Team of the Month: Byron Center Hockey
January 13, 2023
Byron Center ice hockey has done nothing but trend upward since its start as a program in 2016-17, with Regional titles the last four seasons, two trips to the Semifinals and a Division 2 runner-up finish in 2021.
There aren’t many rungs left to climb – but if the start of this season is an indication, the Bulldogs may be nearing that final step as this winter rolls past its midpoint
Byron Center is 14-0 heading into this weekend’s trip to Traverse City for the Rick Deneweth Memorial North-South Showcase, where the Bulldogs will face Marquette tonight and Lake Orion on Saturday. Byron Center also is ranked No. 1 in Division 2 in part on the strength of a December that saw the team win eight games while giving up a combined 10 goals – earning the Bulldogs the honor as MHSAA/Applebee’s “Team of the Month.”
They’ve played one game since the end of holiday break, shutting out Rockford last weekend after heading into the two-week layoff by also shutting out the Rams. Byron Center total has five shutouts total this winter and allowed only one goal in four others games, backstopped by senior goaltenders Carson MacKenzie (1.30 goals-against average) and Devon Lay (1.07).
It’s also not just how the Bulldogs have won, but who they’ve defeated. They started December with a shutout of Midland Dow – which admittedly is having a rough go this season, but remains the reigning Division 3 champion. Byron Center followed with a 4-1 win over current Division 3 No. 2 Flint Powers Catholic, and also picked up wins during December over Division 1 No. 6 Muskegon Mona Shores (6-3) and Division 3 No. 8 Grand Rapids Catholic Central (4-2). Those were in addition to handing Division 3 No. 10 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern/Eastern its first loss, 3-1, on Nov. 25.
The Byron Center team is a cooperative that includes players from Wayland and Grand Rapids South Christian. The Bulldogs are a combined 123-46-4 under coach Jordan Steger since that start in 2016-17, and a 2019-20 Division 1 tournament run was stopped in the Semifinals when the season was abruptly ended due to COVID-19.
MacKenzie made the all-state second team last season and is one of four all-state honorees back from a year ago; senior forward Brady Breit, junior forward Jackson Froysland and senior defenseman Josh Philo also made the all-state second team at their positions.
Breit and senior forward Logan Nickolaus lead with 12 goals and Nickolaus has a team-high 28 points, with Breit at 23 points and Froysland at 10 goals and 22 points total. Junior forward Cade Pratt has eight goals and 17 assists for a team second-best 25 points.
Past Teams of the Month, 2022-23
November: Martin football - Report
October: Gladwin volleyball - Report
September: Negaunee girls tennis - Report
Story in Photos: 2023 Ice Hockey Semifinals
March 10, 2023
PLYMOUTH – This season’s MHSAA Hockey Finals will include a Division 1 rematch of last season’s deciding game, a Division 2 rematch of the 2021 finale and a Division 3 championship game guaranteed to produce a first-time title winner.
All three Finals are Saturday at Plymouth’s USA Hockey Arena:
Division 2 – 11 a.m. – Byron Center vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
Division 3 – 3 p.m. – Flint Powers Catholic vs. East Grand Rapids
Division 1 – 7 p.m. – Detroit Catholic Central vs. Brighton
Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured plenty of action from the Semifinals – all photos and text below are by John Castine. Click for more as they are posted.
Evan Wohlart (8), who later scored the game winner in Brighton’s 4-3 triple-overtime win in Division 1 on Friday, has a shot blocked by Hartland goalie Colin Babcock.
Detroit Catholic Central gets a breakaway goal from John Rocco despite being shorthanded two players on the way to a 2-0 Division 1 win Friday over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central.
DCC goalie Kyle Moore makes a save during his shutout performance.
Byron Center goalie Carson MacKenzie turns away a shot during the second period against U-D Jesuit on Thursday.
Byron Center players celebrate their 8-4 Division 2 Semifinal win over the Cubs.
Brother Rice’s Luke Sacca scores during the first minute of the third period of his team’s 11-3 win over Saginaw Heritage in Division 2.
Jack Cassidy (21) and teammate Peter Rosa celebrate Cassidy’s game-ending goal Thursday.
East Grand Rapids' Charlie Hoekstra (16) fires the game-winning overtime goal with 1:11 left to play in the first extra period to give his team a 2-1 win over Houghton.
EGR players rush to the glass in front of their fans Friday to celebrate the comeback win.
Mason Czarnecki scores Flint Powers Catholic’s fifth goal of a 6-0 win Friday over Riverview Gabriel Richard in Division 3.
Chargers goalie Nicholas Kurtiak makes one of 25 saves in his shutout performance.
TOP PHOTO Brighton’s Charlie Burchfield nearly flies over the goal after getting stopped during the third period of his team’s win over Hartland.