Michigan Hockey April 5, 2010

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V.20:I.17 | April 5, 2010FIRST CLASS

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PAGE 22 PAGE 38PAGE 18-19

USA Hockey Girls’ National Tournament in Michigan

Lansing hosts nation’s top Tier 2 teams

MAHA StateTournamentsCompetition

wraps up after four weekends

of play

Junior Hockey

Whalers get Windsor in

second round of OHL playoff s

AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT Adray Community Hockey League crowns state champions 6Suburban Ice 10U girls win at Livonia Tournament 8Birmingham Rangers mount big comeback for LCAHL title 8Michigan Sled Dogs plan big weekend 9LCAHL playoff champions 9 Livingston Lightning come from behind for Pepsi Challenge title 10Red Wings legend wows crowd at Michigan Ice Hawks’ banquet 10Knights 10U Girls make fi nals of Livonia Tournament 12Livonia 12U Knights win girls LCAHL playoff title 12

GET BETTER Acceleration from crossovers 13

TRAINING TABLE BY DAN BREAULT Treating Acute Injuries 14

STATE OF THE GAME BY LYLE PHAIR De-Regulating House Hockey 15

FROM THE CREASE BY STEVE MCKICHAN An Argument for Practice Realism 16BY ELI WILSON The Knee Drop 17

USA HOCKEY GIRLS’ NATIONALS Tier 2 National Championship coming to Lansing 18-19

HOMETOWN HERO Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 20

HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEYLiggett’s Paige Counsman named Miss Hockey 31Girls All-State Teams 31St. Mary Catholic Central’s Chris Hughes named Mr. Hockey 32Boys All-State Teams 32

REEBOK TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 46

JUNIOR HOCKEYMarquette clinches NAHL North Division title 36Whalers move on in OHL playoff s, Spirit knocked out 38

COLLEGE HOCKEYMichigan wins CCHA Mason Cup playoff title 40Fan Fest has busy weekend 40

RED WINGS & NHL INSIDERSDave Waddell: No one wants to play Red Wings now 46Kevin Allen: Race to fi nish at the bottom 46

PAGE 42-44PAGE 42-44

Table of Contents

April 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17

PAGE 42-44PAGE 42-44

Our big night for amateur hockey celebrates all the MAHA state champions. We’ll also

announce the winners of our 2010 MH Awards and take a look at the USA Hockey Girls National

Tournament in Lansing and the Frozen Four at Detroit’s Ford Field. Look for it on arena stands

and in your e-mail In Box on April 23.

Advertising copy is due on April 14.

Contact Lucia Zuzga at 248-479-1134 [email protected] for more info.

COMING IN OUR NEXT ISSUEMH BANQUET OF CHAMPIONSMH BANQUET OF CHAMPIONSMH BANQUET OF CHAMPIONSMH BANQUET OF CHAMPIONS

Frozen Four at Ford FieldCameron Burt and RIT join Wisconsin,

Boston College and Miami to compete for a national title in Detroit.

Navigating the Frozen Waters will return next issue with a look at the Ontario Hockey League

5Michigan HockeyMichiganHockeyOnline.com

Road to a MAHA state title

FROM THE EDITOR

After four weekends, 37 divisions and almost 500 games in Taylor, Mount Clemens, Marquette, Midland and 11 other points in between, the 2010 MAHA youth state tournaments are in the book.

Congratulations to all the players who competed hard, all the coaches who led their teams, all the parents that cheered win or lose and a hearty thank you to all the volunteers that made it happen.

And whether you won or lost, hopefully the road to the state tournament was full of fun and friendships and something you’ll remember the rest of your life.

Congratulations to the 2010 MAHA state championship teams: Girls 12U T2 Livonia Knights; Girls 14U T2 Michigan Icebreakers; Girls 16U T2 Birmingham Rangers; Girls 19U T2 St. Clair Shores Saintes; Girls 12U T1 Little Caesars; Girls 14U T1 Honeybaked; Girls 16U T1 Little Caesars; Girls 19U T1 Little Caesars; Squirt B Iron River; Squirt A Midland Northstars; Squirt AA Novi Ice Cats; Squirt AAA Minor Victory Honda; Squirt AAA Major Belle Tire; Pee Wee B Escanaba; Pee Wee A Allen Park Huskies; Pee Wee AA Belle Tire; Pee Wee AAA Minor Little Caesars; Pee Wee AAA Major Compuware; Bantam B Mt. Clemens Wild; Bantam A West Michigan Warriors; Bantam AA Grand Rapids Griffi ns; Bantam AAA Minor Belle Tire; Bantam AAA Major Honeybaked; Midget B Redford Wolfpack; Midget BB Alpena; Midget A St. Clair Shores Saints; Midget AA Mt. Clemens Wolves; Midget AAA Minor Compuware, Midget AAA Major Belle Tire, JV T1 South Lyon; JV T2 Brighton; Women’s Sr. B O’Leary Hawks; Women’s Sr. C Mission; Men’s T1 Ragold Lucent; Men’s T2 Shamrocks; Men’s T3 Belle Tire and Men’s Over 30 Ford.

We look forward to seeing you at the 18th Annual Michigan Hockey Banquet of Champions, April 13 at Rock Financial Place in Novi.

And don’t forget – Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Wisconsin, Boston College and Miami are headed to Detroit’s Ford Field for college hockey’s marquee event, the Frozen Four, on April 8 and 10. Downtown Detroit will be hockey central the whole weekend so if you’ve got your tickets, see you there. If you don’t have them yet, call 800-745-3000 or check out ncaa.com/frozenfour.


Photos this page (from top, L to R): Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) sophomore forward and Detroit native Cameron Burt comes home to compete in the Frozen Four by Mike Bradley/RIT Hockey; Birmingham Rangers players Anna Reinhart, Karsyn Baker, Nichole Lafl amme and Janie Obee get ready for the USA Hockey Girls’ Tier 2 National Tournament by Larry O’Connor/Michigan Hockey; Compuware Pee Wee AAA Major state champions by Carl Chimenti/Michigan Hockey; Whalers A.J Jenks and Phil McRae knock out the Soo in OHL playoff s/Walt Dmoch/Plymouth Whalers.

Cover reprints availableemail: [email protected]

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EDITORIAL BOARD: Bob DeSpirt, Christine Szarek, Derek Blair, James Jenkins, Julie Pardoski, Kirk Vickers, Linda HollandLisa Zarzycki, Mark Vansaw, Nyron Fauconier, Randy PaquetteRob Mattina, Susan Bottrell, Tim Wilson, Todd Krygier

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MICHIGAN HOCKEY® welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be signed and include the writer's full home address and day and evening telephone numbers.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY is published by SUBURBAN SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MICHIGAN HOCKEY®, 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829. ©2010 by Suburban Sports Communications. All Rights Reserved. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of MICHIGAN HOCKEY or its advertisers. All editorial copy, photographs and advertising materials remain the property of MICHIGAN HOCKEY.

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From the EditorApril 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17

HEALTHY MEALS for Hockey Moms

submitted by Hockey Moms

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 cup water

1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) taco seasoning mix

1 cup refried beans, warmed

4 tostada shells (6 inch)

1/2 cup shredded four cheese

1 cup shredded lettuce

1 avocado, chopped

1/4 cup salsa

1/4 cup sour cream

COOK and stir chicken in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat 3 min. or until no longer pink.

ADD water and seasoning mix; simmer on medium-low heat 5 min. or until chicken is done and sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally.

SPREAD beans onto tostada shells; top with layers of chicken mixture and remaining ingredients.

SALSA-CHICKENTOSTADAS

Submit your recipe & photo to: [email protected]

Contact Lucia @ 248-479-1134 if you would like to sponsor this unique program.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY23995 Freeway Park Drive • Suite 200

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your Hockey MomCongratulations to $50 Gift Certificate

Winners:January-Nikki PotterFebruary-John Lanzi

March - Thomas Reath

GO TO

BY JOHN RAFFELThe Adray Community Hockey League (ACHL) crowned fi ve

state champions over two weekends in March. Mt. Pleasant beat Southside to take the Midget Division title on March 14 in Kalamazoo, while the Mites, Squirts, Pee Wees and Bantam championships fi nished March 21 at Grand Rapids’ Patterson Ice Arena.

“Each of the divisions in Adray has playdowns in their own areas to determine which teams come to this tournament,” said ACHL president Jeff Spedowski. “This year we had two from the west, because it was being hosted here, plus one from the east and one from the metro division.”

A round-robin format was utilized and the teams with the best records advanced to the fi nals.

“Overall, we had a very good weekend,” said Spedowski. “Certainly the teams are happy to be here.”

The ACHL is fi nishing its 35th season and next year’s championship will be hosted by the East Division.

“The weekend was very well organized,” said Dave Radeka, who coached the Bay City Blizzard to a bantam division title. “The refs did a fantastic job. I told my players it was a journey since day one. And today it was closing the book.”

“The tournament was memorable and beyond words for me,” said Troy coach Kevin Peters, whose Sabres won the Pee Wee title. “I can’t think of a better way to end the season. This is a very special group of boys, from the newer players right to the experienced players. They grew as a team. They made each other better. We had so many special moments. Even if we had lost this game, it wouldn’t have mattered to me as a coach.

“They believed in themselves all season long. It was a tough road to get here from the Detroit metro division. There are a lot of great hockey teams out there that we had to beat to get here. That made us better.”

Mite Division - Holland No. 3 went home with the ACHL mite title after defeating GRAHA No. 1, 3-1. Justin Winegar started the scoring for Holland in the fi rst period, assisted by Connor Winegar and Jacob Neitzel. Kyle Kramer got GRAHA on the board, assisted by Bryan Huggans.

Holland’s Jack Harwell and Winegar notched unassisted goals in the second and third periods to put the game on ice.

Squirt Division - Saginaw No. 4 defeated GRAHA No. 3 for the ACHL Squirt state title, 3-2. Saginaw scored all three of its goals in the fi rst period. Parker Severson started it, assisted by Adam Depels Macker. The next two goals were both scored by Clay Charbeneau and assisted by Severson.

In the fi nal period GRAHA made it close on goals from Austin Brown (assisted by Hayden Sarjeant and Nicholas Vantil) and Samuel Schwierking (assisted by Hayden Heys).

Pee Wee Division - Andrew Peters had a hat trick to lead the Troy Sabres past Grand Valley 6-2 in the title game.

Peters opened the scoring with an unassisted goal early, before Brandon Rozema, assisted by Brett Veltema, tied the game for Grand Valley. Peters scored his second goal, assisted by Nick Omilian, before Grand Valley’s Veltema tied it, assisted by Rozema. Michael Abel put Troy ahead again, 3-2, late in the period with assists going to Jacob Howard and Omilian.

The Sabres put the game away with three goals in the second period. Thomas scored the fi rst goal, unassisted. Peters notched the second goal of the period and Howard added the third tally. Omilian assisted on both for his third and fourth points of the game.

Bantam Division - The Bay County Blizzard stormed back with two third-period goals and took a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Summit Lightning in the Bantam fi nal.

The Lightning scored the only goal of the fi rst period on a tally by Michael Coley, assisted by Austin Guzik. Bay County had the only score in the second period on a goal by Nicholas Christensen, assisted by Alex Schempp and Mason Curnutt. The Summit regained the lead, 2-1, early in the third period on a goal by Maxwell Roska, assisted by Michael Coley and Andrew Krolikowski. The Blizzard rallied with two unanswered goals to take the win. Schempp scored at 4:19, assisted by Connor Beuthin, and Keon Berg put in the game-winner at 11:37, assisted by Curnutt and Eddie Rodda.

Photos courtesy of ACHL

ACHL crowns state championsACHL crowns state championsACHL crowns state championsACHL crowns state champions

Amateur Hockey Report


Mite Champion Holland

Squirt Champion Saginaw

Pee Wee Champion Troy

Bantam Champion Bay County

Midget Champion Mt. Pleasant



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Great Sale Prices on Equipment From 2010 and Prior!

Fundamental Goalie SchoolOpen to goaltenders ages 7-12, this program focuses

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GOALIE EQUIPMENT RENTALGoaltending equipment – leg pads, arm and chest protector, catching glove,

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Advanced Goalie SchoolFeatures a maximum student-to-trainer ratio of 3-to-1 and is geared toward experienced goaltenders ages

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In each program, goaltenders are divided into small groups with the training in each skill station tailored to

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Available at Farmington Hills and Rochester locations.


Suburban Ice 10U girls win Suburban Ice 10U girls win at Livonia Tournamentat Livonia Tournament

Birmingham Rangers mount Birmingham Rangers mount big comeback for LCAHL titlebig comeback for LCAHL title

Amateur Hockey Report April 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17

The Girls 10U Suburban Ice capped off a terrifi c year by winning fi ve straight games, including a 6-5 overtime win over the Livonia Knights in the fi nal, to capture the Livonia End-of-the-Season Tournament on March 14 at Eddy Edgar Arena.

The Ice, who play out of Suburban Ice – Farmington Hills, opened with a 5-4 win over the host Knights. Suburban then knocked off the Birmingham Pink Wings, DSC Wildfl owers and Lansing Capitals to earn a rematch against Livonia for the title.

The fi nal game was a back-and-forth aff air that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Livonia took an early 1-0 lead on Paige Peterson’s unassisted goal but the Ice quickly tied it when Elizabeth Langley took a pass from Sadie Storm at center ice, went around a Livonia defender at the blueline and scored on a low shot to the shortside.

In the second period Langley got the puck to Ice linemate Skylar Byrne who centered it to Storm. Storm’s shot went top shelf to give Suburban a 2-1 lead. Livonia’s Vivian Kowalske then scored twice to give her team a one-goal lead, 3-2.

But the Ice tied it, 3-3, with 46 seconds left in the period when Isabel Allen scored on a shot along the ice from the high slot after Shannon Murphy and Sophia Colvin worked to keep the puck in the off ensive zone.

Early in the third period Suburban took the lead, 4-3, when Byrne scored from in close with assists going to Storm and Summer Lines. But just 13 seconds later Livonia answered again with a goal from Kaylee Keledjian. The Ice regained the one-goal lead 45 seconds later when Byrne notched her second goal of the game when she took a pass from Gracie Dickerson and scored from the left wing circle to make it 5-4.

The score stayed that way until Livonia’s Michelle Marzolo tied it, 5-5, with 5:01 left in regulation to set up overtime.

Minutes into the extra session Colvin dug out Langley’s shot from behind the net and jammed the puck into the Livonia goalie’s pads. Byrne crashed the net, grabbed the rebound and completed her hat trick to give the Ice a 6-5 OT win.

Ice goaltender Mikayla Pearson played great all weekend, and was especially good in the last few minutes of regulation and in the extra session in the fi nal.

The Suburban Ice 10U team is: Jayde Agnew, Isabel Allen, Skylar Byrne, Emilie Chen, Sophia Colvin, Gracie Dickerson, Shannon Duff , Elizabeth Langley, Summer Lines, Shannon Murphy, Mikayla Pearson, Alexane Rheaume and Sadie Storm.

Ice coaches are: Manon Rheaume, Pascal Rheaume, Ron Storm and Russell Duff .

What do seventeen 11 and 12-year olds from the Birmingham Rangers Pee Wee AA team have in common? Their personal dictionaries are all missing the word “quit.”

Down 4-0 early and 5-1 late in the second period to a speedy Orchard Lake Warriors team, the Rangers battled back to score four unanswered goals in regulation and went on to win in double overtime of the LCAHL playoff fi nal.

Dane Reinhart got the Rangers started when he redirected Tom Forester’s hard slapper from the point high into the net. Niklas Tewilliager also assisted on the play. The Warriors promptly answered with yet another goal to make it 5-1. Tommy Violante netted the Ranger’s second goal with a quick shot down low off a pass from Ian Melrose to make it 5-2.

In the fi nal period Dane Reinhart, with assists from Violante and Sean Abelarde, completed a hat trick going fi ve-hole for the next two scores to make it 5-4. Jack Reinhart then got the game tying goal with a shot from the point later in the third off passes from brother Dane and Violante.

“Between periods our coaches told us to think of the fi nal 15 minutes as a pick-up scrimmage at the end of one of our practices,” said Dane Reinhart. “We always score a bunch of goals in practice so why not go do the same thing here in the

third? And that’s just what we did.” With the stand packed with Ranger fans, the two teams

played a scoreless 4-on-4 overtime with Birmingham goalie Jack Leavy making some big saves.

In the 3-on-3 second overtime defenseman Sam Marcero buried a wrist shot off of a big rebound on a shot from Melrose. Melrose and Abelarde were credited with assists on the game winner that came 45 seconds in.

“Our boys have learned to overcome adversity and play with calm and confi dence in the most diffi cult circumstances,” said Rangers head coach, Jerry Reinhart. “They are 3 for 3 in overtime this season in championship games. They just have a way of getting it done. We are very proud of them all. I feel for the Warrior players and coaches. They battled well. Unfortunately, when a game ends this way it is only fun for one team.”

The Rangers are: Sean Abelarde, Cameron Barr, Stephan Demmers, Matthew Dolan, Diego Fernandez, Tom Forester, Josh Knoll, Jack Leavy, Sammy Marcero, Ian Melrose, Dane Reinhart, Jack Reinhart, William Semczak, Niklas Tewilliager, Tommy Violante, Carter Woolley and Jack Wydra. Coach Reinhart is assisted by Jack Leavy, Dan Tewilliager and Jason Woolley. Dave Marcero is team manager.

Suburban Ice 10U girls win Suburban Ice 10U girls win at Livonia Tournamentat Livonia Tournament

Birmingham Rangers mount Birmingham Rangers mount big comeback for LCAHL titlebig comeback for LCAHL title

Coaches, Parents and Family Members - Sign up for MyACHLMyACHL is a custom page giving exact information about your team/children’s team in a single location. MyACHL includes multiple team information on a single page, schedules and recently posted scores, team standings and an ability to sign up for e-mail notification.

Go to www.adrayhockey.org to sign up

ADRAY Officers President:/Temp VP East Greater West:Vice President Metro Vice President Jeff Spedowski Kevin Wood Bobby Mitchell [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 231-796-0728 616-560-6503 248-302-0913


Individual & Team Registrations

April 13 to June 30

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Phone: (248) 601-6699Fax: (248) 601-0102

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Team Registration Divisions18 & Over D:

18 & Over C: 18 & Over C:

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Team and Individual Registration Division

18 & Over C: 18 & Over D-:

2010 SpringAdult Leagues2010 Spring

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Adult Leagues

Sled Dogs to host big weekendThe Michigan Sled Dogs sledge hockey team has a big

weekend of sled hockey (known as Sledge Hockey in Canada and Europe) coming up.

The Fraser-based Sled Dogs are hosting the London (Ontario) Sledge hockey team in a two-game series on April 17-18. The Sled Dogs started in 2004 and are made up of male and female athletes aged eight to their mid-forties with variety of disabilities including amputees, Spina Bifi da,

Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, and spinal cord injuries. Players compete on “sleds” equipped with skate blades

and propel themselves around the ice with three-foot sticks with picks on the ends.

The two teams will faceoff at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 17 at the Onyx Rochester Ice Arena and again the next morning at 8:45 a.m. at the Ice Dogs home arena Great Lakes Sports City in Fraser.

TRAVEL DIVISION TEAMMite A Norris Novi Ice CatsMite A Adams Sylvania Maple LeafsMite A Patrick Livonia KnightsMite A Smythe Suburban Stars Mite AA Norris Ken. Valley RebelsMite AA Adams Bay County WhiteMite AA Patrick SuburbanMite AA Smythe St. Clair Shores Saints Squirt A Norris Birmingham RangersSquirt A Adams PK WarriorsSquirt A Patrick Sylvania Maple LeafsSquirt A Smythe TC Northway Knights Squirt AA Norris Suburban StarsSquirt AA Adams Saginaw BadgersSquirt AA Patrick Kentwood FalconsSquirt AA Smythe Cap Centre Pride Pee Wee A Norris Plymouth StingraysPee Wee A Adams SCS SaintsPee Wee A Patrick Belle Tire DearbornPee Wee A Smythe Kentwood Pee Wee AA Norris Grand Rapids Griffi nsPee Wee AA Adams Ft. Wayne CometsPee Wee AA Patrick Birmingham RangersPee Wee AA Smythe Lapeer Storm Bantam A Norris Rochester RattlersBantam A Adams Toledo CherokeeBantam A Patrick Lapeer StormBantam A Smythe Blue Water Stars Bantam AA Norris Flint PhantomsBantam AA Adams Toledo CherokeeBantam AA Patrick Plymouth StingraysBantam AA Smythe Ann Arbor Wolves Midget A Norris Canton Crush

TRAVEL DIVISION TEAMMidget A Adams Mt. Clemens WolvesMidget A Patrick Belle Tire DearbornMidget AA Norris OL PiratesMidget AA Adams Plymouth Stingrays Girls 12U Norris Livonia G12UGirls 12U Adams Mt. Clemens G12UGirls 14U Norris Michigan IcebreakersGirls 14U Adams Livonia G14UGirls 16U Norris Livonia G16UGirls 19U Norris Gladwin G-Force HOUSE DIVISION TEAMMini Mite Norris Belle Tire LakersMini Mite Adams Belle tire #2 Mite B Norris Trenton Spitfi reMite B Adams Monroe Ice Hawks #1Mite B Patrick Southgate Senators Squirt B Norris Allen Park Huskies #1Squirt B Adams Livingston LightningSquirt B Patrick Allen Park Huskies #2Squirt B Smythe Ann Arbor - Ried Pee Wee B Norris Novi #4 SabresPee Wee B Adams Novi #3 BobcatsPee Wee B Patrick Dearborn LightningPee Wee B Smythe Trenton Hurricanes Bantam B Norris Westland WarriorsBantam B Adams Ken. Valley CavalryBantam B Patrick Ken. Valley GeneralsBantam B Smythe Ice Mountain Midget B Norris Belle Tire LakersMidget B Adams Detroit Dragons Midget BB Norris Garden City StarsMidget BB Adams Canton Wings

Amateur Hockey Report

2010 LCAHL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONS


April 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17Amateur Hockey Report

For Adult listings, please visit www.canlanclassictournaments.com or call 1-888-422-6526.

Mar. 12–14 St. Patrick’s Tournament Vineland, NJMar. 26–28 Las Vegas Youth Blast I Las Vegas, NVMar. 26–28 End of the Season Blast Fort Wayne, INAug. 27–29 South Jersey Fall Classic Vineland, NJSept. 10–12 Fort Wayne Pre-Season Blast Fort Wayne, INNov. 5–7 Las Vegas Youth Blast II Las Vegas, NVNov. 26–28 Thanksgiving Classic Detroit, MINov. 26–28 Girls Thanksgiving Classic Vineland, NJNov. 26–28 Thanksgiving Classic Vineland, NJNov. 26–28 Thanksgiving Classic Fort Wayne, INDec. 27-29 Christmas Classic Vineland, NJ

Mar 12 14 St Patrick’s Tournament Vineland NJ

Winter Tournaments

Apr. 16–18 Future Stars Toronto, ONApr. 30–May 2 Spring Showdown Toronto, ONMay 7–9 Toronto Cup Toronto, ONMay 14–16 May Madness / Future Stars Toronto, ONMay 14–16 Girls Pre Season Spectacular Toronto, ONMay 21–23 Michigan May Sizzler Detroit, MIMay 28–30 Memorial Holiday Classic Toronto, ONJune 4–6 East End Showdown / Future Stars Toronto, ONJune 11–13 Bring Your Best Toronto, ONJune 11–13 Girls Hockey Challenge Toronto, ONJune 18–20 Niagara Falls Youth Challenge I Niagara Falls, ONJune 25–27 Summer Meltdown Toronto, ONJune 25–27 Girls Summer Chill Toronto, ONJuly 2–4 Montreal Mania Brossard, QCJuly 9–11 Youth Classic / Future Stars Toronto, ONJuly 16–18 Niagara Falls Youth Challenge II Niagara Falls, ONJuly 16–18 Girls Niagara Falls Youth Challenge II Niagara Falls, ONAug. 13–15 King of the Rings Toronto, ONAug. 13–15 Girls Queen of the Rings Toronto, ONAug. 27–29 Pre-Season Blast / Future Stars Toronto, ONAug. 27-29 Girls Pre-Season Blast Toronto, ON

Apr 16–18 Future Stars Toronto ON

Spring & Summer Tournaments

West Michigan Warriors win West Michigan Warriors win Bantam A MAHA state titleBantam A MAHA state title

Bantam B Westland Warriors Bantam B Westland Warriors wrap up great seasonwrap up great season

Livingston Lightning come from Livingston Lightning come from behind for Pepsi Challenge titlebehind for Pepsi Challenge title

Red Wings legend wows crowd Red Wings legend wows crowd at Michigan Ice Hawks’ banquetat Michigan Ice Hawks’ banquet

The West Michigan Warriors were crowned the MAHA Bantam A state champions after a 5-1 victory over the Midland Northstars on March 7 at the Troy Sports Center.

