![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.](/sites/default/files/2024-03/240308_D1h_2H2.png)
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.
![Manistique hockey](/sites/default/files/2022-02/220207_Manistique_2H.jpg)
Manistique Hockey Co-Op Off to Successful Debut
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
February 4, 2022
MANISTIQUE — There’s a new kid on the block in Upper Peninsula high school hockey this season.
The Manistique Emeralds, who launched a co-op program for the first time, already have made some noise while posting a 5-4-1 record through their first 10 games.
Manistique is fresh from a 2-1 triumph over Painesdale Jeffers on home ice Saturday.
Also included in the co-op venture are Newberry, Munising and Eben Junction Superior Central.
“It feels great to have a high school program here,” said Manistique junior forward Carter Miller. “This is a big change from house league hockey. The high school game is a lot faster. This has been a pretty big transition. We had to get in shape faster and start a little earlier.”
The victory ended a two-game losing streak for the Emeralds, who dropped a 6-5 overtime decision to Escanaba on Friday and absorbed a 2-1 loss to Kingsford at Iron Mountain Jan. 25.
“It was a very exciting game last night,” coach John Nutkins said after Saturday’s game. “We trailed by three goals twice and took them into overtime. I think that gave us a lot of momentum for the rest of the season. We outplayed Kingsford, but had trouble putting the puck in the net. The guys are pulling together. We have to keep working and improving. We feel we’re in a stretch where we can win some games.”
The Emeralds travel to the Copper Country this weekend to face Negaunee on Friday and Jeffers on Saturday at Michigan Tech.
“They (Negaunee) don’t have a lot of guys, but they take quick shots,” said sophomore goaltender Alex Noble. “We just have to put pressure on the puck.
“(Defeating Jeffers) is a big W for us. I think this will give us momentum going into next weekend. We’ve been in a lot of close games. We didn’t give up against Esky. That was a real big game for us.”
Dakota Maki, a senior forward from Superior Central, put the Emeralds on the board first in a 6-1 road loss to Escanaba.
“That’s definitely not a game we want to remember,” said Nutkins. “Although, it was exciting to get the early goal. They have a great hockey program, but I don’t think that’s who we are. It’s always kind of a feeling out process. In the first game at Iron Mountain they (Kingsford) were flying. It was kind of a culture shock. I feel we’ve improved a lot from the beginning of the season.”
Manistique dropped a 1-0 decision to the Flivvers on Nov. 18, then tied with Jeffers 1-1 and beat the Hancock jayvees 2-0 at MTU at the start of December.
The Emeralds followed that with a 7-3 triumph over Kingsford in their home debut Dec. 16.
“That was definitely exciting,” said Gavin Nutkins, a sophomore forward from Newberry. “There were more than 300 people here. I’ve never experienced that before. The fans have supported us very well. I think we’ve done very well. We are just getting into game shape, and it’s starting to show.”
Noble stopped 26 shots in Saturday’s victory over Jeffers.
“This is a big step up,” he said. “We just have to work hard for it. This is a bit stronger competition and a faster game.”
Gavin Nutkins said he got interested in hockey at a very young age.
“I played baseball and football, but nothing compares with hockey,” he added. “It’s really hard with school. My dad’s the coach, which makes it a little easier. It’s about an hour’s drive both ways. We usually get home about 9:30 or 10 p.m., then I have to study for 2-3 hours, get about six hours of sleep and go to school. Sometimes you get a little tired.”
John Vrancic has covered high school sports in the Upper Peninsula since joining the Escanaba Daily Press staff in 1985. He is known most prominently across the peninsula for his extensive coverage of cross country and track & field that frequently appears in newspapers from the Wisconsin border to Lake Huron. He received the James Trethewey Award for Distinguished Service in 2015 from the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
PHOTOS (Top) Manistique attempts to maintain possession against Painesdale Jeffers. (Middle) The Emeralds defend in front of their goal against Escanaba last month. (Photos by Veronica Edwards.)