during his team’s overtime 4-3 Semifinal win over Clarkston. He scored the game’s first goal and added a second during the second period.
The Bulldogs’ Lane Petit (22) and Clarkston’s Trey Damian (23) work for position. Petit’s goal gave Brighton a 2-0 lead early in the second period.
Byron Center’s Collin Storey (22) rockets a shot during his team’s 6-2 Division 2 Semifinal win over Saginaw Heritage. He assisted on the game’s first goal.
Kasey Brehm (21) retains control of the puck; he scored a second-period goal.
Trenton’s Liam Summitt (4) considers his options during his team’s 5-0 Division 2 Semifinal win over White Lake Lakeland. Summitt had two assists.
The Trojans’ Jayden Jones (15) and Eagles’ Joe Sesi (24) get tangled up. Jones scored the game’s first goal and added a second during the third period.
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook goalie Garrett Dudlar covers the left side of the goal with a loose puck in front of the crease. Dudlar had 35 saves in the Cranes 5-0 Semifinal win over Houghton.
Cranes senior Michael Horton (13) and Houghton junior Jace DeForge pursue a loose puck. Horton had a goal and an assist.
East Grand Rapids senior Ian MacKeigan charges toward the puck during his team’s 3-0 win over Traverse Bay Reps as the Pioneers earned their second-straight championship game berth.
Pioneers senior Glenn Green (8) and Bay Reps senior Larson Millar work to gain possession.
TOP PHOTO Detroit Catholic Central’s Joshua Granowicz (14) and Muskegon Reeths-Puffer’s Eli Cuti (17) await a faceoff during their Division 1 Semifinal on March 8 at USA Hockey Arena.
Be the Referee: Neck Laceration Protector
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
December 10, 2024
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Neck Laceration Protector - Listen
In ice hockey, all players – including the goalie – must wear a neck laceration protector. This has been the rule in Michigan for a number of years but is now a national playing rule.
The ice hockey rule book states the protector must be worn in its original manufactured state, as intended, during competition.
Should a player enter a game without the neck laceration protector, or if it comes off during play, that player must go to the bench and can only return when the protector has been properly affixed. If the player refuses to wear the equipment, play will be stopped, and a two-minute penalty will be assessed to that player.
Goalies must wear the protector underneath and separate from the flapper-style throat protector at the bottom of their mask.
Previous 2024-25 Editions
Dec. 3: Basketball Goaltending - Listen
Nov. 26: 11-Player Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 19: 8-Player vs. 11-Player Football - Listen
Nov. 12: Back Row Setter - Listen
Nov. 5: Football OT - Listen
Oct. 29: Officials Registration - Listen
Oct. 22: Volleyball Serve - Listen
Oct. 15: "You Make the Call" - Soccer Offside - Listen
Oct. 8: Roughing the Passer - Listen
Oct. 1: Abnormal Course Condition - Listen
Sept. 25: Tennis Nets - Listen
Sept. 18: Libero - Listen
Sept. 10: Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen
PHOTO Marquette's Connor Stade (20) takes a shot, but Houghton's Cooper Flachs (30) is able to cover up the puck during their November matchup. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)