The Warriors, based out of the Southside Ice Center in Byron Center, defeated Trento, Oakland and the USA Eagles to earn the coveted title.

The Warriors are: CJ McGinnis, Nate Wildes, Trent Kulczyk, Tristin Rostagno, Alex Zimmerman, Brian Cain, Cam Fisher, Mike Behm, Kyle Buhrmann, Peter Stewart, Matt Beecham, Nick Allen, Keegan Miller, Christian Thompson, Luke Easton, Danial Kilinski, Jackson Overlund and Luke Gaudette. Coaches are: Jim Gaudette, Stu Allen, Kurt Miller and Tom Behm.

The Westland Warriors ended this season with a 31-7-4 record that included the LCAHL Bantam B Norris Division playoff title, a win at the Great Lakes tournament in November, a Big

Bear Big Thaw title in March and semifi nal fi nish in District 2 playoff s.

The Livingston Lightning defeated the USA Eagles 3-2 to take the Peewee AA division title of the Pepsi Challenge at The Polar Palace in Lapeer on March 14.

After a scoreless opening period of the championship game Mark Krzyskowski gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead on an assist from Nathan Pryde with 6:25 left in the second period.

The Eagles rebounded to take the lead in the third period on goals from Justin Stasevich (assist to Austin Evans) and Andrew Berry (assist to Clay Kosnik).

The Lightning fought back with two late goals when Nick Pratt (assisted by Krzyskowski) tied the game with under three

minutes to go and Danny Smith (assisted by Krzyskowski) scored the game winner with 34 seconds left in the game. Carlin Moynihan (Lightning) and Alex Hackert (Eagles) played outstanding games in goal.

The 1997 Livingston Lightning are: Brendan Adams, Matt Ashline, Brendan Cleary, Blaise Deschamps, Joey Digiacomo, Jacob Krystiniak, Mark Krzyskowski, Adrian Kunina, Nick Langley, Paul Mccullough, Carlin Moynihan, Jack O’Boyle, Nick Pratt, Nathan Pryde, Danny Smith, Nick Stanko and Jacob Vaughn.

The Grosse Pointe-based Michigan Ice Hawks held their fi rst annual All-Team Banquet at the Assumption Cultural Center in St. Clair Shores on March 7.

More than 300 Ice Hawk players and their families attended the banquet, which featured Red Wing legend Mickey Redmond as the key note speaker. Redmond regaled the audience with stories about his youth and professional career. He got the crowd going with video of the Red Wings Stanley Cup runs.

Redmond reminded the players that some sacrifi ce of time away from video games and social events is always necessary if they intend to excel at school and in hockey.

In honor of Redmond, the Ice Hawk Club named its year-end award the “Redmond Cup.” The Cup will be presented annually to the Ice Hawks team that advances furthest in league playoff s. This year, Club President Myke Nevin and Mickey Redmond presented the Cup to the 1997 Michigan Ice Hawks for making it to the semifi nals of the Yzerman division playoff s.

Each of the fi ve Ice Hawks teams, ranging from birth years 1995-99, presented their team and individual trophies to their players during the banquet. The event was a fabulous opportunity for the players of all ages to hear about each team’s accomplishments and to share in each others’ achievements.

West Michigan Warriors win West Michigan Warriors win Bantam A MAHA state titleBantam A MAHA state title

Bantam B Westland Warriors Bantam B Westland Warriors wrap up great seasonwrap up great season

Livingston Lightning come from Livingston Lightning come from behind for Pepsi Challenge titlebehind for Pepsi Challenge title

Red Wings legend wows crowd Red Wings legend wows crowd at Michigan Ice Hawks’ banquetat Michigan Ice Hawks’ banquet


Little Caesars Roller Hockeyat Joe Dumars’ Fieldhouse

BOBBY RYANAnaheim Ducks

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April 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17Amateur Hockey Report

Knights 10U Girls make fi nals Knights 10U Girls make fi nals of Livonia Tournament of Livonia Tournament

Livonia 12U Knights win Livonia 12U Knights win Girls’ LCAHL playoff titleGirls’ LCAHL playoff title

The Livonia Knights Girls 10U team fi nished as runner-up at the End of the Season tournament at Eddie Edgar Arena on March 14.

Livonia opened with a 5-4 loss to the Suburban Ice on a late goal with two minutes left in the game. The Knights goal scorers were Michelle Marzolo, Kendall Murray, Vivian Kowalske and Cara Hodgins.

Game two was against the Birmingham Pink Wings. The two teams had battled all season and entering the third period the game was tied 1-1 on a goal from Marzalo. The Knights took the lead on a goal from Hodgins with four minutes left in the game. Birmingham pulled their goalie and tied it with a minute left to earn a 2-2 tie.

Livonia then beat the Lansing Capitals, 5-1, on goals from Julia Carpenter, Marzolo, Rachel Lanzilotti and two from Kowalske.

Livonia then needed to beat the DSC Wildfl owers by at least two goals to earn a spot in the fi nals. The Wildfl owers didn’t make it easy, but the Knights got goals from Marzalo, Murray and Kowalske, and Madison Carson provided excellent goaltending, in a 3-0 shutout victory.

In the fi nals rematch against the Ice, the Knights’ Paige Peterson scored on an end-to-end rush to give her team a 1-0

lead. Suburban tied it, 1-1, in the fi rst period.In the middle period the two teams each scored twice, with

Kowalske getting both goals for the Knights. In the third period both teams again scored twice with

Livonia connecting on an excellent passing play by Peterson and Marzolo, and Kaylee Keledjian netting the goal. Marzolo scored her fi fth goal of the tournament to tie her for the team lead with Kowalske and to give the Knights a 5-5 tie and send the game into overtime.

Carson made several nice saves, but the Suburban girls scored in overtime on a goalmouth scramble to win the game 6-5.

The Knights girls fi nished the season with a record of 31-11-1, which included a record of 19-8 against boys mite teams.

The Knights are: Rachel Lanzilotti, Bryanna Lanzilotti, Kendall Murray, Kaylee Keledjian, Jessica Carpenter, Julia Carpenter, Madison Carson, Riley Kirn, Vivian Kowalske, Jenna Carpenter, Cara Hodgins, Paige Peterson, Michelle Marzolo, Mckenna Ceci, Julia Seychel, Grace Kendall.

Knights head coach is Carrie Sirola, and assistants are: Mike Carson, Patty Formosa, Jeff Peterson, and Paul Seychel. Team manager is Linda Kowalske, and the Knights are sponsored by Motor City Electric.

The Livonia Girls 12U team followed up their regular season championship by winning the Little Caesars Playoff Championship on Feb. 28.

The girls beat Victory Honda 5-0 and 7-2 and split the home-and-home series with the Michigan Icebreakers with a 2-0 win and a 2-1 loss. The playoff fi nal at Joe Louis Arena was a rematch with the Icebreakers.

The Knights started quickly when just 11 seconds into the contest Shelby Kirn beat the Icebreaker goalie low glove side with assists going to Julia Lutz and Riley Shine.

The Knights kept up the pressure and just after the fi rst goal was announced, Amanda McPherson made it a two goal lead by putting home a rebound with assists going to Anna

Julien and Natalie Trainor. The rest of the game was fi led with chances at both ends

as both teams showed the determination that got them to the fi nals. Both the Icebreakers goalie and the Knights Lauren Rippy answered with save after save and Livonia shut out the Icebreakers 2-0 in a hard fought, well played game.

The Knights are: Lauren Rippy, Katie Hayward, Alyssa Fontaine, Riley Shine, Natalie Trainor, Anna Julien, Zoe Worosz, Amanda Hoff meyer, Michelle Kobylarek, Shelby Kirn, Taylor Whitney, Haley Robinson, Julia Lutz, Amanda McPherson and Brianna Buchanan. The coaches are: Alan Buchanan, Ed Lutz, Gerard Fontaine, Mike Shine, Jim Rippy, Nicole Geluso and Dave Whitney. Team manager is Kim McPherson.

Knights 10U Girls make fi nals Knights 10U Girls make fi nals of Livonia Tournament of Livonia Tournament

Livonia 12U Knights win Livonia 12U Knights win Girls’ LCAHL playoff titleGirls’ LCAHL playoff title

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Forward crossovers for acceleration

Accelerating out of a crossover turn is largely dependent on the ability of the player to get the proper push with the outside edge of the inside skate.

When crossing over players use the inside edge of the skate on the outside of the turn to stride in addition to the outside edge of the leg on the inside of the turn.

Most players get their greatest acceleration from the push with the inside edge of the skate. The fastest, most powerful skaters like the Detroit Red Wings Darren Helm and Kris Draper are able to get an “equal push” from the outside edge of the inside skate.

To improve this “push” you fi rst of all need to be comfortable in balancing on the outside edge. Then you need to concentrate on a full stride and pushing off of the outside edge. Below are some progressional drills to improve power and acceleration in crossovers:

THE SCISSORSHave your players start from a stand still and let their feet go apart (on inside

edges) and then pull them back together. As they come together have one leg cross behind the other (rolling over the ankle) to get on the outside edge of that skate. The more knee bend the players are able to maintain, the farther over they will be able to bring the leg crossing over behind. They should strive to go as far as they can.

CIRCLE SCISSORSOnce they become comfortable in maintaining balance in a straight line scissor,

have your players move around a face-off circle trying to get the inside leg as far as they can to the outside of the circle – fully extending the leg. They should start out moving slowly and then can pick up speed as they improve their balance.

OUTSIDE EDGE PUSHThe next step in the progression is to improve the push – by using the outside

edge only. Players will move around a face-off circle to the left keeping their right skate on the circle. Using only their left skate they should cross it under behind the right skate toward the outside of the circle and push off of the outside edge of the skate to create power. As they push across behind, they need to roll over their ankle to get on the outside edge. As they push to the outside, the toe of the blade of the skate should be the last thing leaving the ice as they snap their ankle at the end of the stride.

THE RHYTHM TESTOne way to check to see if players are getting an equal push from both skates

is to have them skate in a circle (around a face-off circle or even wider) and watch and listen to the rhythm of their feet. You will be able to hear if they get an equal push by the sounds of the skates ripping into the ice at the end of the stride. Players with a defi ciency in the outside edge will hear an uneven rhythm, with a longer rip with the inside edge, shorter with the outside.

GIVE & GO WITH DEFENSE

PURPOSE: Timing and creating passing lanes.

SET-UP: A defenseman from each end loops deep to receive a pass from the corner. The forward times his move and loops toward center ice, positioning himself for a pass from the defenseman. The forward attacks the net, shoots, then goes into the corner to retrieve a puck, which he will then pass to the next looping defenseman. The drill should be continuous at both ends.

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Pushing with your outside edge of your inside skate will create acceleration out of a forward crossover turn.

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Training Table

TRAINING TABLE

Sprains, strains and contusions are the most commonly seen injuries in hockey.

Sprains occur when ligaments are injured by being stretched or torn. Strains are caused by the same mechanism of overstretching, however the term applies to muscles and tendons. A contusion is a blunt injury causing damage to the skin and underlying tissue, commonly known as a bruise.

The same basic treatment applies for each of these injuries. It’s commonly referred to by the acronym R.I.C.E - which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.

Rest - Rest is vital to protect the injured muscle, tendon or ligament from further injury. It’s also extremely important in order to allow the healing process to begin. The body’s fi rst reaction is to stop the bleeding at the injury site. This begins by the formation of a clot over the injured tissue. As soon as the clot forms, the healing process begins. This clot is very fragile so resting the injury is important for both its formation as well as preventing its disruption after it’s formed.

Ice- If you can withstand the initial discomfort, ice will prove to be very benefi cial. Tingling and burning sensations are normal and will subside after 3-5 minutes. It provides pain relief by its numbing eff ect. Even more importantly ice will prevent secondary tissue death associated with injuries, which speeds healing.

Knowing the effect ice has on cells will aid in your understanding of why it’s so important. When tissues are injured, bleeding occurs which contributes to swelling. As cells move to the injury site to begin repair the need for oxygen and nutrients increases greatly. However, due to swelling, the oxygen supply is limited, which results in cell death. The cooling eff ect of ice reduces tissue and cell metabolism, decreasing the need for oxygen. Cells that would otherwise die can now survive and continue to work on healing the injury. In order for ice to be eff ective it should be left on continuously for 15-20 minutes.

Crushed ice works best as it will conform to the injury site. Since this isn’t always available a bag of frozen peas is an alternative that works well. They’re inexpensive, reusable and eff ective. Simply apply for 15-20 minutes then refreeze

them for the next time they’re needed. Re-freezable gel packs are another option.

It’s best to buy ones that are fl exible when cold so they can mold around the injured body part. Be aware that some gel packs have chemicals that allow them to be fl exible when frozen. These chemicals can cause the packs to be colder than freezing (32 degrees F) so they should not be placed directly on the skin. Use a moist towel or cloth between the ice pack and the skin.

Ice massage is another eff ective method to treat an injury. Bathroom size paper dixie cups are fi lled ¾ full with water and frozen. Once frozen tear the top half of the cup away and use the bottom of the cup as a handle. Rubbing the cup on the aff ected area for 10 minutes will provide adequate cooling.

Compression - This is an important treatment principle for the same reason that ice is. Compression will limit swelling, enabling the body to heal quickly. Swelling is a major reason for prolonged healing time. It occurs rapidly after an injury, takes a long time to get rid of, and if not limited will cause the secondary tissue death explained earlier.

Elevation - The last component of RICE simply means keeping the injured body part above or at least equal to the level of the heart. Again the thought here is to minimize swelling. The body’s lymph system, which removes swelling, can be greatly aided by having gravity work in its favor rather than against it.

Heat - Swelling, being the biggest obstacle to recovery, is what each part of the RICE treatment intends to minimize. Applying heat to an area will increase blood fl ow. This is the last thing you want with an acute injury, as it will increase swelling.

Increasing tissue temperature will also increase cell metabolism. Tissues around an injury are already starved for oxygen so increasing its demand will result in more secondary tissue death and prolonged healing time.

Depending on the severity of the injury the acute phase can last for up to 4-5 days. Ice is the treatment of choice during this period and heat should be avoided.

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Yet over the years we have allowed the entry level of the game to erode to the point where it barely even exists any more. So less people fi nd it a realistic, aff ordable and convenient option for their kids to play. Too much travel, too much time and too much money. There is a reason why girls hockey has never gotten much traction in this state compared to other places. There is literally no entry level to the game for girls. No house hockey.

TIME FOR A NEW SYSTEM

Some of us will do just about anything to have our kids play the game. And even more for them to play it at a “higher level” than “just house hockey”. Unfortunately, the structure that has been created here in Michigan as a result of that has all but cast aside what once was the very essence of the game, house hockey.

So now it’s time to kick it aside completely. At least as it relates to how it is governed by the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA).

De-regulate it and let the rinks and associations run it how they choose to. Let them be in charge of recreational hockey and govern how it operates within the walls of their facilities. Let them determine their own fate. Our current system is more destructive to the game than it is benefi cial. We are losing ground faster than the Detroit Lions off ense.

Currently we essentially have three distinct levels of play in Michigan. Tier I or AAA teams are supposed to be the highest level with teams having no restrictions on where their players can come from. Tier II or A/AA teams are the next step down and are required to be formed from players predominantly within the district with only three allowed from outside. The problem is that, comparatively speaking, a couple of districts are more like Singapore with a signifi cant hockey playing population in a small area, while others are more like Canada with a large, sparsely populated area. Not exactly an equitable distribution of talent when it comes to forming teams.

The third level is House or “B” with teams formed by a draft, which is supposed to create parity and be fair for all. You know, sort of the recreational level. In theory, and at one time, that might have been true. But not any more. Additionally, most people don’t know that there is also a C level of play that is truly recreational and confi nes teams to play within their own rink. I think that is a great idea. We just need more of it.

NOT FORMED THE SAME WAYThe problem is that “B”, or what once was “house hockey”, has become way

more than that. And the system is incredibly unfair and essentially rewards

coaches and organizations and arenas that choose to operate on the edge of the intended spirit of the rules.

Here is how it works. Some arenas that have strong organizations and in-house programs actually have 6 or 8 or even 10 or 12 teams within an age group. There are not very many of these around though. At the “B” or house level, these teams are required to have a set of draft rules to equitably divide up the talent. Which if you really think about it, they probably would want to do anyway, even if they were not required to, particularly if most of their competition was amongst themselves.

Then there are organizations that only have one “B” or house level team. Amazingly (sarcasm intended) these teams are typically quite strong. What is really amazing is that the only kids who sign up to form that one team somehow know each other and are often quite strong, experienced players. It really is incredible how the less experienced players never seem to end up on these teams. Yet every team in the larger associations, as they should, have some of these players.

Imagine what happens during the state tournament or other times that these teams compete with each other. Under the current structure, they are all labeled B hockey teams. Yet they are defi nitely not formed the same way.

INHERENTLY UNFAIR

In the current economic climate it gets worse. Some arenas, desperate for teams because they are either unwilling or unable to do the work to get players started in their own facility, off er incredible incentives for coaches from other facilities to bring players to their place. ‘Sure, we will only have one B team and sure you can all play together.’ Get the picture? Rules have attempted to address the problem, but with little or no success. If you want to have a recruited B team you can have one and be very successful.

The “B” or house system is inherently unfair. So let’s get rid of it. At the “travel” level we have already created a system of “competitive stratifi cation” with multiple levels of play. In the LCAHL this past year there were three diff erent “divisions” or levels of play at each age group. These levels are critical when it comes to tryout time. The top players fl ock to the top teams and the lower level teams get the leftovers. Oddly enough these teams all compete against each other in the state tournament. The results are often quite predictable. And ugly. And unfair.

The solution is simple. The system is already in place. Let’s just legitimize it. De-regulate house hockey. Let the arenas and associations run their own in-house programs as they see fi t and to provide an aff ordable, convenient and reasonable option for families. And have multiple levels of “travel hockey” for those who want to want to form their own teams.

Stateof the

Gameby Lyle Phair

Like VCR’s, answering machines and Walkmans, true house hockey is much more a part of the past than it is the present.

Aside from a few places that have enough teams in each age group to be able to actually have a real “house” league, meaning in one arena, the majority of “B” level teams that are commonly referred to as “house” actually travel more often and further distances than some “travel” teams.

You can count places that have real “house hockey” on one hand. In fact, there are even a few associations that do have enough teams at each age group to have a real in-house league that still choose to play in a travel league. House hockey, in some places, is very much passé.

And that is too bad, because it is hurting the future of the game. But not enough people understand that. Or worse yet, even care. And I get that. Most people are in the game for a short period of time. Their kids get started, they play, they grow up and they move on. Why worry about what happens after that? Not my concern. Why should it be? They are only concerned about the here and now. About what happens next. About what is best for my kid.

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT

But here is the problem. As the house hockey classifi cation continues to shrink and shrivel into obscurity, so do the opportunities for players to get started playing the game. And just as importantly, so do the places to continue to play the game that are aff ordable, conveniently located and require a reasonable time commitment for families. You know, like recreational sports used to be before we adults started to place more importance on building all-star teams and travelling great distances to conquer the teams of children from far away places.

Hockey is a sport like no other. It is a wonderful combination of speed, skill, agility, grace, intelligence and physicality. You almost have to try to be bored when you play it. It’s that much fun. People love it when they try it.

DE-REGULATING DE-REGULATING HOUSE HOCKEYHOUSE HOCKEY

State of the Game

DE-REGULATING HOUSE HOCKEY


STEVE MSTEVE McKICHANKICHANFrom the creaseFrom the crease

Practice RealismI frequently strap on pads to play pick up hockey and

practice with local bantam team and midget teams and enjoy watching the stunned look on a cocky teenager when they realize the comparative skill inequity.

Although close to 20 years have elapsed since I played for a living, it gives the youngins a glimpse of what a pro can do at the advanced age of 40.

This brings me to a pet peeve I have as it relates to typical practices at all levels and this one needs to be addressed immediately – realism!

You have heard many times that you “play how you practice” and “perfect practice makes practice perfect” or something to that eff ect.

So from tyke to the NHL 2-on-0s, 3-on-0s and machine gun rapid fi re breakaways must be banned permanently from the coaches’ drill database. Once in a very blue moon they could be deployed as drills in practice but not in every practice.

MIRROR PRACTICE TO GAMESInstead, why don’t we match the frequency of the

event in the games with the frequency we spend time

addressing it in practice?Would it make sense to have a basketball team

work on buzzer beaters from mid-court for 40% of a given practice? Or a tennis coach to spend 30% of every practice on a fade away between the legs return with your back to the net? How about a football team practicing a quadruple handoff play for half of their practice time every week?

Recently, while tending goal at a youth practice I faced 2-on-0s for about 30 minutes. As a result of a combination of pride and immaturity, I battled on every puck and came close to the proverbial “big one”, the myocardial infarction.

I’m in great shape for a 40-year old. I have less than 10% body fat, 4-6 pack abs depending on the day, and a resting heart rate that matches my age. My conditioning is not the issue, but rather the realism of the drills.

What possible purpose is addressed by delivering these defenseless drills?

THE NEGATIVES1. With time and space on their side, players execute

unrealistic and composed attacks a goalie will never see in a game. To compensate, goalies will begin to cheat on passes and create a bad habit.

2. Without pressure, these attacking players are fi ne in practice but seize up in games at the hint of duress, squandering many bankable chances.

3. Using drills like these are no-brainers for coaches and keep many players active in the drills. Coaches need to be accountable by having no more than 10% of practice time devoted to brain-less drivel drills. It is a coaching cop out.

4. The risk for the goaltender is massively increased when they must do full repetitive, full explosion lateral movements. Back door passes until you die drills will only risk your goaltender’s health.

By observing any practice I can tell within 10 minutes whether the coach is goalie friendly or a direct relative of Eddie Shore.

Coaches please make a commitment to realism and design your drills proportionally to mirror the situations faced in the game with proper time and space pressures.

Steve McKichan is the owner of Future Pro goalie school and the former goaltending coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

From the Crease

Future Pro Goal is again sponsoring a “GOALIE ONLY” Contest! Enter to win one of 12 Top-Selling DVD sets! Contest will run from November - March with a winner selected randomly from each MH issue.

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For a FREE brochure, complete information and mail to: M.S.U. SPORTS CAMP, 400 E. Jenison Field House, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1025 or phone (517) 432-0730.

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2010Eli WilsonEli Wilson

From the creaseFrom the creaseThe Importance of the Knee Drop techniqueOver the last fi ve years the Knee Drop has become a technique that every modern

goaltender should learn and master. Youth and amateur goalies often have a hard time copying this movement that

they see being performed in the NHL and other high levels. Understanding when to use the knee drop and how it works, along with continuous practice will greatly benefi t goalie’s ability to keep the puck out of the net.

