Where Everyone Knows Your Name
July 12, 2019
By Rob Kaminski
MHSAA benchmarks editor
As the final horn sounded March 9 at the end of the MHSAA Division 1 Ice Hockey Final, another successful campaign was in the books.
The tournament attracted more than 40,000 spectators from the time the first pucks dropped Feb. 25, including a three-year high of more than 6,000 across 12 Quarterfinal sites. More than 200 schools and 3,000 participants combined to make up the 145 teams that battled for championships as high school hockey continued to enjoy great popularity in Michigan.
The Great Lakes State ranks third among the number of schools and fourth in participation among the 18 states nationally which sponsor the sport. Some of the sights and sounds from this year’s Finals at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth indicate the sport is on solid ice.
“The travel team I played for disbanded last year, and I needed a place to play. I should have done this years ago. What a great experience. Did you see our student section? People even know who I am at school now, and that I play a sport.” — Domenico Munaco, Rochester United goalie after stopping 49 of 53 shots in 4-2 Division 1 Semifinal loss
“This is better. Going to school with everybody every day is just a great time.” — Hartland’s Adam Pietila, who won a national championship with his travel team in April 2018 and this past winter helped Hartland win the MHSAA Division 2 title
PHOTO: Rochester United goalie Domenico Munaco anticipates a shot during his team’s Division 1 Semifinal this past winter against Detroit Catholic Central.
Performance of the Week: Bay City Western's Nash Leonard
December 20, 2024
Nash Leonard ♦ Bay City Western
Senior ♦ Hockey
Leonard, the goalie for the Bay City Wolves cooperative team, had 31 saves during a 2-0 win over Rockford and 27 more saves in a 1-0 shootout victory over Chippewa Valley United during the Bay City Showcase as the Wolves improved to 7-2 this season. Leonard is in his fourth season in net for the Bay City program, which includes students from Bay City Central and Western.
Leonard’s goals-against average hovered at 2.80 per game over his first two seasons, then improved to 2.18 last winter, and he totaled a combined nine shutouts over his first three seasons. His goals-against average this winter has improved to 1.58 after the weekend’s pair of shutouts as he’s been in net for seven of the team’s nine games. Leonard also is a standout golfer and led Bay County in scoring average in that sport as a freshman. He hopes to play either of his sports in college and intends to study finance.
@mhsaasports 🏒POW: Nash Leonard #hockey #BCWestern #showcase #shutout #part1 #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA
@mhsaasports 🏒POW: Nash Leonard #tiktalk #questiontime #suits #nightowl #qdoba #flying #pepperoni #snow #laughing #part2 #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
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Previous 2024-25 honorees
Dec. 11: Blake Cosby, Dundee wrestling - Report
Dec. 4: Keaton Hendricks, Zeeland West football - Report
Nov. 29: Kate Simon, East Grand Rapids swimming - Report
Nov. 22: Ella Kokaly, Essexville Garber softball - Report
Nov. 15: Caroline Bryan, Grosse Pointe South swimming - Report
Nov. 8: Kaylie Livingston, Whitmore Lake cross country - Report
Oct. 25: Oliver Caldwell, Grand Rapids West Catholic tennis - Report
Oct. 18: Alex Graham, Detroit Cass Tech football - Report
Oct. 11: Victoria Garces, Midland Dow cross country - Report
Oct. 4: Asher Clark, Bay City John Glenn soccer - Report
Sept. 26: Campbell Flynn, Farmington Hills Mercy volleyball - Report
Sept. 19: TJ Hansen, Freeland cross country - Report
Sept. 12: Jordan Peters, Grayling soccer - Report
Sept. 6: Gabe Litzner, Sault Ste. Marie cross country - Report
Aug. 30: Grace Slocum, Traverse City St. Francis golf - Report
(Photos courtesy of the Bay City Western athletic department.)