The need for the technique has evolved from changes in the game. Improved defensive systems and increased penalty kill/power play opportunities mean that teams create scoring chances that originate “down low” below or just above the goal line.

Walk-ins, walk-outs, wraps and cycles are situations that goaltenders and their coaches have found new ways to defend against. We have adapted to this trend and developed a movement / save / position called the Knee Drop.

WHERE AND WHY The Knee Drop is a “prepared position”,

meaning that the goalie assumes this position before the puck is shot or passed. When an opponent with the puck is in an area below the bottom of the circles and at least half way off the side boards, on a sharp angle, the goalie can go into a knee drop, which will give him or her the option to stop a sharp angle shot, or move into a position either on their feet or down on their pads to make the save on a quick pass, or a net drive by the puck carrier.

The Knee Drop can also be used for some wrap around situations where the goalie is unsure if the puck carrier might try to stuff it next to the post or go far side.

When playing a shot from a sharp angle, the goaltender must be square to the puck and on the post. This can be on a play where the opponent carries the puck down the ice close to the boards. It can also be on a play where the opponent carries the puck up the ice from below the goal line.

In the past goalies would stand up at the post and stack their pads together. The problem with this approach is that it locks the goaltender at the post. If, instead of shooting the puck, the player decides to pass the puck across to another player located on the back door, the goalie is in no position to get across. The feet are too close together and it is impossible to get a pad down quick enough to make a save.

And if the player attempts to wrap the puck to the far post, the goalie cannot get across and while attempting to do so opens up a big fi ve hole, creating another way the puck can get in the net. If the goalie stands at the post in a normal stance as the puck carrier approached the net, there is a big fi ve hole that is dangerously open and diffi cult to close quick enough. A butterfl y at the post pushes the goalie off angle and opens up the upper corner short side.

The advantage of the Knee Drop is that it allows the goaltender to be standing at his post in his normal goalie stance, but with his back pad down on the ice. This puts him or her in a position in which they can block a shot, or react to a stuff , wrap or pass. The goalie can slide to a rebound, quickly T-Push to anywhere, or simply get back to both feet.

WHEN NOT TO USE ITThe Knee Drop doesn’t work when the puck is above the bottom of the face off

circles. The angle is not correct and the goalie can be beat with a shot to the far side high. A common mistake made in both the NHL and at amateur levels is the goalie gets into a Knee Drop, but if the location of the puck and opponent moves off a sharp angle, the goalie does not get out of the Knee Drop. When the angle changes, the goalie must change also.

THE EXECUTIONIn the initial position the goalie must fi rst be standing in his normal goalie stance

at the post. Very importantly, the back foot has to be off the goal line. Without that it will be impossible to keep good balance down on the ice.

THE DROPAs the opponent approaches, the

goalie must drive their back knee down to the ice close to the inside of their post skate. The outside shoulder must be brought up, and the hips have to be tall, putting the goalie in a square position towards the shooter. This will allow the goalie to maximize their size and control the rebound, keeping it in the corner it came from instead of in the slot or to the far side. When a shot is taken there is no reaction to the shot - just a block. Either the puck will hit the goalie or it will go wide. There must be no holes so the puck doesn’t get thru the goalie.

STICK AND GLOVES POSITIONIt is important that the goalie keeps

his stick blade out in front, not fl at on the pads. You want to quickly retrieve the puck and pull it in, and freeze it for a

whistle after you make the save. At the post, the goalies elbow will wrap around the post and squeeze tightly helping

to hold the goalie on the post. There will be a load from having one knee down and the other up, and when the goalie has to move off of the post, the elbow releases the goalie in an explosive movement. The glove that is not against the post must be in tight and next to the body. If it is the catch glove, it should be wide open to fi ll space. On the other side, the blocker thumb should be tight to the pants and on top of the down pad. There has to be a complete seal with no holes for pucks to get thru.

If the opponent shoots the puck from a sharp angle the object is to fi ll all of the available net, with no holes, and keep the rebound back in the direction it came, sometimes the puck stays in the body, and if it drops in front, pull it in with the stick and freeze it.

LEAVING THE POSTIf the opponent doesn’t shoot as they approach the net the goalie must hold their

position and not give up the short side. They can’t guess that the player will sweep or pass the puck and leave early. Only after the puck carrier makes a pass, or tries to sweep to the far post, will the goalie leave the post and slide on their down pad in an explosive movement. As soon as they push, the pushing leg must drive down to the ice and into the other knee, closing the fi ve-hole. During this explosive push, the arms have to be sealed to the body, so no pucks enter thru the armpits. Don’t let pucks go under or thru your body.

Eli Wilson is president of Worldpro Goaltending School and currently coaches 14 NHL goalies.

From the CreaseApril 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17


Michigan Hockey Winners' Circle

23995 Freeway Park Drive Farmington Hills, MI 48335

Phone 248.479-1134• FAX 248.478.1601

Presented by

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:1. Each time a player becomes eligible for

a Michigan Hockey “ Winner ’s C ircle” achievement award, notify us by mail or you can email us at: [email protected]. Please include the player’s name, level (squirt, etc.), team name, grade point & school attending and/or game date, opposing team and what award was achieved.

2. I nclude your name and telephone number along with the address information for mailing the awards. Awards can be mailed to coaches, team managers or to individual players.

3. Names of achievement award winners will be listed here in the "Winner's Circle" section of Michigan Hockey.

4. achievement. (Limit one award per category per player per year.)

SHUT OUT

NEW WAY TO ENTER

HIGH GRADE POINT

PLAYMAKER

T TRICKHA

Anthony Shrum

Zachery Djordjevic

Jake Coffey

Zachery Djordjevic

Anthony Shrum

April 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17USA Hockey Girls Nationals

Top Tier II girls teams coming to LansingBY LARRY O’CONNOR

The country’s top 48 Tier II girls teams will descend upon the greater Lansing area on April 7-11 with the sole purpose of leaving as national champs. Organizers hope they also depart with a good impression.

The fi ve-day USA Hockey National Tournament is the fi rst-ever at the Girls Tier II level, which is a boon for host Suburban Ice - East Lansing.

The facility hosted a USA Hockey National tournament a few years ago that included eight bantam squads. But with four times the number of teams, organizers have been planning for the massive undertaking for more than a year, said Jeff Mitchell, tournament chairman.

“We have never done anything of this magnitude,” said Mitchell, who is also Suburban Ice - East Lansing general manager.

The 48-team fi eld includes girls Tier II outfi ts from as far as Alaska, California and Texas. Eight Michigan teams qualifi ed, including all four state champions in their respective age divisions: Livonia Knights (12U), Michigan Icebreakers (14U), Birmingham Rangers (16U) and St. Clair Shores Saintes (19U).

The Michigan Icebreakers received automatic invites as hosts. As a result, the Michigan Capitals also qualifi ed as MAHA state runner-up in the 14U Division.

Teams will play in a three-game round robin runoff to determine quarterfi nalists. All four divisional fi nals are Sunday, April 11.

The tournament starts at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, April 7 with host Michigan Icebreakers taking on Glenview (Ill) Stars in 12U action at Suburban Ice - East Lansing Rink 2. The Summit in nearby Dimondale will also serve as a site for preliminary and quarterfi nal games (see complete schedules on following page).

The national showcase will feature a variety of teams and styles of play. While teams from hockey-rich states like Michigan, Minnesota and Massachusetts might be seen as having an edge, squads from remote outposts are a larger unknown.

“That’s the whole thing,” Mitchell said. “Michigan has a lot of girls teams, but in places like Wyoming or Texas where they don’t have as many players they still have some really good girls who have probably played together a long time.

“It’s going to be a fun event to watch, that’s for sure.”

GETTING READYMichigan-based teams have an advantage of knowing at least one opponent,

having played each other during the regular season and state playoff s. The remaining fi eld is a riddle.

Livonia Knights 12U Coach Alan Buchanan tried unsuccessfully to size up opponents by examining results on MyHockeyRankings.com.

“I know nothing about any of them,” said Buchanan, whose team opens tournament play against the (Crystal Lake, Ill.) Yellowjackets at 11 a.m. on April 7. “I’m excited to be playing teams from Illinois, New York and Massachusetts. It’s going to be interesting. If nothing else, it should be a good experience for the girls.”

Since the state playoff s, the 12U Knights have been skating twice a week while also doing off -ice work. No scrimmages were scheduled since most teams have shuttered for the season, Buchanan said.

“Basically, we’ve been doing the same things we’ve been doing,” he said. “At this point, it’s a little too late to learn anything new. It’s gotten us this far, so we’re just trying to get a little quicker and a little faster.”

To get ready, the Michigan Icebreakers 14U girls have been practicing three times a week while scrimmaging the club’s 16U squad and the Honeybaked Tier I 12U team, coach Richard Murray said.

The focus has been on conditioning rather than scrimmage results.“I just want the girls winning the loose puck races and the battles in the corner,”

said Murray, whose team opens play against the Wisconsin Ice Spirit at 10:10 a.m. Wednesday. “It means having a little bit more stamina than the other team, having what it takes to win that second and third eff ort because you are little better conditioned than the other teams. That might be the diff erence in the game.”

A BIG UNDERTAKINGWhile teams chase pucks in preparation, tournament organizers have been

grappling with logistics. Ice schedules, offi cials and volunteers are only part of the task, Mitchell said.

As an inaugural event, there is no precedent to follow.“The biggest thing with it being the fi rst time is the not-knowing,” said Mitchell,

whose staff was busy counting through 60 boxes of offi cial merchandise two weeks before the event. “We had to place an order for merchandise for girls aged 10-19. That’s a wide range of sizes there. Not only do you have the girls, you have to think about mom and dad, too. There’s so many things to take into consideration.”

Likewise, teams are new to the national tournament experience. The Greater Lansing Sports Authority, which is an arm of the area’s visitors and convention bureau, has extended a guiding hand.

Anywhere from 3,000 to 4,500 hotel rooms will be booked, which underscores the jolt a national tournament provides to the area’s economy, said Mike Price, Greater Lansing Sports Authority manager of Sports Development. No fi rm fi gures were available, but Mitchell noted Suburban Ice’s Governor’s Cup tournament in January pumps an estimated $1.5 million into the local economy.

“We essentially have teams coming in Monday and who won’t be departing until Sunday,” said Price, whose organization worked with Suburban Ice staff in putting together the bid to host the USA Hockey tournament. “That means a week of hotels being used, restaurants being visited, people participating in attractions in the area.

“It will have large economic impact on the region, no doubt.”The Authority has established a web site and produced a binder for visiting teams,

outlining a variety of activities for players and families to do while away from the rink. Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball, Impression 5 Science Center, Potter Park Zoo and the state capital tours are among the suggested attractions.

Organizers want visitors to leave satisfi ed as Suburban Ice wants to be at the top of the list for future USA Hockey-sponsored events. Next year, Suburban Ice - Macomb, along with the Onyx Rochester Ice Arena, will host the Girls and Womens Tier I national tournament.

“I’m sure we’re going to be the guinea pig for them on a lot of stuff ,” Mitchell said.

Anna Reinhart, Karsyn Baker, Nichole Lafl amme and Janie Obee of the Birmingham Rangers U16 team are headed to the USA Hockey National Tournament at Suburban Ice East Lansing on April 7-11.

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Ice RinksIce Skating RinksSports Complexes

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866-223-2112

Contact:Jim Campbell

orDoug Fairbanks

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USA Hockey Girls Nationals

2010 USA Hockey Girls Tier 2 National ChampionshipApril 7-11 at Suburban Ice - East Lansing and

The Summit - Dimondale12 AND UNDER DIVISION SCHEDULE

APRIL 7Time Visitor Home Rink8:00 AM Glenview Stars Michigan Icebreakers Sub 28:30 AM Alaska Icebreakers Susquehanna Rapids Sub 19:30 AM Greenwich Wings Brewster Lady Bulldogs Sub 210:00 AM Team Pittsburgh Bay State Breakers Sub 111:00 AM Livonia Knights Yellowjackets Sub 211:30 AM Connecticut Ice Cats New Jersey Colonials Sub 1

APRIL 8 3:00 PM Michigan Icebreakers Connecticut Ice Cats Sum Oly3:10 PM Bay State Breakers Greenwich Wings Sum NHL4:30 PM Susquehanna Rapids Glenview Stars Sum Oly4:40 PM Team Pittsburgh Yellowjackets Sum NHL6:00 PM New Jersey Colonials Alaska Icebreakers Sum Oly6:10 PM Brewster Lady Bulldogs Livonia Knights Sum NHL

APRIL 9 9:30 AM Yellowjackets Greenwich Wings Sub 29:30 AM Glenview Stars New Jersey Colonials Sum NHL11:00 AM Brewster Lady Bulldogs Team Pittsburgh Sub 211:00 AM Connecticut Ice Cats Susquehanna Rapids Sum NHL12:30 PM Livonia Knights Bay State Breakers Sub 212:30 PM Alaska Icebreakers Michigan Icebreakers Sum NHL

APRIL 10 8:00 AM National 4 American 1 Sub 18:10 AM American 3 National 2 Sum NHL8:00 AM American 4 National 1 Sum Oly8:10 AM National 3 American 2 Sub 24:30 PM Semifi nal #1 TBD Sub 14:30 PM Semifi nal #2 TBD Sub 2

APRIL 11 9:00 AM Final TBD Sub 1

14 AND UNDER DIVISION SCHEDULEAPRIL 7

Time Visitor Home Rink8:20 AM Team Pittsburgh Bay State Breakers Sum Oly8:30 AM Alaska Firebirds Southern Flyers Sum NHL10:00 AM Central Maine Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles Sum Oly10:10 AM Wisconsin Ice Spirit Michigan Icebreakers Sum NHL11:40 AM Michigan Capitals Connecticut North. Lights Sum Oly11:50 AM Alliance Girls Prep New Jersey Colonials Sum NHL

APRIL 82:00 PM Michigan Icebreakers Alliance Girls Prep Sub 22:20 PM Bay State Breakers Central Maine Sub 13:40 PM Southern Flyers Wisconsin Ice Spirit Sub 24:00 PM Team Pittsburgh Connecticut North. Lights Sub 15:20 PM Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles Michigan Capitals Sub 27:00 PM New Jersey Colonials Alaska Firebirds Sub 2

APRIL 9 9:20 AM Alliance Girls Prep Southern Flyers Sum Oly9:20 AM Connecticut North. Lights Central Maine Sub 111:00 AM Alaska Firebirds Michigan Icebreakers Sum Oly11:00 AM Michigan Capitals Bay State Breakers Sub 112:40 PM Wisconsin Ice Spirit New Jersey Colonials Sum Oly12:40 PM Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles Team Pittsburgh Sub 1

APRIL 10 9:30 AM National 4 American 1 Sub 19:40 AM American 3 National 2 Sum NHL9:30 AM American 4 National 1 Sum Oly9:40 AM National 3 American 2 Sub 26:10 PM Semfi nal #1 TBD Sub 16:10 PM Semifi nal #2 TBD Sub 2

APRIL 11 11:00 AM Final TBD Sub 1


Time Visitor Home Rink 12:30 PM Wisconsin Jr. Badgers Michigan Icebreakers Sub 21:00 PM San Jose Jr. Sharks Jr. Hurricanes Sub 12:30 PM Quakers Massachusetts Spitfi res Sub 23:00 PM Mid Fairfi eld Conn. Stars Lysander Lightning Sub 14:30 PM Birmingham Rangers Connecticut Polar Bears Sub 26:30 PM Colorado Select New Jersey Quarry Cats Sub 2

APRIL 8 9:00 AM Jr. Hurricanes Wisconsin Jr. Badgers Sum Oly9:10 AM Massachusetts Spitfi res Mid Fairfi eld Conn. Stars Sum NHL11:00 AM Michigan Icebreakers Colorado Select Sum Oly11:00 AM Quakers Connecticut Polar Bears Sum NHL1:00 PM New Jersey Quarry Cats San Jose Jr. Sharks Sum Oly1:00 PM Lysander Lightning Birmingham Rangers Sum NHL

APRIL 9 2:20 PM Connecticut Polar Bears Mid Fairfi eld Conn. Stars Sum Oly2:00 PM Colorado Select Jr. Hurricanes Sum NHL4:20 PM Lysander Lightning Quakers Sum Oly4:00 PM Wisconsin Jr. Badgers New Jersey Quarry Cats Sum NHL6:20 PM Birmingham Rangers Massachusetts Spitfi res Sum Oly6:00 PM San Jose Jr. Sharks Michigan Icebreakers Sum NHL

APRIL 10 11:10 AM National 4 American 1 Sub 111:10 AM American 3 National 2 Sum Oly11:20 AM American 4 National 1 Sum NHL11:20 AM National 3 American 2 Sub 26:00 PM Semifi nal #1 TBD Sum NHL6:00 PM Semifi nal #2 TBD Sum Oly

APRIL 11 1:00 PM Final TBD Sub 1


Time Visitor Home Rink 1:20 PM Cedar Rapids Roughriders Michigan Icebreakers Sum Oly1:30 PM Biddeford Lady Breakers Perinton Edge Sum NHL3:20 PM Anaheim Lady Ducks Southern Flyers Sum Oly3:30 PM Erie Lady Lions Massachusetts Spitfi res Sum NHL5:20 PM Alliance Bulldogs Quakers Sum Oly5:30 PM St. Clair Shores Saintes Team Wyoming Sum NHL

APRIL 8 8:00 AM Southern Flyers Cedar Rapids Roughriders Sub 28:20 AM Massachusetts Spitfi res Biddeford Lady Breakers Sub 110:00 AM Michigan Icebreakers Alliance Bulldogs Sub 210:20 AM Team Wyoming Erie Lady Lions Sub 112:00 PM Perinton Edge St. Clair Shores Saintes Sub 212:20 PM Quakers Anaheim Lady Ducks Sub 1

APRIL 9 2:00 PM St. Clair Shores Saintes Massachusetts Spitfi res Sub 22:20 PM Biddeford Lady Breakers Team Wyoming Sub 14:00 PM Anaheim Lady Ducks Michigan Icebreakers Sub 24:20 PM Alliance Bulldogs Southern Flyers Sub 16:00 PM Cedar Rapids Roughriders Quakers Sub 26:20 PM Perinton Edge Erie Lady Lions Sub 1

APRIL 10 1:10 PM National 4 American 1 Sub 11:10 PM American 3 National 2 Sum Oly1:20 PM American 4 National 1 Sum NHL1:20 PM National 3 American 2 Sub 28:00 PM Semifi nal #1 TBD Sub 18:00 PM Semifi nal #2 TBD Sub 2

APRIL 11 3:00 PM Final TBD Sub 1


Beyond the Stripes April 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17

GoalieBorn: April 15, 1974 in FlintHeight/Weight: 5-11/201 Catches: L

Season Team Lge GP GA GAA MIN SV%1992-93 Davison HS Big 9 27 87 3.30 - 0.9261993-94 Vermont ECAC 33 94 3.03 - -1994-95 Vermont ECAC 34 90 2.69 - -1995-96 Vermont ECAC 37 88 2.34 - -1996-97 Vermont ECAC 36 101 2.81 1069 0.9241997-98 HIFK Helsinki FNL 18 28 1.62 502 0.9471997-98 Birmingham Bulls ECHL 6 13 2.17 218 0.9441997-98 Houston Aeros IHL 1 4 4.01 23 0.8521998-99 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 15 45 3.23 430 0.9051998-99 HIFK Helsinki FNL 14 31 2.23 341 0.9171999-00 Detroit Vipers IHL 36 120 3.56 989 0.8922000-01 AIK Solna SEL 43 105 2.48 - -2001-02 Karpat FNL 32 79 2.45 968 0.9252002-03 Providence Bruins AHL 35 98 2.87 947 0.9062002-03 Boston Bruins NHL 4 11 3.00 107 0.9072003-04 Providence Bruins AHL 43 78 1.84 1247 0.9412004-05 Jokerit Helsinki FNL 54 86 1.58 1503 0.9462005-06 Providence Bruins AHL 26 57 2.26 680 0.9232005-06 Boston Bruins NHL 38 101 2.77 1112 0.9172006-07 Boston Bruins NHL 66 189 3.13 1796 0.9052007-08 Boston Bruins NHL 57 136 2.44 1595 0.9212008-09 Boston Bruins NHL 54 114 2.10 1580 0.9332009-10 Boston Bruins NHL 40 98 2.57 1041 0.910

Played at Davison High School before his four-year career at the University of Vermont… Was named ECAC Goalie of the Year as a junior… Holds Catamounts’ all-time

records for wins (81), saves (3,950) and minutes (8,286) and was named to the school’s All-

Time Team in 2006… Selected by the Quebec Nordiques in the ninth round (217th overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft… Spent time in Finland’s National League, the East Coast Hockey League and the International Hockey League in 1997-98, and

played for the IHL’s Detroit Vipers in 1999-2000… Won the NHL’s Vezina

Trophy in 2009 and is tied for eighth place on the Bruins’ all-time shutout list

(16)… Won a Silver medal as a member of Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics…

Was the winning goaltender in the last two NHL All-Star Games and played in the 2010 Winter

Classic at Boston’s Fenway Park.


Host OrganizationHost Organizationfor 2011 Girls’ for 2011 Girls’

Tier 1 NationalsTier 1 Nationals

97 AAA April 12……7:00-8:20 P.M.April 13……7:30-9:00 P.M.April 15……7:00-8:30 P.M.

at Suburban Ice Farmington HillsHead Coach: Tom Anastos

[email protected]

19U Girls Tier 1April 14……7:30-9:00 P.M.April 19……8:00-9:20 P.M.April 20……8:00-9:20 P.M.April 22……8:00-9:20 P.M.

Suburban Ice Farmington HillsHead Coach: Ryan Pardoski

[email protected] 248-866-0276

16U Girls Tier 1April 19……6:30-8:00 P.M.April 20……6:30-8:00 P.M.April 22……6:30-8:00 P.M.

at Suburban Ice Farmington HillsCoach: Rob Robinson

[email protected]: Tom [email protected]

14U Girls Tier 1April 14……6:00-7:20 P.M.April 15……7:30-9:00 P.M.April 21……7:30-9:00 P.M.

at Suburban Ice Farmington HillsHead Coach: Lyle Phair

[email protected]

Midget MajorSkate every Tuesday April 13-May 24 at Oak

Park from 8:30-10:00 P.M.$20/skate

Head Coach: Rob Krohl [email protected] at 734-637-9748

2010 SPRING2010 SPRINGTRYOUTSTRYOUTS

2010 SPRING2010 SPRINGTRYOUTSTRYOUTS

Host OrganizationHost Organizationfor 2011 Girls’ for 2011 Girls’

Tier 1 NationalsTier 1 Nationals

LEARN TO PLAY Ages 4-9HOUSE LEAGUES10U | 12U | 13+

Fall/Winter Girls Hockey Program

All tryouts held at Suburban Ice -

Farmington Hills

michiganicebreakers.com

GIRLS SPRINGTEAM

TRYOUTS

GIRLS SPRINGTEAM

TRYOUTS

Suburban Ice - Farmington Hills

12U IcebreakersCoach : Rob Murphy

[email protected]

14U IcebreakersCoach : Tom Byrne

[email protected]

16U IcebreakersCoach : Rick Murray

[email protected] 16, 5:30 - 7:00pmApril 18, 5:30 - 7:00pm

19U Icebreakers

Coach : Ken [email protected]

630-418-5529Coach : Lauren [email protected]

Tryouts will be held in AprilSee website for dates and times


800-667-5141 • www.coachmate.com

To recognize and promote the commitment of youth coaches in the state, Michigan Hockey would like youth coaches to tell us a few things about

yourself and why you coach youth hockey.

presented by:

COACH CHRIS LANTTO Level/TeamCanton Crush 98 Pee Wee A

Number of years coaching 9

Why do you coach?I have a passion for hockey and the kid’s love of the sport. You can learn many team bonding skills and life lessons from hockey.

Most Memorable MomentThis past season we won the Little Caesars regular season division title by going 12-0-2.

Coaching PhilosophyTeach kids to have fun while learning off ense, defense and puck possession. The main goal is to have fun and have kids want to come back to the rink.

Coach you admireMy father Bruce Lantto, he coached me my entire youth career. He loved the game and passed away while playing in an adult league game.

One thing you would changePlay less games and have more practice time for the young players to teach skill development.

S U B M I T T O W I NCOACHES, SEND US THE FOLLOWING INFO FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COACH MATE BOARD

AND BE FEATURED IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE OF MICHIGAN HOCKEY IN THE BEHIND THE BENCH SECTION. PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

• YOUR NAME

• WHERE DO YOU LIVE

• THE LEVEL, TEAM AND ASSOCIATION WHERE YOU COACH

• NUMBER OF YEARS COACHING

• WHY DO YOU COACH

• MOST MEMORABLE COACHING MOMENT

• COACHING PHILOSOPHY/STYLE

• FAVORITE DRILL

• COACH YOU ADMIRE MOST AND WHY

• ONE THING YOU’D CHANGE ABOUT YOUTH HOCKEY

PLEASE ATTACH A DIGITAL PHOTO OF YOURSELF WITH YOUR ANSWERS

AND EMAIL EVERYTHING TO: [email protected]

MAHA State Tournaments April 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17

BY JOHN RAFFELThe MAHA Squirt B state tournament came down to two

Upper Peninsula powers.In the end the Iron River Ice Hawks defeated the St. Ignace

Saints in overtime, 4-3, on March 14 at the Walker Ice and Fitness Center outside Grand Rapids.

Iron River scored all of its goals on power plays, including the game winner fi ve minutes into the extra period by Neil Tomasoski, who was assisted by Lee Hedtke.

Peter Ropiak scored the Hawks fi rst goal in the opening period, and Hedtke and Brandon Spindler added scores in the third period

“We’ve really got no superstars, but we played as a team,” said Iron River coach Joe Ropiak.

St. Ignace notched single goals in each of the three periods to tie the game at the end of regulation. Kody Rickley scored twice while Hunter Frazier had a goal in the second period.

“It’s been a great season,” said St. Ignace coach Eric Danielson. “It’s a matter of lot of hard work and a lot of teamwork. We have a young team. It was more teaching fundamentals and skills rather than having a one-man show. That’s what got us this far with just having nine skaters (and two goalies).”

Iron River went 4-1 on their weekend trip downstate and fi nished 45-4-5 for the season with strong defensive play.

“Some of our fastest guys are on defense,” Ropiak said. “Our two leading shooters are on defense.”

The Ice Hawks are deep at all positions and rolled three forward lines.

“The key was our depth,” said Iron River assistant coach Mike Hedtke. “We made sure everyone was fresh, even during the championship game.”

Iron River drove around 500 miles one way to make the trip to the state fi nals.

“This is the highlight of our season,” Ropiak said. “Most of us left Thursday. This is our longest trip. We play mostly across the U.P. and northern Wisconsin.”

St. Ignace ended the season at 43-3-1.“We held teams to really low (total) shots,” Danielson said. “In

the semifi nals, they only gave up four shots in the whole game. It was good team defense, and getting scoring at key times.”

St. Ignace’s Frazier has led his team in scoring all season.“This is the farthest they’ve been,” Danielson said. “We’ve

got fi ve kids that it’s their fi rst time being in squirts. We also have an 8-year-old who moved up from mites. We’re young.”

Ropiak also likes his team’s future potential.“We’ll be back,” he smiled. “Squirt B hockey is very important

to the U.P. We don’t have big numbers in our town. It’s all we can run. It’s important for us to have squirt hockey.”

SQUIRT B NOTEBOOKAmerican Conference teams were the host West Kent Hawks,

Fraser Falcons, Novi Predators and Saginaw. National Conference teams were Allen Park, the GRAHA Griffi ns, St. Ignace and Iron River … Fraser lost 4-0 to the West Kent Hawks, who got two goals from Dyllan Nawrot… Novi edged the Saginaw as Colin Flinn notched two goals for the winners. Clay Charbeneau had two goals for Saginaw… The Griffi ns roared past Allen Park 8-1. Austin Brown notched four goals and assisted on two others for the winners. Frankie Andreau notched Allen Park’s only goal… The Ice Hawks had a 4-3 win over St. Ignace early in the tournament. Ropiak had two goals while Michael Alfronso had a goal and an assist. Frazier had two goals for St. Ignace… Novi dumped Fraser 5-1. Nathan Dorsevski had a goal for Fraser. Cole Dupis and Ryan Wexler both had goals for Novi… West Kent skated past Saginaw 8-4. Jared Jackson had three goals for the winners. Reed Schnepf had a goal and assist for Saginaw…. St. Ignace snuck past Allen Park 7-6. Hunter Frazier and Kody Rickley both came up with the hat trick for the winners. Nate Pattenaude had two goals and an assist for Allen Park…Novi defeated West Kent 2-0 on goals by Zachary Ingrao and Aaron Youmans… Fraser edged Saginaw 8-7. Gio Procopio and Joey Jenkins both had the hat trick for the winners. Saginaw was led by Reed Schnepf with three goals and two assists…Ross Goodfellow had a goal and assist in Allen Park’s 2-0 win over Iron River. Allen Park… In the semifi nals St. Ignace beat Novi 7-0. Frazier scored the fi rst three goals and also had an assist for the winners. Sawyer Kulman had two goals and one assist for St. Ignace. In the other semifi nal Iron River beat West Kent, 6-3. Ropiak had two goals for Iron River. Jared Jackson had two goals for the Hawks.

Iron River Ice Hawks claimIron River Ice Hawks claimMAHA Squirt B state title MAHA Squirt B state title

in overtimein overtime

Iron River Ice Hawks claim Iron River Ice Hawks claim MAHA Squirt B state title MAHA Squirt B state title

in overtimein overtime


MIDGETS June 19 and 21

BANTAMS June 22 and 23

Midget Major

Midget Minor

Bantam

Major/Minor

Suburban Ice-East Lansing

2010

FALL

TRYOUTS

Lansing Capitals AAA TIER 1 Hockey

Director Dean Dixon

Midget AAA Head Coach Dixon

[email protected]

Bantam AAA Head Coach Jay Laing [email protected]

pre-registration and schedule at www.glaha.org

www.naphl.net

Greater Lansing Amateur Hockey Association

Hockey Team and its SEJHL Team - announce tryout dates for the 2010 - 2010 season. The tryout dates will be a combined tryout with both of the

Florida Eels Junior Teams.

The Eels are Nationally ranked Junior teams. The Eels offer exceptional player development and training with over 400 hours of on ice training, 150 hours of on ice training and another 50 games against top competition. This provided unprecedented and unparallel national exposure and collegiate re-cruitment directly from your participation with the Eels. The Eels have more alumni in NCAA Div 1 and Div 3 teams and ACHA College Hockey Teams

than any other program in the Southeast.

-

itself as an Elite College Development Program that competes at the highest level with a mission of college placement akin to the top junior programs in

the northeast

The Florida Eels College Development Team. This team will be its Elite Team and will play in the MJHL Met South and participate in Junior A and

ACHA Teams. Full exposure to the College coaches is our primary objective. College placement.

The Florida Eels Junior Development Team (second team) - will play in the SEJHL. This team will be our Junior Development Team. It too will play a 40 league game schedule and participate in several Elite Showcases and will

also join the senior team in the New England College Tour.

with college placement and advising from professional educators.

The Florida Eels tryouts will be held on three weekends, Announced dates are as follows:

April 24th, 2010 4:00pm - 6:00pmApril 25th, 2010 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

May 15th 8:00pm - 10:00pmMay 16th 11:00 am - 1: 00pm

June 12th 2010 6:00 pm - 8:00pmJune 13th 2010 11:00 am - 1:00pm

Tryout includes off-ice strength and conditioning evaluations and on-ice competition. Cost for the tryout weekend will be $150 for the primary tryout

$50.00 for each additional tryout weekend.

Estimated cost for the players for each team is $7,000.00

Tryouts are open to all players with birth years of 1995 -1990.

For more information, please contact Florida Eels GM and Coach, Frank Scarpaci at 941-400-9023 or at [email protected]


MAHA State Tournaments

BY LARRY O’CONNORThe third period turned into the Novi Ice Cats’ golden moment

while the 12-minute stretch left the high-fl ying Marquette Sentinels defl ated in the MAHA Squirt AA championship game.

Daniel McKee’s goal with 5:27 left was the pin to the balloon as Novi pulled ahead 3-1 before fi nishing off Marquette, 4-1, to lift the state trophy on March 21 at The Summit in Dimondale.

Sentinels netminder Jack Eyler appeared to have stopped McKee’s shot, but the puck squirted from underneath and into the net. Before then, Marquette was pressuring for the tying goal.

Novi’s Jed Pietila closed out the session with an empty-netter with 13 seconds left. Travis Mitchell dug the puck out of the corner and chipped it out and Pietila chased it down and slid it into the empty net.

Ice Cats goalie Avery Emerson held off the frequent Sentinel surges as he stopped 19 of 20 shots – including several breakaways – to garner tournament MVP honors.

“It was a matter of both teams competing hard and I’d say we got the luckier bounces,” Novi Coach Jeff Mitchell said.

John Jeannotte’s third-period goal – which took a fortuitous route into the net – turned out to be the game-winner. Jeannotte’s attempt on goal struck another player’s stick and arched end over end over Eyler’s shoulder. McKee assisted on the go-ahead tally, which came 34 seconds into the fi nal frame.

McKee also helped set up Novi’s tying goal early in the second period, which Dominic Skrelja buried from inside the slot. Jeannotte also assisted.

Joey Phillips opened Marquette’s account, scoring on a wicked wrist shot from inside left circle. Andrew Pieper’s deft cross-ice pass set up Phillips’ uncontested foray on goal.

Marquette held a 15-14 shot edge after two periods despite having to kill off four penalties. While shorthanded, Sentinels’ forward Spencer DenBeste snaked through for a couple of breakaways after intercepting passes. Later, DenBeste was also foiled in a pair of one-on-ones less than a minute apart midway in the fi nal frame. The stops proved pivotal.

Emerson’s biggest save came with 5:42 left when he cut across the crease to deny DenBeste who was alone at the left post. Fifteen seconds later, McKee scored Novi’s third goal.

“I think the bounces could have gone either way and we needed to stay out of the penalty box and we didn’t,” Marquette Coach Dirk DenBeste said.

Novi’s coach gave props to his netminder.

“We’ve had great goaltending all year, whether it’s been Avery Emerson or Logan Neaton,” Mitchell said. “They are the two best goaltenders in the league and I can’t say enough about both of them.”

Neaton backstopped Novi to a 3-2 overtime victory over Allen Park in the semifi nals. Scott Granzotto scored the game-winner with 3:18 left in the fi rst OT. Travis Mitchell, who led the Ice Cats with seven goals in the tournament, and Easton Ray made a play behind the net and got the puck to Granzotto who fi nished in tight.

The Ice Cats also posted wins over Saginaw, Capital Centre Pride and Oakland Junior Grizzlies in their buoyant state championship run.

“We’ve learned how to play together and that was the whole key,” Mitchell said.

Marquette brushed past the Oakland Junior Grizzlies, 4-0, in the semifi nals with Justin Moyle, Eric Hurst, DenBeste and Phillips scoring goals. The Sentinels, who were District 8 champs, recorded state tournament victories over Woolever Blades and Grand Rapids Griffi ns, while breaking even with Allen Park, 2-2.

The Sentinels made a statement about the quality of Upper Peninsula hockey.

“We take these kids to Minnesota and all over and they’re always competitive,” DenBeste said. “I think they surprised a lot of teams here who are from Michigan and come from larger communities with more kids and more resources.

“U.P. hockey is alive and well.”

SQUIRT AA NOTEBOOKTyler Balogh scored both Allen Park goals in the team’s 2-2

draw against Marquette. The Huskies went 2-1-1 in the playoff s with victories over Grand Rapids and Woolever. Cole Martin and Joel Alexander both scored twice in the victory over Woolever while Martin netted both goals in the win over the Griffi ns… Mitchell Cochran and Zak Hamilton scored two goals each in the Oakland Junior Grizzlies’ 7-0 romp over Capital Centre… Will Kortz scored twice while Noah Lindhout posted a goal and four assists in Grand Rapids’ 7-0 shutout over Woolever… Five diff erent players scored for Saginaw in the Blades’ 5-0 victory over Capital Centre. Goalscorers were Cameron Davis, Owen Bourdow, Hunter Zanavich, Brandon Ashley and Traves Stallings… Owen Rokita scored Capital Centre’s lone goal in a 6-1 loss to Novi.

BY JOHN VRANCICThere’s an old cliche which says it’s hard to beat the same

team three times in one season.The Escanaba-based Northern Michigan Bank Hawks fully

understand how true that is after squeezing past the Keweenaw Bay Cougars, 3-2, in overtime in the championship game of the MAHA Pee Wee B state tournament on March 14 at the Wells Sports Complex in Escanaba.

The host Hawks had beaten Keweenaw Bay twice, 4-0 and 5-0, during the regular season, but needed a goal from Riley Stenfors 47 seconds into the extra period to earn their third victory over the Copper Country squad this season.

“Keweenaw Bay has come a long way this year,” said Hawks’ coach Mike Borman. “We shut them out both times during the regular season, but we tried to downplay that. Earlier isn’t today. We knew we’d have our hands full.”

Stenfors, looking to dump the puck to a teammate in the overtime, then decided to let it fl y after he discovered nobody was in the attacking zone. His one-timer from beyond the blueline bounced over the shoulder of Cougars’ goaltender Michael Turunen for the game-winner.

“I just tried to connect with it,” said the 12-year-old Stenfors, who will play bantam hockey next season. “It was awesome. I couldn’t believe it when the puck went into the net. I just got lucky.”

Borman was putting lines together on the Hawks’ bench during Stenfors’ one-timer.

“I actually didn’t see the shot,” said Borman. “The next thing I knew the kids were out there celebrating. I’m glad they did what they did. This will provide them with memories for the rest of their lives.”

Stenfors’ game-winner was a bitter pill to swallow for some of the Keweenaw Bay players who wept openly during the awards presentation.

“That was just a hard luck goal for us,” said Cougars’ coach Lyndon Ekdahl. “This is just tearing him (Turunen) apart right now.

“Everybody was playing his or her position. We were playing our game. What can you say? Sometimes, that’s just the way it goes. The kids hung in there. It was just a little bad luck on our behalf.”

Keweenaw Bay’s Isaac Ekdahl opened the scoring from the

high slot fi ve minutes into the game. A pass from Ekdahl 56 seconds later set up Sean Lake’s goal for a 2-0 lead.

Jack Williams then got the Hawks on the board.“It didn’t look too good when they scored the fi rst two

goals, but we knew we could come back,” said Stenfors. “We had a little better feeling after our fi rst goal.”

Stenfors scored the tying goal on a rebound 70 seconds into the third stanza, setting the stage for his game-winner.

The Hawks were leery of Keweenaw Bay’s Corbin Crittenden, who was on the ice nearly the entire contest.

“We had match-up problems with him,” said Borman. “I don’t think he came off the ice at all in the third period. Our philosophy was to keep putting fresh kids on the ice and try to wear him down.”

Goaltender Jack Valentine stopped 13 shots for the Hawks, who fi nished 37-11-3. Turnunen had 22 saves.

Borman showed plenty of confi dence in the Hawks during the tournament, constantly reminding them, ‘you can do it.’

“You have to remember these are 11 and 12-year-old kids,” he added. “They’re going through their change of life. It’s important to keep pumping confi dence into them at this age.”

Coach Ekdahl was pleased with the overall performance by the Cougars, who fi nished 25-15.

“We played good hockey,” he said. “This was a great tournament. There were a lot of tight games. We had a nice season.”

PEE WEE B NOTEBOOKHunter Murray scored in overtime as the Hawks slipped

past St. Ignace 3-2 in the semifi nals… Davan Ravidren and Mike Anderson snapped a 2-2 tie with third-period goals 80 seconds apart in Keweenaw Bay’s 4-2 semifi nal conquest of the Fraser Bruins… Escanaba opened with a 3-2 victory over Fraser on goals from Williams, Murray and Keegan Porath. The Hawks then settled for a scoreless tie with Midland. They secured a semifi nal berth with a 4-2 triumph over the Livonia Blues. Williams scored a hat trick in that contest and Murray had the remaining goal… Dylan LaPlante scored twice in Keweenaw Bay’s 3-1 victory over the Rockford… Crittenden hit two goals in a 4-1 triumph over the Dearborn Dragons and settled for a 3-3 tie with St. Ignace, which got goals from Andrew Christian and Jack Styles.

Novi Ice Cats capture Novi Ice Cats capture MAHA Squirt AA state titleMAHA Squirt AA state title

with perfect recordwith perfect recordEscanaba Hawks get Escanaba Hawks get

overtime win for MAHA overtime win for MAHA Pee Wee B state titlePee Wee B state title

Novi Ice Cats capture Novi Ice Cats capture MAHA Squirt AA state titleMAHA Squirt AA state title

with perfect recordwith perfect recordEscanaba Hawks get Escanaba Hawks get

overtime win for MAHA overtime win for MAHA Pee Wee B state titlePee Wee B state title

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April 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17 MAHA State Tournaments

BY BRIAN BEAUPIEDThe Allen Park Huskies Pee Wee A squad is no stranger

to overtime.As a Squirt A, Squirt AA and Pee Wee A team, coach Jeff

Mason has taken the Huskies to three state championship games - all of which went to overtime.

The Huskies needed three extra sessions to beat the Midland Northstars, 2-1, to claim their second-straight MAHA state title at Mackinaw City Ice Arena on March 14.

Allen Park’s Joshua Wildauer found a loose puck in front of the Midland net with 1:20 remaining in the third overtime and buried it to give Allen Park the win. Wildauer was named tournament MVP.

“It’s nothing new, but always exciting,” Mason said.Both teams started the game with strong play in their

respective defensive ends and in the neutral zone, not allowing a lot of sustained pressure in the early going.

Midland drew fi rst blood as Cayetano Wagner beat an Allen Park defender one-on-one and fi red a wrist shot past Huskies’ goaltender Jordan Gilbert to give the Northstars a 1-0 lead after one period.

The Northstars looked to extend their lead to two goals when Tyler Severson broke in on a shorthanded breakaway midway through the second. Severson deked right and tried for the open far side, but Gilbert was able to get his paddle on the puck to keep his team in the game.

Both squads continued to play stellar defense as Midland held onto its 1-0 through two periods of play.

“They were outworking us a good portion of the fi rst two periods,” Mason said. “We just said we had to play a little more desperate, win the puck battles, get to the puck fi rst, because it looked like (Midland) wanted it more.”

Momentum began to shift in the third period as Allen Park increased its off ensive zone pressure.

Finally a Midland turnover in their defensive end led to Allen Park’s Jonathan Precopio fi ring a slap shot from the bottom of the left faceoff circle past Northstars’ goalie Weondong Hwang to tie the game, 1-1, with just 4:35 to go in the third period.

After regulation, Allen Park held a 23-18 advantage in shots on net and appeared to have momentum on its side heading into overtime.

“I think we got a bit of a boost from that third period goal,” Mason said. “From there we kind of started to take over.”

The Huskies outshot Midland 25-10 in the overtime sessions, peppering Hwang who stood tall to the task to keep his team alive.

“If he sees it, he’s going to be able to stop it,” Midland coach Jim DeLong said. “He doesn’t want pucks getting past him.”

Hwang fi nished with 47 saves and Gilbert turned aside 27 Midland shots. Midland appeared to run out of steam in the third overtime as Allen Park controlled the pace of play leading up to Wildauer’s goal.

“I thought we carried the play the fi rst four periods,” DeLong said. “But in the fi fth and sixth (period) I think we started to run out of gas and (Allen Park) kept coming.”

Midland, in only its fi rst season together as a program, ends the year as state runner up, surpassing its expectations.

“Many people didn’t think we would make it this far,” DeLong said. “We had a great weekend and learned a lot along the way this season.

“My kids played their hearts out, I can’t ask any more from any one of them.”

PEE WEE A NOTEBOOKAllen Park paved its way to the championship game with

a 6-0 blanking of the Plymouth Stingrays in the semifi nals. Brendan Guziak had a hat trick and an assist to lead Allen Park while Jacob Cyr added two goals abd an assist. Angelo Fusco rounded out Allen Park scorers. Matt Calhoun had a pair of assists with Jonathan Precopio, Evan Breen and Avery Keith all helped set up Huskie goals.

Jordan Gilbert earned the shutout in net… Midland advanced by edging the Holland Ice Dogs in the other semifi nal, 4-3. Travis Nemeth, Zack Olen, John Minnich and Andrew Michalowski all scored for the Northstars. Tyler Severson, Minnich, Olen and Brendan all had assists with Scott Leitz picking up the win in net. Holland got goals from Terry Ryder (from Jake Zimmerman), Jared VanHeest (from Chad Lemke), and Zimmerman (from Brody Vanderlinde)… Other teams at the tournament included the host Northern Avalanche, Mt. Clemens Wolves, Kensington Valley Renegades and Traverse City Rangers.

BY CARL CHIMENTICompuware held off a late charge from Belle Tire to capture

the MAHA Pee Wee AAA Major state title on March 14 at the Taylor Sportsplex.

After Compuware jumped out to what seemed to be a commanding 3-0 lead, Belle Tire didn’t quit and scored twice to pull within a goal. But Compuware answered with two goals to seal the game and the championship with a 5-3 victory.

The win sends Compuware to Williamsville, NY, for the USA Hockey National Tournament that starts April 7.

Compuware goalie Tyler Copp was outstanding as Belle Tire dominated play early in the fi nal. Copp fi nished with 25 saves and was named tournament MVP.

“They out-shot us and they out-chanced us heavily in the fi rst period,” said Compuware coach Andy Copp. “Our goaltending was the key early on because we should have been down a couple of goals at that point of the game.”

Instead, Tyler Sensky gave Compuware a 1-0 lead at 4:47 of the opening period by picking up a loose puck in the slot and slamming it home.

Before and after the goal, Copp stopped Belle Tire’s Max Jones on two separate breakaways.

In the middle period Compuware increased their lead to 2-0 on a goal from Colin Theisen, who converted following a turnover just over six minutes in. A minute later Compuware found pay dirt again as Brendan Warren fi nished off a nice two way passing play from Ronnie Hein.

Belle Tire’s comeback bid started near the end of the middle period when Ryan Moore was hauled down on a breakaway and was rewarded with a penalty shot that he converted.

At 7:45 of the third period Belle Tire scored again on a goal from Jones, who ripped a wrist shot past Copp to close the gap, 3-2.

But Compuware kept their composure and regained the two-goal lead two minutes later when Alex King defl ected a shot from the point into the net. Warren added to the lead on a tap in with less then seven minutes to go before Moore scored again for Belle Tire.

“It seems like whenever a team would score on us we would come right back and put one or two in,” said Coach Copp. “This team has been kind of like that throughout this year and for

some unknown reason we were very tentative this afternoon. I think the magnitude of the game got to them a little bit.”

Belle Tire made a goaltending switch from starter Ryan Bednard to Jorgen Johnson in the second period.

“We did it just to make a change,” explained Belle Tire coach Doug Bailey. “It was not refl ected on Ryan’s performance at all. Basically we made the change to motivate the bench.”

After a Compuware penalty with 2:51 left in the game, Belle Tire pulled their goaltender for a two-man advantage but couldn’t close the gap. In the end Compuware made good on their scoring opportunities, and when Belle Tire pressured, Tyler Copp held them off .

“Fortunately the few chances, we had we buried them,” said Coach Copp. “They controlled the momentum early on but we preserved in the end.”

Coach Bailey was proud of his team’s eff ort in the fi nal game and all season long.

“We had a really good month of February and March,” said Bailey, whose team outshot Compuware 28-22 in the fi nal. “The kids were playing their best hockey at the right time of the year. Today was frustrating, but give Compuware credit, they played really well.”

PEE WEE AAA MAJOR NOTEBOOKBrent Jones scored the lone goal on assists from Austin

Levering and Luke Morgan, for Honeykaked in a 5-1 loss to Belle Tire…Matthew Barnes had two goals, Karch Bachman a goal and an assist and Dough Blaisdell added a pair of helpers as Little Caesars fell 5-4 to Compuware…Austin Alger, Zach Osburn and Bryce Becker each scored to lead Victory Honda to a 3-2 win over Honeybaked, who got goals from Steven Fredrick and Julian Biondo…Little Caesars beat over Honeybaked, 8-2, as David Cotton scored twice, Zach Bennett and Bachman each had a goal and an assist) and Matthew Barnes had a goal and four points. Brent Jones and Fredrick tallied for Honeybaked… Gregory Aliotta had a goal and an assist for Little Caesars in their 4-3 win over Victory Honda, who received goals from Connor Koviak, Austin Pennell and Becker…Compuware was a perfect 4-0, Belle Tire 3-1, Little Caesars 2-2, Victory Honda was 1-3 and Honeybaked was winless, but lost twice by only a single goal.

Allen Park Huskies take Allen Park Huskies take MAHA Pee Wee A state MAHA Pee Wee A state title with 3-OT victorytitle with 3-OT victory

Compuware holds off Compuware holds off Belle Tire for MAHA Pee Belle Tire for MAHA Pee Wee AAA Major crownWee AAA Major crown

Allen Park Huskies take Allen Park Huskies take MAHA Pee Wee A state MAHA Pee Wee A state title with 3-OT victorytitle with 3-OT victory

Compuware holds off Compuware holds off Belle Tire for MAHA Pee Belle Tire for MAHA Pee Wee AAA Major crownWee AAA Major crown



BY SETH M. FISHERBefore the MAHA Bantam AA state fi nal, Grand Rapids

Griffi ns’ head coach Scott Mills told his players that there’s nothing quite like playing in a national tournament. He should know; he has been there.

“I went to Nationals as a player as a kid,” said Mills. “And I told them ‘there’s nothing better.’”

Now his team will have the same opportunity after Grand Rapids defeated the Allen Park Huskies, 5-3, in the state championship game on March 14 at St. Clair Shores Civic Arena.

Mills’ highly skilled squad dominated the weekend tournament by scoring 22 goals and winning fi ve straight games in their trip to the eastside of the state.

In the fi nal Allen Parke came out skating harder, but the Griffi ns showed consistency and precision throughout the game. Tournament top scorer Luke Gagnon fi nally broke through for Grand Rapids with just over a minute remaining in the opening period, and the Griffi ns never again lost control.

“I’ve been coaching these boys for about two years now, fi ve years as an assistant coach. Our goal last year was to go to States, and we fell a little short in the semis, we lost there, and I said to them ‘we’ve got the team, we’ve got the caliber, we can get to the States and win it,’ and by God if we didn’t do it,” said Mills.

Tournament MVP Sam Rennaker of Grand Rapids had four goals and fi ve assists over the grueling weekend, but passed credit to his teammates. His linemate Gagnon led the tournament in both goals (six) and assists (six) over the fi ve games.

All the Griffi ns games took place within a 44-hour period. The Griffi ns Saturday evening match-up with Traverse City Pepsi started just several hours after a mid-day overtime battle with Marquette. And that was after driving across the state on Friday to play an 8 p.m. game against Allen Park, their eventual opponent in the fi nal.

“We also lost an hour for daylight savings,” Rennaker noted.Fortunately Mills’ team well-conditioned. Since last year,

the Griffi ns have trained hard and their team’s online calendar also notes weekly half-hour Yoga sessions.

“This team was just awesome,” said Mills. “The whole team wanted this and came together for fi ve solid games together, defensively, off ensively, they just never quit.”

For their part, Allen Park rebounded after opening the tournament with two losses, including losing in overtime to Traverse City after leading most of the game. The Huskies beat Marquette 6-1, then knocked off the Flint Phantoms in the semifi nals to face Grand Rapids for the state crown.

“We’re a very blue collar team; we’re all about heart,” said Allen Park assistant coach Dan Dobek. “We tell them they’ve got to play for each other, and for the game. We don’t even show them their stats, because it’s really about the team. And these guys have really responded to that.”

Grand Rapids took a 3-0 lead early in the middle period on goals from Calvin Wojtaszak (on a pass from Justin Chopp) and Rennaker, who scored shorthanded after a pass from Gagnon.

But Allen Park proved their resilience and got back in the game on quick goals from Aaron Porter and Steve Littleton just over a minute apart late in the period.

But the Griffi ns’ Rennaker silenced the crowd when his odd-angled shot found its way into the net with 2:50 left in the period. Offi cials conferred and ruled it a goal, which eventually stood up as the game-winner.

The Griffi ns Adam Robson added a powerplay goal to make it 5-2 in third period and Allen Park’s Heiss closed out the scoring with 34 seconds left in the game.

Griffi ns captain Tyler Brewer, who tallied three goals and six points for the weekend viewed his team’s victory as the culmination of an entire season’s worth of eff ort.

“Just going through the whole season, it’s a lot of conditioning, it’s a lot of work, and now you see it up there on the scoreboard,” said Brewer.

The Griffi ns head to New Jersey for the USA Hockey National Tournament.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Brewer. “We get to go to Nationals now, and it’s just an amazing atmosphere – it’s awesome.”

BANTAM AA NOTEBOOKThe host Saint Clair Shores Saints had a great showing

early in the tournament, beating the Rochester Rattlers in a thrilling 5-4 overtime game to kick off the weekend, and triumphing again in a shootout over the Suburban Stars. St. Clair Shores’ Austin Lane, who tied with Brewer for third among scoring leaders, and Dan Myers were the only non-Griffi ns among the top six.

BY SARAH ZIENTARSKIWinning state titles never gets old for Honeybaked forward

Mike McCarron.McCarron won his fi fth state championship when his

Honeybaked squad shutout Little Caesars, 3-0, in the fi nal of the MAHA Bantam AAA Major state championship at the Taylor Sportsplex on March 14.

“This one feels awesome,” Honeybaked forward Mike McCarron said. “I couldn’t even think out there. I can’t even describe it.”

McCarron opened the scoring in the fi nal when he took a pass from Adam Ulfsax at the side boards, walked out in front and fl ipped it past Little Caesars’ goalie Jared Sauve.

“Mike’s arguably our most improved player throughout the year,” Honeybaked coach Larry Knapp said. “He works hard and he’s a kid that wants to get better. He’s always asking questions on how to do certain things so when he popped that one in tonight I couldn’t have been happier.”

Sauve kept the game close early with several big saves, including a poke check that knocked the puck off of the stick of Honeybaked’s Brendon Kearney who was in alone.

Brendyn Smith extended the Honeybaked lead with 39.7 seconds left in the opening period by getting a rebound off his fi rst shot and fi nding the back of the net.

“Our second goal came off a lot of hard work by Smith,” Knapp said. “We emphasize going to the net and stopping at the net. He got to the net and he was there to bang it in.”

Honeybaked continued their pressure in the middle period and their penalty killers kept Little Caesars from getting a shot in goal on a powerplay.

“We have two penalty killers in particular, Brendyn Smith and Tyler Motte, who have some of the greatest wheels in this league and we use them as our primary penalty killing unit,” Knapp said. “They’re just so fast and put so much pressure on the other team that it seems that they force them to cough up the puck.”

McCarron set up Honeybaked’s third goal with 3:27 left in the second period. After winning the faceoff , he went to his backhand for a shot on net that bounced up and hit teammate Michael Sabatini in the chest and into the net.

“That’s the type of thing that works,” Knapp said. “Especially

in tournament play or in state championships like this, it’s not just the pretty goals that are going to win but somebody that’s just working, working hard.”

With a three goal lead Honeybaked kept pressuring, knowing that Little Caesars had come back on them in the past.

“Little Caesars is a strong opponent,” Knapp said. “We were putting our best faceoff guys in our zone out at every opportunity because we just knew if they got one goal that they were just going to feed off of that and we didn’t want to give them any light. So we were scared that whole period, probably when it got to under a minute I thought we were going to pull it out.”

Honeybaked goalie Ian Jenkins made 15 saves in the win, which helped after the state fi nals loss in OT last season.

“I think he had something to prove,” said Knapp. “Not only did he win but he shut them out and I think he feels vindicated because of that.”

The core of the Honeybaked squad has been together since squirts and has had a lot of success, including a Silver Stick title this season and the Quebec Pee Wee International championship in 2008.

“We have good character and good leaders on this team,” said Knapp. “And they worked very hard this season.”

BANTAM AAA MAJOR NOTEBOOKVictory Honda’s Ryan Holder had a goal and an assist while

Honeybaked’s Adam Ulfsax recorded an assist and the game winning goal when Honeybaked edged out Victory Honda 6-5. Little Caesar’s Leo Lumm had the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Belle Tire… Scott Clark netted Victory Honda’s lone goal in a 4-1 loss to Little Caesars… Belle Tire’s Scott Conway and Peare Vance each assisted on two goals in a 4-1 victory over Compuware… Honeybaked’s Connor Hutchins and Brendon Kearney each scored a hat trick in a win over Compuware… Victory Honda’s Matt Roy recorded two assists in a 3-1 win over beat Belle Tire… Honeybaked’s Evan Allen put up a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over Belle Tire… Little Caesar’s Alex Alger found the back of the net twice in a 6-3 win over Compuware… Victory Honda’s Payton Wheeler got the game winner in a 3-2 win against Compuware.

Grand Rapids Griffi ns go Grand Rapids Griffi ns go unbeaten to win MAHA unbeaten to win MAHA

Bantam AA state titleBantam AA state titleHoneybaked rolls to Honeybaked rolls to

MAHA Bantam AAA Major MAHA Bantam AAA Major state championshipstate championship

Grand Rapids Griffi ns go Grand Rapids Griffi ns go unbeaten to win MAHA unbeaten to win MAHA

Bantam AA state titleBantam AA state titleHoneybaked rolls to Honeybaked rolls to

MAHA Bantam AAA Major MAHA Bantam AAA Major state championshipstate championship



BY MATT MACKINDERThe Redford Wolfpack was the last team to make the MAHA

Midget B state tournament, but was the last one standing after a dominant 4-0 win over the Livonia Flyers on March 14 at the Ice Mountain Arena Complex in Burton.

A shattered pane of glass during warmups forced the game to move rinks. But once the title game started, it was all Wolfpack as Brady Wenson scored twice in the fi rst period and Redford added a goal in each of the next two periods to clinch the championship.

“I can’t say enough about these kids,” said Wolfpack head coach Charles TenBroeck. “They all did everything we asked of them all year. We’re just fl oating right now.”

The Wolfpack nearly scored three minutes in on a 2-on-1 break, but Livonia goalie Brandon Paulus made a big save.

Starting Redford goalie Brandon Bjuric also fl ashed some leather in stopping two shots from point-blank range a minute later.

Six minutes in Wenson parked himself to the right of Paulus and tipped a point shot from Justin TenBroeck past Paulus. Redford co-captain Derek Johnson added the second assist.

Wenson’s second goal came at 10:38 when he crashed the net and banged home a rebound past Paulus. Steven Smoltz, the other co-captain, took the initial shot and Johnson recorded his second assist of the game on the play.

The outburst from Wenson was a welcome sight for TenBroeck.

“Wenson has been off and on (off ensively),” TenBroeck said. “Last year, in the state tournament he scored a bunch of goals. This year, his tournament was a little rough until today when he just lit it up.”

Johnson made it 3-0 at the 8:20 mark of the second period when he knocked in a rebound of a TenBroeck shot.

After the goal, Justin Gizinski came in to play goal for Redford and Michael Wonnacott went into the Flyers’ cage.

“For the most part, we rotated our goalies all season long,” TenBroeck said. “Bjuric broke his wrist snowboarding, but once he got healthy, we got him back.”

Bjuric came back into the net with 3:47 left in the game.The Wolfpack took the three-goal lead into the third period

and Justin Pingston sealed the game with an empty-net tally at 12:49. Gordon Sparks assisted.

Livonia pulled their goalie for an extra attacker at 13:30, but couldn’t get anything past the Redford blue line.

TenBroeck said that winning a state title means everything to his players and even after a late season slump, nothing was ever in doubt. The Wolfpack fi nished behind Livonia in the regular season and lost to the Flyers, 1-0, in triple overtime in the District playoff fi nal.

“During districts, we hit a lull,” explained TenBroeck. “We were playing our worst hockey, but they played their best hockey once we got (to the state tournament).”

TenBroeck added that it was hard to single out players on the Wolfpack who made the most impact.

“All around, I think this season was a team eff ort,” said TenBroeck. “But guys like Derek Johnson, Steve Smoltz, Rory MacLennan, Joey Holland, our defense, goaltending, everybody played well and it was a total team eff ort.”

The win capped off a terrifi c campaign, 40-7-5, for the Wolfpack.

“We end here, but that’s OK,” laughed TenBroeck. “We have a great group of kids who worked hard. This is defi nitely a great way to end the season.”

MIDGET B NOTEBOOKIn their semifi nal win over the Belle Tire Lakers, Livonia’s

Josh DeYonker had a goal and an assist in the 2-1 win … In the other semifi nal, Redford blanked the Capital Centre Pride, 6-0. Michael Abdo scored two goals and Dakota Lucas added two assists … Alpena’s Zachery Nash scored twice in a 5-3 tournament-opening loss to Capital Centre. Austin Koneval and Christos Carey tallied two apiece for Capital Centre … Ricky Curian recorded a goal and two assists for Marquette in a 5-5 tie with Belle Tire … Livonia’s Brad Celmer’s two goals and Eric Willetts’ two helpers led the Flyers to a 4-2 win over the Summit Plastics … Michael Lesinksi had two goals as Redford beat Blue Water, 6-3. Joe Simonetta, Daniel Dueweke and K.J. Thomason scored for Blue Water… Belle Tire’s Jeff Gucken scored a pair of goals in a 6-4 win against Alpena … Redford co-captain Steven Smoltz netted a hat trick in the Wolfpack’s 6-3 win over Summit Plastics … Alpena’s Josh Nunneley also tallied three in an 8-5 win over Marquette … Daniel Lobo scored two goals as Livonia fell to Redford, 6-4, in the last game of the round-robin.

BY JOHN RAFFELAlpena forward Aaron Senchuk picked the ideal time to

have one of his biggest games of the season.Senchuk scored two goals and had one assist to lead his

team to a 3-0 blanking of Marquette on March 21 in the championship game of the MAHA Midget BB state tournament at the Midland Civic Arena.

After losing to Marquette, 5-4, in the round robin, Senchuk helped his team in the rematch by assisting on the game’s fi rst goal by Tyler Phillips at 5:50 of the fi rst period. Senchuk scored twice in the third period with his fi rst goal coming unassisted and the second one, at 2:29, assisted by Alex Benson.

Alpena ended their season at 53-2.“They’re good. It’s the best competition we’ve had all year,”

said Alpena goalie Doug Snow, who earned the shutout. “I felt good today. The players who were in front of me closed a lot of things.”

Marquette coach Curt Gustafson sat out the title contest after a game misconduct in his team’s 2-1 victory in the semifi nals over Summit Plastics. Marquette was whistled for 18 penalties in that game but only had three in the fi nals.

Jamie Patterson served as Marquette’s coach in the title game and praised the eff orts of Snow, who continually frustrated Marquette in the title game.

“We’ve had a phenomenal season,” said Patterson, whose team fi nished 44-3-1 including a split of four games with Alpena this season. “We’re second in the state.”

The key behind Alpena’s phenomenal record this season was “strong off ense, solid defense and good goaltending,” said Snow, who shared time in goal with Dan Wieschewski, has also had a strong season.

Alpena coach John Fisher said his players know each other from past experience, but it’s the fi rst time they’ve been together in three years.

Senchuk led the team in scoring while Roddy Person was second on the list.

“They’re not greedy,” Fisher said. “They’re not selfi sh. I’ve got fi ve players with over 100 points.”

MIDGET BB NOTEBOOKAlpena opened with an 11-5 win over Ann Arbor. Roddy

Person erupted for four goals and an assist to lead the winners, who also received two goals from Zach Rousseau. Alex Benson had a goal and three assists as did Senchuk. Ann Arbor got a big game from Scott Girardi with three goals and two assists and also from Dylan Johnson with one goal and two assists… Garden City nipped Marquette 4-3. Michael Downey had two assists for Garden City while Jerad Patterson had a goal and assist for Marquette… Summit Plastics defeated Livonia 5-2. Summit had two goals apiece from Myles Ciolek and Brett Kybel while Zachary Shugart added two assists. Kevin Inglis had a goal and assist for Livonia… Midland tied Mount Pleasant 3-3. John Sayig had a goal and assist and Maxwell Arbury had two assists for Midland. Mount Pleasant got one goal each from Scott Jones, Jonah Ratu and Devon VanBonn… Jacob Cyrenne scored Garden City’s only goal in a 3-1 loss to Alpena…In Livonia’s 6-1 win over Midland Niko Gavas had the hat trick and an assist while Garrette Goddard had a goal and two assists and Robert Louweers contributed two goals and two assists… Antonio Moceri and Brett Knybell scored for Summit Plastics in a 2-1 win over Mount Pleasant, which notched its lone score from Jukka Hiltunen… Garden City’s Michael Downey had the hat trick and Brian Jacobs, Calvin Ball, Aaron Nichols and John Vernier each had two goals in a win over Ann Arbor… Marquette nipped Alpena 5-4 while Summit topped Midland 8-1 and Mount Pleasant defeated Livonia 4-1. Marquette got two goals from Austin Gauthier against Alpena, which had two goals from Senchuk. Summit was led by Antonio Moceri with the hat trick and Brett Knybel with two goals and one assist. Alexander Soave notched Midland’s only goal. Derek Mioduszewski had two goals for Mount Pleasant including one on a penalty shot. Niko Givas scored Livonia’s only goal.

In the semifi nals, Alpena eliminated Mount Pleasant 5-2 as Chad Thomas had two goals for Alpena while Benson came through with a goal and two assists. Adam Salisbury and Nick Bourdeau scored for the winners… In Marquette’s 2-1 victory over the Summit, Austin Gauthier and Dylan Hamari scored for the winners while Clint Remsburg had two assists. Moori scored for the Summit. The game ended with a fi ght and several penalties were handed out on both sides with Gustafson having to sit out the title game as coach for Marquette.

Redford Wolfpack goes Redford Wolfpack goes undefeated to take MAHA undefeated to take MAHA

Midget B state titleMidget B state titleAlpena rebounds for shutout Alpena rebounds for shutout

win and MAHA Midget BB win and MAHA Midget BB state championshipstate championship

Redford Wolfpack goes Redford Wolfpack goes undefeated to take MAHA undefeated to take MAHA

Midget B state titleMidget B state titleAlpena rebounds for shutout Alpena rebounds for shutout

win and MAHA Midget BB win and MAHA Midget BB state championshipstate championship

PHOTO BY RANDY RITARI/MARQUETTE JUNIOR HOCKEY



BY SARAH ZIENTARSKICompuware fought off fatigue to sweep Little Caesars and

win the MAHA Midget AAA Minor U16 state title in the fi fth 10-minute overtime on March 14 at the Taylor Sportsplex.

Tournament MVP Joe Cox was the hero fi ve minutes into the eighth period and at 12:03 a.m. Monday morning when he nonchalantly threw a shot on net that eluded Little Caesars’ goalie Jimmy Howe and give Compuware a 3-2 victory.

Earlier in the day Compuware took the fi rst victory in the best-of-three series on an overtime winning goal by Zack Szajner 1:25 into the fi rst extra period for a 5-4 win.

“I didn’t think it would go in,” Cox said of his title-clinching shot. “I was going for a rebound low and it just went in.”

Compuware goalie Sam Bloomberg fi nished with 54 saves and was dazed with the thought the seemingly never ending game was fi nally over.

“I just kept saying, ‘No way,’” Bloomberg said. “I can’t even believe it. I stood down there and stared at the other end. Once (Cox) came back over here it fi nally set in. It’s the greatest feeling and it’s my third time in a row so it’s pretty unbelievable.”

The team won the Bantam AAA Major state title and 14U Tier 1 national title last season and heads to Chicago for the 16U national tournament that starts April 7.

The nearly three and a half hour game started with Compuware pouring on the pressure. But Howe, who stopped 42 shots in the game, defl ected away good opportunities by Jacob Trouba and AJ Marcinek just a minute apart.

In the second period, Compuware started with quick two goals. First Cody Makinson tipped in Garret Cockerill’s pointshot and then 45 seconds later Kyle Schempp went to the net and tipped in a low shot by Andrew Copp.

“In these playoff games a lot of these goals come by guys crashing the net, defense putting the puck there and forwards trying to get a stick on it,” Compuware coach Derek Szajner said.

Desperate to keep their title hopes alive, Little Caesars came back with 3:43 left in the second period when Tyler Jones one-timed a pass from Jack Ridgway past Bloomberg.

Little Caesars’ Nico Ruggeri then tied it, 2-2, by slamming in a backhand pass from Conner Ahlgren.

Little Caesars kept the pressure on but couldn’t get a shot

past Bloomberg. “I think we were sort of on our heels for probably a period

and a half and our goalie basically stood on his head and kept us in it,” Derek Szajner said.

The extra sessions were loaded with off ensive chances and each team had a powerplay opportunity. But Bloomberg, who was recovering from the fl u and spent some intermission time occupied by grogginess, got stronger as the game went on.

“It was good to come back especially in a game like that,” Bloomberg said noting he lost ten pounds in the last week from the sickness. “The more shots, the more into the game you are.”

And holding a 1-0 lead in the series helped Compuware stay relaxed between periods in game two.

“I think we had a little less pressure and that’s what I kept trying to tell them, ‘Don’t panic because we still are going to play tomorrow,’” Derek Szajner said.

Bloomberg agreed.“The best part was no matter how it turned out we still had

a chance to play tomorrow,” he said. “But it was a great game and it was going to have to end like that.”

After the two games in one day equaled the time of three (142 minutes, 45 seconds), Compuware deserved a break.

“Right now it’s very good that we don’t have to play tomorrow,” Derek Szajner said. “We’re going to take the week off .”

MIDGET AAA MINOR U16 NOTEBOOKMotor City’s Shawn Sramek had two goals in the Machine’s

5-3 loss to Little Caesars… Compuware’s Sam Bloomberg shut out Victory Honda 5-0… Compuware’s Jon Farkas totaled three assists and Garrett Cockerill netted the game winner in a 4-3 win over the Machine… Little Caesar’s Jordan Masters, Zach Saar and Justin Henry all had a goal and an assist while Victory Honda’s Jack Hopfner notched two goals when Caesars beat Victory Honda 6-4… Max Iafrate netted two goals in Belle Tire’s 7-2 win over the Detroit Falcons… Honeybaked’s Bradley Kolcz had two goals and an assist in a 3-1 win over Grand Rapids… Andrew Copp put in two goals for Compuware in their 5-3 defeat of Honeybaked… Little Caesar’s Nico Ruggeri scored the game winning goal in a 4-3 double overtime win over Belle Tire.

BY CARL CHIMENTIThe Belle Tire Midget AAA Major squad proved there is more

then one way to win a state title. Belle Tire got timely goals, strong defense and outstanding

goaltending in a sweep of Victory Honda in the best-of-three MAHA Midget AAA Major state championship.

In game one Belle Tire exploded for a 9-3 win, while game two was more of a defensive struggle with goals at a premium. Belle Tire completed the sweep with a 3-0 shutout win on March 14 at the Taylor Sportsplex.

“We knew that Victory Honda would play a much better game after dropping that fi rst one,” said Belle Tire coach Chris Coury. “Both teams were coming off emotional semifi nal victories and were a little fl at in that opening game. It just happened that we got a lot of goals early.

“In the second game Victory Honda played really hard and made it tough on us. It was a great game for us.”

Belle Tire eliminated Honeybaked 4-3 in the semifi nals, while Victory Honda had to go to overtime to beat Compuware 3-2, on a goal from Anthony Stankiewicz, his second of the game.

Belle Tire’s defense and goaltender Tyler Green played a huge role in their sweep.

“We like to score goals but we can also shut down teams,” said Coury, in his eighth season behind the bench with Belle Tire. “Tyler was terrifi c today and played a huge role in our success this season.”

Green stopped all 21 shots in a great display of coming up big when the season was on the line. Victory Honda goaltender Derek Milosek was also very eff ective, matching Green save for save in the fi rst half of the game before penalty trouble did his team in.

“We had chances but Belle Tire is an outstanding team,” said Sean Ortiz, head coach for Victory Honda. “We just did not have anything left in the tank after our semifi nal overtime win.”

After a scoreless opening period in game two, Belle Tire’s Andrew Walkon scored the only goal his team would need, a powerplay tally that went in through a screen.

Belle Tire added an insurance goal at the 30 second mark of the fi nal period when Kit Pigozzi scored on the power play.

“I was just trying to make a play,” Pigozzi said. “I saw an

opening and I went for it, taking the shot and the puck thankfully found the back of the net. As tight as the game was at that time it was just a real important goal for our team.”

Belle Tire fi nished the scoring with an empty net goal with just 1:08 left in the game. Matt Berry got the goal and the celebration was on.

After the game Ortiz praised the champs. “Our hats are off to them. They were the better team in the

series and deserved to win.”Still, Ortiz liked the way his team competed despite the

result. “The boys were patient and worked extremely hard through

out the season and the state tournament. They all bought into our system from the start and carried it through the entire year,” said Ortiz, his is completing his fi fth season with Victory Honda. “We beat some of the top teams this year and I was really proud of them for their hard work and their eff ort.”

MIDGET AAA MAJOR NOTEBOOKThe Lansing Capitals, behind a pair of goals from Michael

Szmatula and two assists from Kyle Loridon, opened with a 6-4 win over Capital Centre Pride, who were led by Ryan Deciercq (1goal, 2 assists), Chad McDonald (1 goal, 1 assist) and two assists from Brandon Flood…Honeybaked got goals from Charlie Hemstrom, Cory Czarnik and George Costopoulos in beating Compuware 3-0…Will Peitier scored the lone goal for Little Caesars in a 2-1 loss to Victory Honda…Honeybaked posted a 3-1 win over Lansing on goals from Cory Czarnik, Dan Cesarz and Drew Mayer. Ryan Brown scored the lone goal for the Capitals…JP Maracani scored twice and AJ White added two assists to pace Compuware to a 4-3 win over Capital Centre, who got two goals from Jacob McDowell…In Little Caesars 7-3 win over the Soo Indians, Gage Christianson and Nick Horne scored twice and Zachary Mudge added a pair of assists for Little Caesars while David Castellion netted a pair of goals for the Soo…George Costopoulos and Ben Globke each scored two goals and Alex Frere had three assists to lead HoneyBaked to a 7-0 win over Capital Centre…Chris Eckler, Easton Powers and Tony Galati scored once and Matt Lanzillotti had two assists for Compuware in a 4-0 win over Lansing.

Compuware sweeps Little Compuware sweeps Little Caesars for Midget AAA Caesars for Midget AAA

Minor state titleMinor state title

Belle Tire rolls to MAHA Belle Tire rolls to MAHA Midget AAA Major state Midget AAA Major state

championship titlechampionship title

Compuware sweeps Little Compuware sweeps Little Caesars for Midget AAA Caesars for Midget AAA

Minor state titleMinor state title

Belle Tire rolls to MAHA Belle Tire rolls to MAHA Midget AAA Major state Midget AAA Major state

championship titlechampionship title


April 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17 MAHA State Tournaments

BY MIKE LARSONIf one word was used to describe the South Lyon JV prep

team, it would have to be “dominant.”The Lions rolled through the inaugural MAHA JV Tier 1 state

tournament with fi ve straight wins and won the title with a 7-2 win over the Traverse City Stars on March 14 at Farmington Hills Ice Arena.

“The score of the game was kind of lopsided,” South Lyon head coach Marty Goldman said. “But you can’t take anything away from the Traverse City team. They played hard, and they are a good team.”

The Lions had an incredibly good tournament, defeating crosstown rival South Lyon East, 9-2, behind Jake Telep’s hat trick to advance to the fi nals.

“I thought our play really mirrored the amount of time that we spent practicing this season,” South Lyon head coach Marty Goldman said. “These kids have worked extremely hard, and it was nice for them to end their season with a championship.”

In the fi nal the Stars didn’t put up much of a fi ght against the much more physical South Lyon team.

In the fi rst period, the Lions fl exed their muscles early and scored three unanswered goals to take a quick 3-0 lead.

The fi rst goal was scored by Corey O’Neill, who put a solid wrist shot past the Traverse City goalie to light the lamp and open the scoring. The Lions also got goals from Evan Funke and Matt Wisniewski. Funke’s tally came on a slap shot from the point, while Wisniewski’s goal came on a breakaway.

“I thought the fi rst period was the key to the game,” Goldman said. “Our team came out and really pressed hard. I was happy with the team’s play right out of the gates.”

After the fi rst break, the Lions came out with the same kind of energy in the second period, never giving the Stars a chance to regroup.

South Lyon scored another quick goal when Neill found the back of the net for the second time in the game to go up 4-0.

However, before the end of the period, Traverse City converted on the power play and got on the scoreboard, making it 4-1 going into the third period.

The Stars threatened in the opening minutes of the third period, fi nally scoring in the fi rst two minutes to make the score 4-2.

“They pressured us pretty hard at the beginning of the third period,” Goldman said. “I give our team credit because that could have been a real momentum shift.”

But instead, that was as close as Traverse City could get. South Lyon got another goal each from Funke and O’Neill notch hat tricks, as well as a score from Cory Haas as the Lions scored three more unanswered goals to complete the scoring.

“I thought we did a really good job of creating off ensive chances,” Goldman said. “We played a really nice game and got a lot of good shots. Overall, I thought we played a great tournament.”

It was the second victory over Traverse City for South Lyon, as they defeated the Stars, 6-2, earlier during the round-robin portion of the tournament. South Lyon also beat the Soo Lakers and Farmington/Harrison Flyers in a shootout, 5-4.

“This was a big win for us and for our program,” the coach said. “We are very proud of our team.”

JV TIER I NOTEBOOKThis was the fi rst year for the MAHA JV Prep state tournament

and the enthusiasm displayed by the players, coaches and parents was outstanding. Teams painted their cars, brought banners and balloons and coaches called the tournament “the highlight of their season,” according to MAHA District 4 director Jim Boloven…The level includes leagues like the Great Lakes Prep Hockey League (GLPHL) and the West Michigan JV Prep Hockey League (WMPHL) that are designed in part to help develop players for the varsity level. The GLPHL is a 28-school league divided into three divisions that played a 10-game league schedule this season. The league has a limit of two seniors on each team’s roster. The WMPHL has 19 schools divided into three divisions that played a league schedule of between 18-25 games this season…Teams have to be in compliance with the USA Hockey/MAHA JV/High School Division 2 Classifi cation and are made up of players from one high school, or one school district. There is “no formal recognition of ties to particular schools” and “implies that the teams are not under the rules of High School athletics,” according to GLPHL by-laws.

BY JOSH CURMIBrighton Prep head coach Bob Nelson had a simple message

for his team entering the MAHA JV Tier II state fi nal, “create a memory.”

And the Brighton players did just that by going an undefeated 5-0 and beating rival Hartland, 10-3, in the championship game on March 14 at the Redford Ice Arena.

Brighton defeated Grosse Pointe South (10-0), Hartland (6-1), Midland (7-2) and Trenton (9-2) to make the fi nals.

“We played well all tournament long,” Nelson said. “The guys never lost focus of what we wanted to accomplish. I have to give them credit for never losing sight of what we came here to get done.”

Brighton struck just fi fty-two seconds into the game, when Nick Mitter went high glove side to score his fi rst of three goals in the fi nal. He added an assist and was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Brighton went down, 2-1, early despite controlling the play in the fi rst period. Hartland scored two shorthanded breakaway goals by Brett Bandyk and Tyler Allen just over three minutes apart.

But Nelson didn’t panic when Hartland took the quick lead. He encouraged his team to stay with their game plan and keep the pressure on.

“We had to stick to our game,” said Nelson. “We were getting the chances. We knew we had plenty of time left to play our game.”

Mitter tied the game, 2-2, with his second goal and the fi rst of fi ve Brighton tallies to close out the fi rst period. Mitchell Kahl, Alex Sauchak, Matthew McCormick, and Reid Haddad also scored to put Brighton up 6-2. Kahl and Sauchak also provided assists on each others goals. McCormick and Haddad both scored with less than one minute left in the period boosting Brighton’s confi dence.

Nelson attributed the strong fi nish to the period on hard work.

“We felt if we kept skating and got some breaks, we would start putting the puck in the net,” he said. “With the chances we had we felt we were playing the way we wanted to coming into the game.”

Brighton scored three more goals in the second period to take a 9-3 advantage. Captain Mike McCord scored twenty-eight

seconds into the period along with Chet Daavettila with 7:44 remaining. Mitter struck again for Brighton and completed his hat trick on an unassisted goal with thirty-four seconds left.

Hartland’s fi nal goal was scored by Ned O’Boyle with 7:02 remaining in the second period.

Brighton wasn’t content despite taking a commanding lead into the fi nal period. Nelson wanted his team to compete right up to the fi nal buzzer.

“I told them to play their game and don’t lose focus,” Nelson said. “Hartland is a great team; they never quit battling all night. I have a great amount of respect for their head coach Kevin Travers and his program.”

Matt Rzeppa added one more Brighton goal, assisted by John Morretti halfway through the period to complete the scoring.

Nelson was proud of his team that fi nished 60-9-1 and how the achieved the goal they set for the weekend.

“We wanted to come here and create a memory they would always remember and that we did,” he said. “They will have this moment for the rest of their lives.”

JV TIER II NOTEBOOK This was the inaugural year for the JV Tier II Division to be

included in the MAHA state tournament…Sam Stevenson and Anthony Zizio both scored two goals for Grosse Pointe North in a 6-2 win over Jackson. Jordan Poelker and Tyler Vogt scored for the Titans… Ryan Daavettila scored two goals for Hartland in a 3-0 win over Midland. Ray Young also netted two goals for Hartland in the 4-0 shutout win over Grosse Point South…Hartland’s Tyler Allen posted a hat trick and added an assist against Woodhaven in a 7-0 win in the semifi nals…Philip Parks and Thomas Smith each had two goals in Midland’s 8-2 win over Grosse Pointe South. Jason Huckins added two assists. Zachary Dettlinger and Jared Yinger had goals for Grosse Pointe South …Jordon Poelker, Marko Gleason, and Tyler Drennan provided the three goals for Jackson in an 11-3 loss to Trenton. Trenton’s Matt Hopersberger led the way with a hat trick in a win over Jackson. Hopersberger also accounted for a goal and an assist in Trenton’s 4-1 triumph over Grosse Pointe North… Randy Baker netted a hat trick with three straight goals to start the game in Woodhaven’s 8-2 victory over Jackson…Baker and Joey Taurence tallied two goals a piece in Woodhaven’s 5-3 win against Trenton.

South Lyon Lions wins South Lyon Lions wins fi rst-ever MAHA JV Tier I fi rst-ever MAHA JV Tier I

state championshipstate championship

Brighton Prep skates past Brighton Prep skates past Hartland for MAHA Hartland for MAHA JV Tier II state titleJV Tier II state title

South Lyon Lions wins South Lyon Lions wins fi rst-ever MAHA JV Tier I fi rst-ever MAHA JV Tier I

state championshipstate championship

Brighton Prep skates past Brighton Prep skates past Hartland for MAHA Hartland for MAHA JV Tier II state titleJV Tier II state title



Ragold Lucent won their fi fth state title in six seasons and their seventh overall Adult Tier 1 state title by defeating the Raters, 3-2, in state fi nal on March 14 at the Capital Centre Arena in Dimondale.

The eight-team tournament fi nal featured both teams that play out of The Peak in Romulus. The Raters got off to a quick start with Brent Dexter tipping in Paul Goleniak’s goal mouth pass early in the game. However, Lucent’s Jason Asadoorian took the ensuing face off , split the defense and tied the game all within fi ve seconds.

A minute and a half later, Lucent’s Steve Ferranti put his team in front 2-1. And, with 16 seconds remaining in the fi rst period, Asadoorian netted his second goal via another breakaway to give Lucent a fi rm advantage, 3-1.

The game continued to be a tight checking, back and forth contest. The Raters fi nally showed their scoring touch when Matt Wiljanen made the game 3-2. With the Raters goalie pulled, Lucent was able to not allow any quality scoring chances.

Ragold Lucent team organizer Jim Ragold has put consistent eff ort into building and maintaining the team and the core has

remained together for almost a decade.After losing to Tuscola Energy, 3-2, in round robin, Ragold

Lucent had another tight game in the semifi nal against perennial rival PASI/Belle Tire. Typically these teams face off in the championship game and PASI’s Marc Norington scored early. Lucent’s Jason Christopherson tied the game later in the fi rst period. As the tight checking game progressed, it appeared that overtime was coming. But with 1:42 remaining in the third period, Lucent’s Bradon Getchen found the net from a goal mouth scramble to send Lucent back to the fi nal game with a 2-1 victory.

The other semifi nal was a little easier for the Raters, as they skated past the Eager Beavers (Detroit Skate Club), 6-2. The Raters were led by two goals from Brandon Scero and a goal and assist from Sean Kass.

In the round robin games, the only undefeated team was the Eager Beavers. After having tied with the Battalion in their head to head match, the Raters made it into the semifi nals based a better goal diff erential.

The Shamrocks, who play out of Great Lakes Sports City, won their fi rst MAHA adult state championship by knocking off defending state champion Douglas J of the Summit at Capital Centre, 5-1, at the Summit on March 14.

In the fi rst period of the fi nal, Shamrocks goalie Ryan Glover was as sharp and held back the experienced Douglas J lineup. Then the Shamrocks took control of the game when Steve Deplancke scored late in the period and Fred Calandrino and Ryan Lemke add two more in the middle period. All three goals were scored by unguarded players tipping in goal mouth passes.

With seven minutes remaining in the game, Kip Miller put Douglas J on the board and the team started charging the net to get back in the game. But Shamrocks team captain Robert Scott regained the three goal margin and Kyle Siciliano’s empty netter sent the Shamrocks home with the trophy.

In the fi rst semifi nal, Douglas J skated past DPG Autoplas (Detroit Skate Club) 5-1. The team from Lansing was led by Norm Krumpschmid’s hat trick and Jake Cole’s two goals.

In the other semifi nal the Shamrocks faced off against the 17th St. Bar & Grille (ONYX Rochester Arena) who had defeated

them in the District 3 playoff championship game. This time Mike Frank put 17th St. up once again with the

only fi rst period goal. In the second session, Siciliano tied the game for the Shamrocks. The score was 1-1 after regulation and Ryan Lemke sent the Shamrocks to the championship game with a power play goal just 1:12 into overtime.

In the round robin games, 17th St. was the only undefeated and untied team. A highlight game was Douglas J defeating the Black Aces (The Peak) 1 -0. This was identical to the result between these teams in lat year’s state championship fi nal. In the National conference, three teams had tied for second place. DPG took the semifi nal berth based on having the best goal diff erential amongst the tied teams.

ADULT MEN’S TIER 2 NOTEBOOKThe Shamrocks included players from the 2007 Midget AA

national champion Michigan Jaguars. The team has added some players to their core, and, with their young age, appears to be ready for a long run in the MAHA Adult state playoff s.

Ragold Lucent wins Ragold Lucent wins another MAHA Adult Non-another MAHA Adult Non-

Check Tier I state titleCheck Tier I state title

Shamrocks take home Shamrocks take home MAHA Adult Non-Check MAHA Adult Non-Check

Tier 2 state championshipTier 2 state championship

Ragold Lucent wins Ragold Lucent wins another MAHA Adult Non-another MAHA Adult Non-

Check Tier I state titleCheck Tier I state title

Shamrocks take home Shamrocks take home MAHA Adult Non-Check MAHA Adult Non-Check

Tier 2 state championshipTier 2 state championship


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Liggett’s Counsman named 2010 Miss Hockey

A strong player from a small school got what she deserved when University Liggett senior forward Paige Counsman was named the 2010 Miss Hockey.

Counsman handles the puck well and racked up 26 goals and 37 points this season for a Liggett squad that struggled to a 9-10 season. Coaches from the Michigan Metro Girls High School Hockey League voted for the award.

“I think she was 75% of (our wins) in various ways,” said Liggett Coach Laura Owczarski said. “She’s very creative. She never had an easy shift out there playing against the best players. She earned this and I’m glad to see she fi nally got the recognition that she deserved.”

She has eyed the Miss Hockey honor since fi rst playing for Liggett her sophomore season.

“My dad learned about the award and right away he said that should be your goal as a senior,” Counsman said. “So that kind of is why it was really important. I am excited. I didn’t really think it could happen.”

Counsman believes playing for University of Liggett helped earn her Miss Hockey honors by forcing her to keep getting better, and she also says her team improved immensely throughout the year.

“I think with my team I’ve learned how to keep possession of the puck really well,” she said. “I had to learn how to generate my own off ense and fi nd people on my team so they could shoot the puck. I think puck possession is what helped me get the award.”

Counsman is also a well-rounded athlete. On top of all the ice hockey honors, she’s also been named to fi rst team All-State in fi eld hockey and third team All-State in soccer.

“My family’s always been really into sports,” Counsman said. “My brother always motivated me. He’s the one who made me want to play ice hockey.”

Counsman hopes to be playing fi eld hockey for Washington and Lee in Virginia next season.

By Sarah Zientarski

2010 GIRLS ALL-STATEFirst Team

Forwards: Paige Counsman, Liggett; Caley Chelios, Cranbrook; Shannon Gianino, Grosse Pointe South

Defense: Jordyn Moore, Plymouth-Canton-Salem; Taylor Moody, Grosse Pointe NorthGoalie: Colleen Jacoby, Cranbrook

Second TeamForwards: Kristin Taylor, Regina; Rae Sklarski, Grosse Pointe South;

Shauna Siebert, Plymouth-Canton-SalemDefense: Morgan Ellis, Liggett; Emma Hull, Grosse Pointe South

Goalie: Maggie Miller, Grosse Pointe South

Honorable Mention: Claire Boyle, Plymouth-Canton-Salem; Ana Harris, Plymouth-Canton-Salem; Jennifer Cousmano, Grosse Pointe North; Chelsea

Minnie, Port Huron; Sydney Sakwa, Cranbrook; Madeline McClain, Mercy; Sydney Supica, Ann Arbor Pioneer; Kristina Keil, Ann Arbor Pioneer; Rachel Freeman, Ann Arbor Pioneer; Maddie VanAntwerp, Detroit Country Day; Haleigh Bolton, Liggett.

Girls High School


SMCC’s Hughes named 2010 Mr. Hockey

Even after scoring 56 goals and 88 points this season, Monroe St. Mary’s Catholic Central senior forward Chris Hughes was surprised to hear his named called as the 2010 Mr. Hockey.

“I knew I had a chance, every kid up there had a chance but to hear it was me was a rush of emotions,” said Hughes.

The 5-11 center was named to the state’s Dream Team after the fi nals and earned the respect of the Michigan High School Hockey Coach’s Association members with his speed, scoring prowess and for making his teammates better.

“His off ensive instincts are innate, they’re part of who he is and part of his makeup,” St. Mary’s Coach Jim Baker said.

The Falcons’ season ended this season with a 4-3 overtime loss in the regionals to Chelsea.

“I think it fi lls the void of losing all four years in overtime in high school,” Hughes said. “I’d trade it for a ring in a heartbeat, don’t get me wrong, but it does help a little bit and I think it brings more attention to our program.”

Baker isn’t lost on how Hughes Mr. Hockey title will positively aff ect players in other programs.

“I really had a great sense of what he accomplished and how uplifting it can be for all the other high school kids from small teams because it has predominantly been won by kids from the major programs,” Baker said.

Hughes’ exploits have already turned heads but his ability to keep progressing in his skills should allow him to do well in hockey beyond high school.

“He will be playing juniors for some team and he will be successful and he will be an off ensive threat somewhere,” Baker said. “I’ve had Chris now for six years, since Bantams. He’s just a special kid and I think he’s a great, great role model for other young kids in our area.”

Hughes hopes to be playing junior hockey in the USHL or NAHL next season.By Sarah Zientarski

Boys High School

DIVISION 11st Team - ForwardsAlex Burton - HowellReid Sturos - BrightonChris Waterstreet - DCCEric Rizzio - MarquetteZak Thompson - OLSMShane Totten - TC WestPatrick Riedy - U of DJohn Strauch – Liv. Steve.Cody Loyer - OLSMRyan Maloney - Utica IkeDrew DeMarti – St. Hts. Steve.David Middleton - DCCBrad Wilhelm - DCC

2nd Team - ForwardsAdam Frank - ClarkstonJarrett Pfeiff er - LincolnChris Pontello - SCSCole Rochowiak - Liv. Steve.Justin Zyvon - St. Hts. Steve.Brett White - East KentwoodMatt Boogaard - GrandvilleDrew Harper - LincolnParker Host - HudsonvilleJimmy Schueneman - BrightonSteve Basinski - Grand BlancJacob Endicott - Grand BlancRyan Renault - Plymouth

Honorable Mention Ryan Johnson - HowellJon Kello - OLSMMario Macari - SalemMike MacKinnon - Troy AthensChristo Papaionnou - ChurchillStephen Flood - GrandvilleMatthew Moore - U of DJake Robinson - MarquetteCory Shafer - SCSAlex Van Tiem - U of DBrandon Burton - HowellNick Daze - Ann Arbor HuronMatt Lining - Troy AthensMitchell Snider - TC WestMike Woynick - ChurchillJuston Schurer – Liv. Steve.

1st Team - DefenseRyan Obuchowski - DCCCody King - OLSMDaniel Milan - OLSMJimmy Davis - East KentwoodRyan Walker - U of DRobert Perry - RockfordJake Poynter – Liv. Steve.

2nd Team - DefenseMark Keranen - BrightonJake Downing - DCCMichael O’Conner - AA HuronEvan Mooer - U of DDakota Olvin - HowellKenny Miloser - HowellJoseph Shecter – N. Farm.Evan Swieczhowski - Plymouth

Honorable Mention Josh Benzie - MarquetteChris Dienes - TC WestAlec Suleskey – Roch. UnitedAdam Cruz - SCSBrendon Giff ell - GrandvilleAdam Nimtz – Utica Ike

1st Team - GoaltendersZach Cisek - DCCZakk Olvin - HowellMichael McAuliff e - Marquette

2nd Team - GoaltendersDann Sager – Liv. Steve.Luke Dwyer - AA HuronMason Henige – S. Hts. Steve.Nate Wilson - TC West

Honorable MentionAlex Stutzky - GrandvilleJustin Evans - U of DRobert Fredal - SCS

DIVISION 21st Team - ForwardsTyler Perlich - NoviMartin Gruse - TrentonKody Polin - TrentonStephen Hibbard - BRRTravis Carto - DavisonMatt Lucchese - GP NorthBill Coole - De La SalleJared VanWormer - TC CentralChris Hellebuyck - WL North.Kyle Hicks - Mona ShoresDylan Welch - DavisonJoey Ferriss - NoviGerald Mayhew – Wyan. Roos.

2nd Team - ForwardsRyan Kelley - TrentonTyler Manning - NoviLuke Jackson - BRRMitch Rogowski - PinckneyColin Larkin - Waterford MottJosh Corgan – Musk. CCJeremy Klotz - WoodhavenJake Peacock - GT Bay RepsMatt Ragains - Portage CentralJohn Randazzo – Wyan. Roos.Alex Wietrick - TC Central

Honorable MentionDavid Coppock - Mona ShoresFrank Harrison - Port HUonJohn Herbert - De La SalleCam Hnot - WL NorthernJake Kramer - Grand HavenBrad Rice - RomeoRyan Rotondi - Port HuronDevin Wheeler - UticaAustin Hibner - De La salleNick Kovalchik – Wyan. Roos.Evan Adkins - Mona ShoresConor Fredricks - Grand HavenKyle Page - WoodhavenAndrew Poteracki - HartlandAJ Rosales - Canton

1st Team - DefenseJoe VanAntwerp - BRRNolan Alleau - NoviBrett Berger - TrentonBrad Annas - De La SalleScott Dornbrock - GP NorthTim Donnelly - DavisonMatt Gasior - De La Salle

2nd Team - DefenseJoey Christie - BRRRyan Mylenek - Mona ShoresBen Wilkewitz - WoodhavenTyler Skehan - WoodhavenAlex Cova - NoviScott HUll - Mona Shores

Honorable MentionEric Jones - GT Bay RepsRodney Wynne - UticaBrock Bowcamp - Mona ShoresMike Lemon - WL NorthernRyan Dettloff - L’Anse CreuseJosh Kooi - Grand HavenScott Lanski - RomeoBrandon Neeb - SalineKyle Smith – Wat. KetteringJake Soenen - GT Bay RepsJake Turner - RomeoTyler Vaughan – Wat. Mott

1st Team - GoaltendersBlake Wojtala - TrentonMatt Neal - De La SalleMichael Pesendorfer - Novi

2nd Team - GoaltendersPJ Bridges - BRRAlan Gaglio - Anchor BayChase Schmittou – Wyan. Roos.

Honorable MentionTory Roth - Grand HavenEddie Young - Reeth-Puff erConner Hellebuyck - WL Northern

DIVISION 31st Team - ForwardsPatrick Brown - CKChris Hughes – SMCCMichael Hickson - Big RapidsAndy Lay - Flint PowersDJ Hastin - Grosse IleMitchell Baker - SMCCWill Badner - CadillacAlex Lowenstein - CKCameron Kwaiser - GRCCDane Genord - Flint PowersMatt Stirling - DexterMac Howey - Grosse IleLucas McLeod - SSM

2nd Team - ForwardsAlex Ostrowski - GRWCMichael Dery - GRCCSeth Adams - Big RapidsTommy Hancock - Big RapidsJaycob McCombs - Flint PowersJordan Shawhan - SSMDan Zukas – Univ. LiggettJake Goldberg – Univ. LiggettJimmy Prevost - Divine ChildMichael VanAntwerp - DCDPJ O’Hagan - CadillacDavy Sproule - HoughtonNate Sturos - Calumet

Honorable MentionKyle Astalos - CabriniRyan Desjarlais - Divine ChildChristian Potter - GR ChristianBrad Smith - SSMBen Johnson - CalumetWilliam Miller - CKAustin Giesey - FentonSeth Meekhof - GR ChristianJohn Brosch - DexterKirk Goleniak - DCDDan Hudson - ChelseaJosh Shoup - Grosse Ile

1st Team - DefenseNico Talentino - SSMDavid Ziemke - GR CCKevin Collen - CKMatt Kadar - Big RapidsTJ Lovell - SMCCRyan Laurain - Grosse IleBrandon Taavola - Houghton

2nd Team - DefenseMatt Vandeberg - GR ChristianMike Martin - Divine ChildJimmy Chessrown - Grosse IleMatt Korzenaiuskas - GRWCEric Hoblet - CadillacTim Kane - GRCC

Honorable MentionE.J. Comerzan - SMCCSpencer Tamler - CKMatthew McKinney - Allen ParkDylan Dault - MattawanTyler Froberg - CalumetNate Penn - Lumen Christi

1st Team - GoaltendersMike Boike - CadillacThomas Scroggin - CKMike Underwood - Flint Powers

2nd Team - GoaltendersMatt Pigula - SMCCCody Jodoin - SSMQuinn Edwards - GRCCTony Peltier - Houghton

Honorable MentionDavid McIntyre - Univ. LiggettChipper Gauss - St. ClairIan Lawrence - Grosse Ile

All-State TeamsAll-State Teams

DREAM TEAMForwards

Tyler Perpich - NoviChris Hughes - SMCC

Patrick Brown - CK

DefenseJoe VanAntwerp - BRR

Nolan Alleau - Novi

GoaltenderMike Boike - Cadillac

Blake Wojtala - Trenton

Mr. HockeyChris Hughes

All-State TeamsAll-State Teams


FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY

Team entry form MUST be received 3 weeks before tournament date.

About 3-on-3 Hockey: 3-on-3 Hockey is a unique brand of ice hockey developed to enhance your individual hockey skills in a fun-filled environment. Games are four, four-minute periods. Three separate 3-on-3 rinks will be set up in the facility. Three rinks measuring approximately 100 feet long by 85 feet wide with 12 foot-high boards add a new and quicker way to play the game.

$288 per team

• Saturday Skills Competition – Everyone is invited to participate!

• The number of teams registered will determine how many divisions and teams per division. A round robin within each division will be conducted with two to four teams advancing to a single elimination play-off round.

• Teams are encouraged to bring goalies, but they will have their own game schedule. Goalies will play two periods for each team per game.

T O U R N A M E N T H O T L I N EMonday-Friday • 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

(231) 591-2881

"The Original"

Goalies needed in all divisions

See website www.ferris.edu/icearena for application

APRIL 9-11, 20102001 & Younger Mite House B, 1995-96 Bantam House B, 1995

Bantam Travel AA, 1996 Bantam Travel A, High School Varsity and Midget AA-AAA, and

High School J.V. and Midget B-BB-A

APRIL 16-18, 20101999-2000 Squirt House B, 1999 Squirt Travel AA,

2000 Squirt Travel A,1997-98 Pee Wee House B, 1997 Pee Wee Travel AA,

1998 Pee Wee Travel A,Girl’s 14 & Under, Girl’s High School and Midget AA-AAA, Women’s

18 & Up

APRIL 23-25, 2010Adult 18-30 Open, Adult 30 & Up Open,

Adult 18-30 B and Adult 30 & Up BReduced goalie rate of $40, and 4 players per team

Lakeland ArenaWaterford, Michigan

BIG DOGINVITATIONAL

MAY 5-9, 2010

Call: Big Dog Invitational, Larry Thompson248-674-2913

Email: [email protected]

4 Game Guarantee All games played at Lakeland Ice Arena

Finalist Trophies - Championship Trophies

DIV 16U, 96, 97, 98 , 99 AND 2000 AAA DIVISION

Applications at www.bigdogaaahockey.com

$750 U.S. LOCAL TEAMS AND OUT OF TOWN TEAMS STAYING AT TOURNAMENT HOTELS

New Dates!


TOURNAMENT CALENDARMotown Cup Tournament Series DETROIT, MIApril 9-11, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Ferris State 3 on 3Big Rapids, MIApril 9-11, 20102001 & Younger Mite B, 1995-96 Bantam B, 1995 Bantam Travel A & AA,High School JV & Varsity & Midget B, BB, A, AA & AAA231-591-2881www.ferris.edu/icearena

Big Bear - The Ring of Fire Ann Arbor, MI April 16 - 18, 2010 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget/HSB - BB - A - AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

2nd Annual Oakland Edge Adult Hockey TournamentRochester, MIApril 16-18, 2010Men’s A (30+), B (30+), C (30+), D (30+)Goalies age 25 & up/Women’s Division Open 21+248-721-1204Oaklandedge.com

Ferris State 3 on 3Big Rapids, MIApril 16-18, 20101999-2000 Squirt B, A & AA, 1997-98 Pee Wee B, A & AAGirls 14&U, Girls High School & Midget AA-AAA, Women’s 18&U231-591-2881www.ferris.edu/icearena

Big Bear - The Thunderbird Detroit, MIApril 23 - 25, 2010 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget,High School & H.S.J.V.B - BB - A - AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Ferris State 3 on 3Big Rapids, MIApril 23-25, 2010Adult 18-30 Open, Adult 30&U Open, Adult 18-30 B& Adult 30&U B231-591-2881www.ferris.edu/icearena

Big Dog InvitationalWaterford, MIApril 28 – May 2, 201016U – 2000s AAA248-674-2913www.bigdogaaahockey.com

Big Bear - The Last Dance Detroit, MIMay 14- 16, 2010 Mini-Mite, Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget, High School & H.S.J.V.plus Girls U12, U14, U16 & U19 B - BB - A - AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Michigan May Sizzler Monroe, MichiganMay 21 – 23, 2010BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] http://www.canlanclassictournaments.com/

Michigan Thanksgiving Classic Monroe, Michigan November 26 – 28, 2010 BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 BOYS - Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA - GIRLS - Rep (HL, Sel, C, B,BB) and Elite (A, AA) 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] http://www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Weekend Hockey Tournaments April 9 - 11, 2010Pittsburgh, PA 19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

North American Holiday HockeyAtlantic City, NJ April 9-11, 2010All [email protected]

Fort Wayne Adult Blast Fort Wayne, Indiana April 9-11, 2010 Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] http://www.canlanclassictournaments.com/

North American Holiday HockeyHartford, CT April 16-18, 2010All [email protected]

CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Spring ClassicChicago, IL April 23-25, 2010Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OH April 23-25, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected] North American Holiday HockeyChicago, IL April 30 – May 2, 2010All [email protected]

North American Holiday HockeyLas Vegas, NV May 5-10, 2010All [email protected] North

American Holiday HockeySan Diego, CA May 12-17, 2010All [email protected] Rock

‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OH May 14-16, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected] CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Seven Bridges Spring ClassicChicago, IL May 21-13, 2010Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Weekend Hockey Tournaments June 4 - 6, 2010 Atlantic City, NJ 19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Big Bear - The Silver Skates Pittsburgh, PA August 21- 23, 2010 Bantam & Midget ♦ Minor & MajorAAA Tier 1www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

South Jersey Fall Classic Vineland, New Jersey August 27 - 29, 2010BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 Tier II - B, (Select-A), AA 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com

Fort Wayne Pre-Season Blast Fort Wayne, Indiana September 10-12, 2010 BOYS - 2002/2001, 2000, 1999/1998, 1997/1996, 1995/1994/1993,1992/1991 Tier II - B, A, AA 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com/

Las Vegas Old-Timers Classic Las Vegas, Nevada October 22 - 24, 2010Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com

Las Vegas Youth Blast Las Vegas, Nevada November 5 - 7, 2010BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com

Hockey for Heros / Armed Services / Las Vegas, Nevada November 11-14, 2010Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com/

Las Vegas Hockey Classic III Las Vegas, Nevada November 19 - 21, 2010Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com/

New Jersey Thanksgiving Classic Vineland, New Jersey November 26 – 28, 2010 BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com/

Fort Wayne Thanksgiving Blast Fort Wayne, Indiana November 26-28, 2010 BOYS - 2002/2001, 2000, 1999/1998, 1997/1996, 1995/1994/1993,1992/1991 Tier II - B, A, AA 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com/

New Jersey Christmas Classic Vineland, New Jersey December 27-29, 2010BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com

Kitchener Spring Classic Kitchener/Cambridge, OntarioApril 16-18, 2010 Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com/

Future Stars Tournament Toronto, Ontario April 16-18, 2010 BOYS - 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 BOYS & GIRLS - House League, Select, Super 6 & 7 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com/

Weekend Hockey Tournaments April 23-25, 2010 Montreal, PQ 19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

North American Holiday HockeyMontreal, Quebec April 23-25, 2010All [email protected]

Weekend Hockey Tournaments April 30–May 2, 2010 Niagara Falls, ON 19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Spring Showdown Toronto, Ontario April 30 -May 2 BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Competitive A 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com/

Spring Slam Oshawa, Ontario April 30 -May 2, 2010 Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com

Bluewater Sharks 22nd Annual TournamentSarnia, Ontario, CanadaApril 30-May 2, 2010Major Bantam 1995 Boys/Minor Bantam 1996 BoysWomen (19 & Over recreational)www.sarnia.com/groups/bluewatersharks

North Shore Spring Sizzler Vancouver, BC April 30 -May 2, 2010 BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com

Toronto Cup Toronto, Ontario May 7–9, 2010 BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Competitive A 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com/

Bluewater Sharks 22nd Annual TournamentSarnia, Ontario, CanadaMay 7-9, 2010Major Midget (1992-93) Boys – Minor Midget (1994-95) BoysGirls “AA” (19 & under – 1990 & under competitivewww.sarnia.com/groups/bluewatersharks

Weekend Hockey Tournaments May 14 – 16, 2010 Niagara Falls, ON 19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Edmonton Spring Sizzler - ASHN-NAQ Qualifi er May 14-16, 2010 Edmonton, Alberta Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com/

May Madness & Future StarsMay 14-16, 2010Toronto, Ontario YOUTH HOCKEY TOURNAMENT 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 BOYS - Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA - GIRLS - Rep (HL, Sel, C, B,BB) and Elite (A, AA) 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com/

Bluewater Sharks 22nd Annual TournamentSarnia, Ontario, CanadaMay 14-16, 2010Major Pee Wee (1997) Boys – Minor Pee Wee (1998) BoysGirls “AA” (19 & over – 1990 & under competitivewww.sarnia.com/groups/bluewatersharks

Memorial Holiday Classic Oakville / Toronto, OntarioMay 28 - 30, 2010BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com

Burnaby Summer Challenge I Vancouver, BC May 28 - 30, 2010BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 BOYS - Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA - GIRLS - Rep (HL, Sel, C, B,BB) and Elite (A, AA) 1-888-422-6526 [email protected] canlanclassictournaments.com

Bluewater Sharks 22nd Annual TournamentSarnia, Ontario, CanadaMay 28-30, 2010Major Atom/Squirt (1999) Boys – Minor Atom/Squirt (2000) Boyswww.sarnia.com/groups/bluewatersharks

COMPLETE TOURNAMENT LISTING ON WEBSITEwww.michiganhockeyonline.com

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2009-10 NAHL Standings (FINALS)CENTRAL GP W L OTL PTS PCT GF GA PIMyBismarck 58 39 11 8 86 0.741 195 130 1073xOwatonna 58 32 22 4 68 0.586 188 190 843xAlexandria 58 30 22 6 66 0.569 180 166 870xAlbert Lea 58 19 34 5 43 0.371 153 231 1345North Iowa 58 15 37 6 36 0.310 147 234 915

NORTH GP W L OTL PTS PCT GF GA PIMxMarquette 58 35 22 1 71 0.612 186 154 1043xTraverse City 58 33 20 5 71 0.612 217 172 1273xJanesville 58 29 23 6 64 0.552 169 172 1113xMotor City 58 25 26 7 57 0.491 158 189 1436Alpena 58 22 34 2 46 0.397 169 201 1555

SOUTH GP W L OTL PTS PCT GF GA PIMyTopeka 58 44 9 5 93 0.802 254 147 1500xSt. Louis 58 44 11 3 91 0.784 211 125 1103xTexas 58 25 28 5 55 0.474 170 204 1693xSpringfield 58 21 29 8 50 0.431 163 193 921Wichita Falls 58 18 34 6 42 0.362 175 251 1530

WEST GP W L OTL PTS PCT GF GA PIMyWenatchee 58 45 10 3 93 0.802 219 125 1520xAlaska 58 32 19 7 71 0.612 198 178 1393xFairbanks 58 32 22 4 68 0.586 203 182 1727xKenai River 58 12 40 6 30 0.259 144 247 1045

X - CLINCHED PLAYOFF BERTH Y - CLINCHED DIVISION TITLE

TOP SCORERS TEAM POS GP G A PTS PIM PPG SHGHigby, Erik TPK F 57 27 53 80 68 5 2Juola, Michael FBX F 58 22 55 77 80 10 0Rickord, Jared SPR F 58 28 40 68 14 11 0Kolb, Andrew MAR F 58 24 41 65 36 4 2Ladd, Garrett MAR F 55 23 40 63 97 4 5Nagtzaam, Nardo ALX F 54 24 37 61 57 8 1Sheehan, Brian WIC F 58 29 31 60 70 7 1Pustin, Mark FBX F 53 23 36 59 31 9 0Fabian, Jason BIS F 57 24 34 58 71 8 1Clay, Kyle ALX F 58 21 36 57 36 9 0Zierke, Steve ALX F 56 23 32 55 70 10 2Hagaman, Alec TPK F 52 29 26 55 100 9 0Bohrer, Ryan NIO F 58 14 40 54 28 6 2Thorson, Cory OWA F 58 24 30 54 22 8 0Johnson, Bryce TPK F 58 19 35 54 52 5 2Kleisinger, Casey BIS F 55 20 34 54 67 9 0Jubinville, Jeff WNE F 55 27 27 54 36 11 0Hill, Michael TPK F 46 31 23 54 86 13 0Clifford, Doug TNS F 56 20 33 53 66 7 0Encarnacao, Rui JNE F 57 27 25 52 34 3 0Bain, Brent MAR F 55 19 33 52 45 3 0Panetta, Dominic BIS F 54 24 28 52 94 6 0Kero, Tanner MAR F 57 32 19 51 39 13 1Mingo, Dajon WNE F 54 21 30 51 69 5 4Thompson, Garrett TNS F 57 24 26 50 75 6 0Olszewski, Daniel STL F 57 24 26 50 99 5 3Curry, Nick SPR F 53 17 33 50 47 7 0Kleiman, RJ MCM F 58 19 30 49 72 6 2Saint-Onge, Collin MAR F 56 16 33 49 34 9 0Prince, Jack TEX F 56 23 26 49 38 5 3Jacobson, Ryan BIS F 57 27 21 48 14 6 0Smith, Zach ALK F 53 30 18 48 228 5 2Skinnars, Johan KRB F 49 23 25 48 41 10 0

TOP GOALIES TEAM GP MIN SO GA GAA SV SV%Jaeger, Brandon WNE 29 1604:35 3 49 1.83 631 0.928Bruggeman, Tyler STL 36 2136:22 2 75 2.11 936 0.926Faragher, Ryan BIS 38 2125:58 4 77 2.17 897 0.921Karambelas, Evan TPK 27 1622:45 2 62 2.29 504 0.890Strandberg, Drew TNS 40 2215:22 4 88 2.38 878 0.909Groh, CJ STL 23 1395:54 2 57 2.45 621 0.916Kamal, Chris ALX 38 2163:09 1 90 2.50 998 0.917Taffe, Mike FBX 33 1710:39 0 76 2.67 756 0.909Wichorek, Matt JNE 40 2352:46 1 106 2.70 992 0.903

NORTH DIVISIONMarquette forward Andrew Kolb tallied a goal and three assists as the Rangers skated to three wins and the North Division’s regular-season title. The Toledo, Ohio, native had a goal and two assists, including one on Brent Bain’s game-winner, in a 3-0 win over Janesville. The next night, the 20-year-old picked up another assist as the Rangers blanked the Jets again, 3-0. He was also a plus-4 on the weekend.

SOUTH DIVISIONTopeka defenseman Nickolas Gatt rang up a goal and four assists as the RoadRunners skated to a two-game sweep over Springfi eld while securing the South Division’s regular-season title. On March 24, the Farmington Hills native recorded a goal and two assists in a 7-4 victory. The next night, the 19-year-old picked up two more assists as

the RoadRunners downed the Jr. Blues, 5-2. He was also a plus-5 for the weekend.

CENTRAL DIVISIONAlexandria forward Steve Zierke connected for four goals and four assists as the Blizzard skated to a 2-0-1 record. On March 26, the Brooklyn Park, Minn., native notched two goals, including the gamewinner, and an assist in a 5-3 win over North Iowa. The next night, the 19-year-old had another game-winning marker and an assist as the Blizzard doubled up the Outlaws, 4-2. On Sunday, Zierke put home a goal and two more assists in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Albert Lea Thunder. He was also a plus-6 on the weekend.

WEST DIVISIONWenatchee forward Ryan Timar struck for two goals

and three assists as the Wild went 3-1 to win the NAHL’s regular-season title. After picking up an assist in a 5-2 loss to Alaska on March 23, the Novi native scored two goals the next night in a 6-3 victory over the Avalanche. The 20-year-old added two more assists as the Wild skated to a two-game sweep over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday (4-1) and Saturday (6-1). Timar was also a plus-2 for the week.

SHERWOOD/NAHL GOALIEMarquette goaltender Lukas Hafner had two shutouts in his two starts against Janesville, turning aside all 59 shots while helping the Rangers clinch the regular-season title in the North Division. On March 26 the Toledo, Ohio, native made 25 saves in a 3-0 victory. The next night, the 18-year-old stopped 34 shots as the Rangers blanked the Jets again, 3-0.

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Muckalt to coach New Mexico expansion team

SHERWOOD PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 29)

BY MATT MACKINDER After the announcement that the 25th and latest team to join the North

American Hockey League next season would be a new franchise in New Mexico, the expansion team announced that a name familiar to Michigan hockey fans will be behind the bench.

Bill Muckalt, a forward who played at the University of Michigan from 1994-98 and won two national titles with the Wolverines along the way, will coach the Rio Rancho-based club.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to be a part of building a quality program and putting a quality product on the ice that our fans can enjoy,” said Muckalt, who served as head coach of the Western States Hockey League’s Valencia (Calif.) Flyers this season. “I’m also excited about working for Ken Dennis because his commitment as an owner and his goals for this program are top-notch.”

This marks the NAHL’s second venture into New Mexico. The Santa Fe RoadRunners were members of the league from 2004 until their relocation to Topeka in 2007. The new yet-to-be-named club will play its home games out of the 6,000-seat Santa Ana Star Center.

“We couldn’t be happier to welcome New Mexico to the North American Hockey League family as we continue to strengthen our footprint in the Southwest,” said NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld. “With a dedicated ownership group committed to the growth and development of our student-athletes, coupled with strong support from the local community and a fi rst-class facility, all the pieces are in place for success, both on and off the ice.”

Dennis is a Southern California resident who has worked in the entertainment industry for over 30 years with Universal Studios, Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox as a television producer for hit shows such as “The Family Guy,” “The X-Files,” “Millennium” and “Space: Above and Beyond.”

PALIAFITO AND HENDERSON HEAD TO DIVISION 1Traverse City goalie Chris Paliafi to and Alpena captain Mike Henderson will both

play for Atlantic Hockey schools next season. Paliafi to will be off to Sacred Heart and Henderson will lace up the skates with Army.

“I had been talking with their coaches for a while now, so I knew there was some level of interest on their part,” said Paliafi to. “It’s pretty satisfying to know that I’ll get a chance to play at the college level and get a good education.”

Henderson came to Alpena this season from St. Louis and was named captain when Jimmy McCusker was dealt in February to Marquette.

“Mike has been a great player for us this year and has contributed the piece of off ense we’d been missing,” said IceDiggers coach Jack Fritsche. “He’s a natural scorer with great hands and he has an eye for the net. He’s a disciplined kid, on and off the ice, and I can see him cracking (Army’s) lineup and contributing from Day 1.”

MARQUETTE WINS NORTH DIVISIONMarquette, after a last place fi nish just two

years ago, won the North Division title with a 3-0 shutout of Janesville on March 27 at home.

Marquette and Traverse City tied atop the North standings, but the Rangers won the tie-breaker with more wins (35) during the regular season. Marquette will play Motor City in the fi rst round of the playoff s, while Traverse City draws Janesville.

“It doesn’t even feel real right now,” Marquette captain Garrett Ladd said. “We set this goal at the league showcase in Blaine (Minn.) and worked all year to make this happen. I was here when we reached bottom two years ago, so to get the title is just an unbelievable feeling.”

In Traverse City, the North Stars are not taking the Jets lightly.“They’re big, they’re strong, and they beat us up and swept us in our building

the last time they were there,” Traverse City coach-GM Anthony Palumbo said. “We have to play tougher against them if we want to be successful. We have to move our feet more and win some battles along the way. We’ve shown that when we play with a team focus we’ve experienced success.”

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUENORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUENORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

Members of the Marquette Rangers celebrate their 2010 NAHL North Division title.


Ontario Hockey League April 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17

Whalers take out Greyhounds; Spirit bounced by Rangers

BY MATT MACKINDERWhen the Plymouth Whalers lost the fi rst game of their

opening round playoff series at home against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, there was never a hint of panic.

Four games and four wins later and the Whalers advanced to the second round where they will face the favored Windsor Spitfi res. That series starts on April 1 with Games 2, 4 and 6 (if necessary) being played at Compuware Arena.

Forward Tyler Seguin, who tied with Windsor’s Taylor Hall for the regular season scoring title with 106 points, quietly had a 10-point series with fi ve goals and fi ve assists against the Soo, but as overage forward Ryan Hayes explained, the Whalers are far from a one-man show and that fact was key in the fi rst round.

“We’re playing well as a team,” Hayes said. “We have a lot of depth. Tyler’s a fi ne player in his own right, but he’s got great linemates and I have great linemates and the whole team did well in this series.”

Hayes and Phil McRae each had 11 points in the series, while Matt Hackett, who signed with the Minnesota Wild on the eve of the playoff s, earned all four wins in goal. McRae scored in every game against the Soo and fi nished the series with six goals and 11 points, Hayes had four goals and 11 points and captain AJ Jenks (Wolverine Lake) had two goals and seven points.

And the Whalers fan base continues to grow, as a sellout crowd of 3,705, Plymouth’s fi fth sellout of the season, saw the Game 5 clincher on March 26.

Defensively, Plymouth’s penalty killing unit was a factor in the series, allowing just two goals in 32 power play chances.

And Plymouth’s success not only against the Greyhounds, but all season long, has been the team’s ability to fl ip-fl op line combinations on the fl y.

“Everybody plays with everyone here,” Hayes said. “That’s a good thing to have on this team. You can see by the result of this series that everyone wants to win and everyone contributed to the success of this series.”

ON TAP: WINDSOR SPITFIRESWindsor, last year’s OHL and Memorial Cup champions,

are considered by many as the favorites to duplicate their dominance of a year ago.

The Spitfi res swept Erie in the fi rst round and by the time their series with the Whalers starts will have had more than a week with no games.

Plymouth and Windsor last met in the playoff s last

spring, with Windsor beating the Whalers in fi ve games. During the regular season this year, Plymouth won three of their eight games versus the Spitfi res, including one in a season-opening shootout back on Sept. 17.

Windsor’s big off ensive gun is Hall, but Eric Wellwood (31 goals), Justin Shugg (39 goals, including nine against Plymouth), Greg Nemisz (34 goals), Adam Henrique (38 goals) and overager Scott Timmins (30 goals) all had 30-plus goals during the regular season.

Nemisz was injured towards the end of the regular season, didn’t play against Erie and is questionable for the Plymouth series.

Zack Kassian and Dale Mitchell are two more dynamic players to watch up front for Windsor. Kassian was traded to Windsor at the trade deadline for fellow forward Austin Watson, an Ann Arbor native.

Cam Fowler, a defenseman from Farmington Hills, will get drafted among the top fi ve picks in June’s NHL draft, just behind Seguin and Hall. Other Michigan connections in Windsor are forwards Kenny Ryan (Franklin Village) and Stephen Johnston (Red Wings prospect) and defensemen Saverio Posa (Grand Blanc) and Craig Duininck (played for Compuware minor midgets last season).

Philipp Grubauer has established himself as Windsor’s No. 1 goalie after coming over with Johnston and defenseman Marc Cantin from Belleville at the trade deadline. The Windsor power play is potent with defenseman Ryan Ellis as quarterback.

SAGINAW LOSES TO KITCHENERAfter a strong fi nish in the regular season, Saginaw

took Kitchener to six games in the fi rst round of the OHL playoff s before losing to the Rangers, 4-2, in the deciding game on March 28.

The series was tight, but the diff erence came down to the Kitchener’s forchecking, which left little room for Spirit forwards to maneuver. Saginaw’s top two lines scored just eight goals and 18 points in the series.

Saginaw goaltender Edward Pasquale was named fi rst star in the fi rst two games, made over 40 saves in three of the games and was solid throughout the series.

“Our guys were down, but they never quit,” said Spirit head coach and general manager Todd Watson, completing his third season at the helm. “Kitchener pushed us all the way to the very end.”

with a fi le from Carl Chimenti

Plymouth players salute fans at Compuware Arena after the Whalers beat S.S. Marie in the fi rst round of the OHL playoff s.

PHOTO BY WALT DMOCH/PLYMOUTH WHALERS

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College Hockey April 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17

Michigan wins CCHA Mason Cup Playoff titleBY MATT MACKINDER

After an up-and-down regular season, the chances of Michigan keeping alive their streak of 19 straight NCAA Tournament appearances looked bleak.

But the seventh place Wolverines swept Lake Superior State at home in the fi rst round of the CCHA playoff s and took two straight wins over Michigan State on the road to earn a spot in the league semifi nals at Joe Louis Arena.

Once downtown, the Wolverines dominated national No. 1-ranked Miami in the semifi nals, 5-2, on March 19 and then knocked off Northern Michigan, 2-1, in the fi nals behind Louie Caporusso’s two goals to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament as CCHA Mason Cup champs.

If Michigan had lost, odds are that they would have been watching the NCAA Tournament instead of playing in it.

“The goal this week was to try and get by Miami and get in the championship game,” Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. “We talked about how if we win this game, we’ll be in the tournament and if we don’t, we won’t. It’s not about where we are, but how we got here. To me, this has been the most challenging way into the tournament that Michigan has had in a long time. That’s good for our team and our players. Good for our seniors and good for (goaltender) Shawn (Hunwick). We’ve had a little more adversity than the average team and they’ve been amazing.”

Hunwick, playing goal in place of starter Bryan Hogan, who was injured at home against Notre Dame in the regular season home fi nale on Feb. 25, was named CCHA Tournament MVP, and was near tears on the Joe Louis Arena ice after the fi nal.

“It was a nice feeling, but I think it takes away from the team,” said Hunwick, younger brother of former Michigan captain and current Boston Bruins’ defenseman Matt Hunwick. “The guys played tremendous. I don’t even know if I deserve to be an MVP. I don’t even know if I deserve to be a star (of the game). The boys played tremendous and it’s nice to get a little recognition.”

Hunwick’s play in the postseason has won over his coach. “I think he’s earned a spot on our playing roster,” laughed Berenson. “I don’t even

like small goalies. I’ve always been a big goalie fan, but I’m a fan of small goalies who battle hard. He is a warrior.

“He’s not too worried, he’s out there playing hard for his team and his team is out there playing hard for him. You can call it any kind of story you want. It’s an opportunity and he’s taking advantage of it.”

Hunwick made 17 saves against the Wildcats, allowing just an Andrew Cherniwchan goal midway through the third period on a nice backhand from in tight.

“I try to play like any other game,” said Hunwick. “I think this is the biggest game of my career. You just have to take it in fi ve-minute segments. You win that segment and get to the next one.”

The Wildcats knew they had a battle on their hands going into the title game. Northern Michigan beat Ferris State, 5-4 in overtime, Friday afternoon to earn a spot in the fi nal.

“They got pucks behind us, they forechecked, they came at us from the attack, they had great back pressure, they stole the puck from us numerous times coming up ice, and we failed to get pucks in, we failed to generate a forecheck,” NMU head coach Walt Kyle said of the Wolverines. “Their defense did a very good job.”

Caporusso started the scoring in the fi nal minute of the second period on a Michigan power play when he jumped on the ice to replace Matt Rust after Rust’s stick snapped during a play.

“I think everyone wants powerplay time,” said Caporusso. “At the same time, Matt realized it would have been quicker for me to get out there than for him to grab a stick, and who knows if that stick is good for him or not? So I just jumped out there. I didn’t really give him a choice. At the same time, hey, we scored a goal. I’m sure he was happy.”

Caporusso tallied the eventual game-winner at 8:53 of the third period in re-directing a Steve Kampfer point shot.

In the third period, the Michigan defense clamped down and allowed just three Northern Michigan shots over the fi nal 20 minutes.

Brian Stewart fi nished with 33 saves for the Wildcats.“They had some isolated scoring chances that Shawn came up big on and we put

our chances in,” said Berenson. “It was a close game. It was a good game.”Kyle said the loss will make his team better in the long run.“There aren’t many teams that are going to push you like those guys pushed us,”

he said. “They are fast and they came at us.” The Wolverines picked a great time to peak.“It was just a commitment to play sound team hockey, defensive hockey, playing

for one another, playing for the team,” said Caporusso. “Something clicked. I can’t tell you what it was, but I think maybe the adversity throughout the whole year.”

MIAMI GETS THIRD PLACEIn a game that had more NCAA implications for Ferris State than Miami, the

RedHawks held on for a 2-1 win over the Bulldogs in the Third-Place game.Ferris State was hoping a win would have given them a berth in the NCAA

Tournament.“There’s a lot on the line for us even though it’s a consolation game,” Ferris State

head coach Bob Daniels said. “It’s a tough loss for us. I thought we came out tentative until Miami scored the fi rst goal and then I think that we shifted gears from being nervous about winning to playing.”

PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DRW

CCHA Fan Fest is fun for all

Bryan Thumme, Brad Beilstein, Jimmy Vish and Neil Brooks admitted they felt a little too old to be participating in some of the activities, but that did not stop them from enjoying the two-day Fan Fest during the CCHA Championship weekend, March 19-20.

The four Western Michigan students took some time Saturday morning to join other fans in testing their shots’ accuracy and having some laughs, even if they were at least 10 years older than most of the other participants.

“We’re all big hockey fans and we even play in a league together,” said Thumme, who sported an Alaska jersey at the event inside the Renaissance Center’s Wintergarden. “It doesn’t matter that our school didn’t make it here, we’re having a great time.”

Several others with a similar lack of rooting interest checked out the event, including the Sauder family, in town from Toronto for a weekend visit to Detroit-area museums. But Warren Sauder (age 8) and his brother Jimmy (5) quickly convinced their parents, Paul and Mara, to shift the focus of the trip. Jimmy strapped on goaltending equipment and made saves as Warren feed wiffl e balls into the shot machine. The family then attended the Ferris State - Northern Michigan CCHA semifi nal next door at Joe Louis Arena.

“Warren is a huge Red Wings fan,” Mara Sauder said. “They both play hockey, you kind of have to when you’re from Toronto, so this is awesome for them.”

Watching his son, Max (5) enjoy the chance to test his goaltending skills was also a highlight for Rich Summers Jr., who was joined by his father, Rich Sr. to form three generations of University of Michigan fans enjoying a hockey weekend together. Max, who has seen the Wolverines go 11-0 in games he attended this season, has sometimes gone by his middle name, Christopher, at games as a tribute to Michigan’s senior captain, Chris Summers.

“He absolutely loves this,” Rich Summers Jr. said as a ball bounced off Max’s blocker. “It has been a great weekend.”

Brian Trebish and Darwin and Larry Menke took some time to look at the team locker displays and information on the 12 CCHA schools after probably travelling the farthest to get to the CCHA Championships. The trio travelled from Yorkton, Sask. to see their sons and grandson (Michael Trebish and Justin Menke) play for Ferris State.

“We make it to a couple of games a year, but with all the success they had we said ‘If they make it to Joe Louis Arena, we’re going,’” Brian Trebish said. “So we drove for 22 hours and fl ew for another fi ve to get here.”

In addition to the Friday night post-game party, the CCHA trophy display, the Wall of History and the pep band performances were also popular draws at Fan Fest as school spirit was evident in the weekend’s diverse crowd.

“The passion that folks have for their school is deeply rooted and almost unparalleled in the world of sport,” said CCHA Marketing Director Rob Murphy. “To meet with fans, share stories about great players, coaches, games and almost feel the love they have for their schools is awesome.”

By Marc Koorstra

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42 Michigan Hockey MichiganHockeyOnline.com42 Michigan Hockey MichiganHockeyOnline.com

College Hockey : Frozen Four April 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17

Wisconsin brings mix of skill and grit

Loose, confi dent RIT ready to play

BY MATT MACKINDERWisconsin’s last trip to the Frozen Four culminated with the Badgers winning

the 2006 national championship. The Frozen Four has been held in Detroit fi ve times and twice (1977, 1990)

the Badgers have skated away with the championship.When Wisconsin beat Vermont and St. Cloud State at the West Regional on

March 26-27 in St. Paul, Minn., the victories give the Badgers a chance to add to that total at the 2010 Frozen Four at Ford Field.

The Badgers are loaded with NHL talent and has two Hobey Baker Award candidates in defenseman Brendan Smith, the Red Wings’ top draft pick from 2007, and senior captain Blake Geoff rion, who were both outstanding at the regional.

“In a big game, they played the way they are capable of,” Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves said. “If you’re going to win these types of games, your best players have to be your best players. They were for us.”

Wisconsin has always been a physical team. Sprinkle in their high-end talent and the Badgers year in and year out are perennial contenders at or near the top of the WCHA.

Those are strengths of the team and what fans can expect from the Badgers at Ford Field.

“The base of our pyramid is to play hard,” Eaves said. “You have to give yourself a chance to win when you play hard and play physical. Certainly, we don’t want to take penalties – playing hard is part of what you have to do in this game to win. As I said, we don’t want to take penalties, but we want to be on that edge.”

Team depth is another strong point of the Wisconsin attack and that was never more evident than in the West Regional fi nal against St. Cloud State when

John Mitchell notched two goals after not having scored in almost two months.“Right now, it’s about team and getting here to the regional and then to the

Frozen Four,” Mitchell said. “I’ve just been trying to do my part, pick up my place when other guys aren’t scoring and back those players up.”

“He’s done a lot of other good things for us all year long,” said Geoff rion. “Just because he hasn’t scored doesn’t mean he wasn’t doing something for us.”

The Badgers, who also feature captain Derek Stepan, who helped the U.S. win gold at the World Junior Championships in January, have a mix of skill and physical play that make them a tough package to handle.

“We are blessed to have some awfully talented young men,” said Eaves. “They have tremendous work ethics and they have come together and been selfl ess, putting their personal agendas aside and being able to focus on the team. We talked about the chemistry that we have this year that have helped us to be off ensive and the chemistry with the defensive pairings and we have had both goalies play well this year.

“It has been all those things that have come together and they have become a really tight unit.”

Scott Gudmandson has taken the reins in net and should start against RIT in the Frozen Four semifi nal at 5 p.m. on April 8.

The Frozen Four – Geoff rion likes the sound of that.“It feels incredible,” said Geoff rion. “I know a lot of seniors have worked since

our freshman year, coming in after a championship team and seeing how those guys work and how hard they work. So for us to get the opportunity to possibly go to the national championship game is an incredible feeling right now, but the job’s not done yet.”

BY PHILIP COLVINWith a Frozen Four that includes perennial powers Wisconsin, Boston College

and Miami, the other team coming to Detroit’s Ford Field might not have the same name recognition.

But don’t underestimate the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers, who knocked off top-seeded Denver, 2-1, and then rolled past New Hampshire, 6-3, to win the East Regional title at Times Union Center in Albany, NY on March 27.

RIT (28-11-1) won both the Atlantic Hockey regular season and playoff titles and hits Detroit with the nation’s longest winning streak of 12 games.

“We played with a nothing to lose attitude and we executed well,” said RIT coach Wayne Wilson, whose team becomes the fi rst ever squad from Atlantic Hockey to make the Frozen Four. “This is an accumulation of a lot of hard work from a lot of diff erent players. We’ve set a bar of excellence. It’s a little unbelievable, just the calmness of the players and the way they go about their work.”

A strong defensive team that moves the puck well, RIT works extremely hard and won all the battles against both the Pioneers and the Wildcats in the East Regional.

The Tigers broke open a 1-1 tie against New Hampshire in the middle period with three goals in a less-than-two-minute span from Tyler Brenner, Brent Alexin and Steven Matic.

“They were aggressive, quick and a good transition team,” said New Hampshire coach Dick Umile.

RIT also got a great performance from workhorse senior goalie Jared DiMichiel, who stopped 63 of 66 shots he faced in the two games in Albany and was named the East Region’s Most Outstanding Player. Tigers forwards Brenner and Cameron Burt (Detroit) and defensemen Dan Ringwald and Chris Haltigan also made the

All-Region team.“The 30 guys in the dressing room defi nitely expected to win - and we still

expect to win,” said Ringwald, the Tigers captain. “A lot of the outsiders maybe didn’t give us much of a chance but we just take that in stride and accept it for [what] it is and go play the game the same way.”

The victory sends RIT to a Frozen Four semifi nal matchup against Wisconsin on April 8 at 5 p.m. at Ford Field.

“We don’t think about the underdog role or David vs. Goliath,” said DeMichiel who now has 27 wins, including six shutouts, this season. “We don’t care about that, we’re just worried about ourselves.

“I think we proved we can’t be overlooked. We want to give Atlantic Hockey the respect that it deserves and we want to prove to the nation that we can play.”

The Tigers have allowed just 16 goals in their last 12 games, but they have skilled off ensive players too. Burt, a sophomore who played in the Detroit Hockey Association growing up, leads the Tigers in scoring (16-31-47). And Andrew Favot, a 5-foot-6, 160 pound senior forward, is right behind (13-32-45).

“We’ve got a great team and we’ve enjoyed the run so far. But we’re trying to stay focused on keeping it going,” said Burt, who is excited to be coming home to compete for a national title in front of his family and friends.

RIT won national titles at the Division 3 level (1983) and in Division 2 (1985) before moving up to Division 1 in 2002. With that history and a loose, confi dent style, the Tigers will be ready to play on college hockey’s grandest stage.

“I don’t know if it’s because we’re the underdog but we don’t feel any pressure and we’re excited to play the next game and the next game and so on,” said Wilson. “It’s been great. We’re really looking forward to it.”

Semifi nal – Thursday, April 8 - 5 p.m.

R.I.T. (28-11-1) vs. Wisconsin (27-10-4)

ESPN2

Wisconsin star defenseman Brendan Smith is a Red Wings draft pick.

Detroit native Cameron Burt leads RIT in scoring this season

with 16 goals and 47 points.

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43Michigan HockeyMichiganHockeyOnline.com 43Michigan HockeyMichiganHockeyOnline.com

College Hockey : Frozen Four

Skill and speed key for Boston College

Top-ranked Miami is tough to handle

BY MATT MACKINDERAfter winning the Frozen Four in 2008, Boston College is heading back in 2010.The Eagles just hope they don’t have to score nine goals in a single game like

they did in the Northeast Regional fi nal, a 9-7 nail-biter over Yale on March 28. Boston College is skilled and speedy and will be dangerous in Detroit, their third Frozen Four appearance in the last four years.

“I think what has made us successful is the players and the leaders we’ve had,” Boston College senior forward Ben Smith said. “And having that experience as freshmen and sophomores, it really helped our class and the junior class lead this team.”

Boston College played at Fenway Park earlier this year against Boston University, so playing at an unconventional site like Ford Field should be old hat by now.

“It’s going to be so diff erent in a football stadium,” BC coach Jerry York said. “I’m not quite sure. Fenway was cold and windy. This will be inside, but it will be a situation where we’re going to want to practice a few times. I’m a little concerned that we’ve never done this before.”

The location aside, York said preparing for the Frozen Four and having some time off would help his group.

“It’s always interesting,” said York. “We’ll look at the other Frozen Four runs. We’ll certainly have some time off to rest and recuperate. There’s been a lot of stress and tough diffi cult games to get to this point.”

That included the regional fi nal against the Bulldogs. Up 9-4, Boston College allowed three late goals but held on for the win.

“The game was never over because of their skill factor and skill set,” said York. “The games at the national level come in all diff erent styles. The goal is to win and advance and I’m very proud of our club and particularly our four seniors who

have been unbelievable leaders and mentored our young guys.”Defenseman Carl Sneep and forwards Matt Lombardi and Matt Price class

join Smith as seniors.Off ensively, the Eagles have depth at all three positions and sophomore Cam

Atkinson led the team with 27 goals this year. Junior goaltender John Muse led the Eagles to the national title in 2008 as a freshman and is very solid.

“(Muse) competes well,” noted York. “He probably wishes he had a few of those goals back (against Yale). That’s the part of him that wants to get better and better. He analyzes games and watches fi lm. He’s a winner and he’s going to the Frozen Four.”

Muse is one of many Massachusetts natives on the Boston College roster, evidence that the East Coast is indeed a hockey hotbed.

“The youth programs have a lot of talent coming up,” said York, college hockey’s winningest active coach now in his 38th season, including 15 with the Eagles. “When BC and Boston University are at the top of their game, kids aspire to play at that level. We’ve recruited outstanding hockey players to BC. In a nutshell, that’s why we’ve been so strong and successful. You replace good players with good players.”

Boston College, 27-10-3 up to this point, fi nished second in the Hockey East standings and then won the playoff championship. Now with a regional title to boot, the Eagles want one more taste of championship glory this season.

“Winning hockey games is putting teams away,” York said. “We’re very excited to continue that and we have two more games for a national title and we’d certainly like to achieve our goals this year.

“We’re looking forward to the Frozen Four and I’m very excited.”

BY JAMES DOWDOvertime was cruel to Miami in last year’s national championship game when

the RedHawks watched a fl uke defl ection off of a defenseman beat goaltender Cody Reichard and crush Miami’s dreams of its fi rst national title.

But the RedHawks bounced back from the disappointing loss to Boston University by dominating the CCHA regular season, fi nishing 20 points clear of second place Michigan State. And their performance at the Midwest Regional on March 27-28 put an exclamation point on the RedHawks’ answer to their critics, as the nation’s top-ranked team disposed of rival Michigan in a hard-fought 3-2, double-overtime victory in the fi nal in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Sophomore forward Alden Hirschfeld did the honors for the RedHawks, slotting a shot through a Michigan defenseman and past goaltender Shawn Hunwick at the 1:54 mark of the second extra frame.

“I didn’t really know it went in until everyone started skating out,” Hirschfeld said of his goal. “We fought hard all night. Coach (Enrico Blasi) kept telling us every chance we got to get the puck on net. The puck just kind of popped out, and I picked it up around the top of the circle and I just shot it. I know it went under his arm. I think it went through the legs of the guy who tried to block the shot fi rst.”

Hirschfeld’s goal brought a sigh of relief to Blasi, who nervously watched as his team surrendered 20 shots in the fi rst overtime frame, including one that hit the post and another that went in but was nullifi ed by a whistle before Michigan forward Kevin Lynch had shot it.

“Unless you’re playing, you’re on pins and needles because one shot can win you or lose you the game,” Blasi said. “We’ve been on the wrong side of those a few times in the past few years.”

While Hirschfeld stole the moment with the OT winner, it was Miami’s goaltending that was the story. Blasi has contended his team has two No. 1 goaltenders, and he rewarded both Reichard and his counterpart Connor Knapp with close to equal playing time during the regular season. It was Reichard, however, who got the nod in the NCAA tournament last year, and Reichard who played his way into consideration for the Hobey Baker Award this year.

But after Reichard notched a victory in the tournament’s opening game against Alabama-Huntsville, Blasi elected to go with Knapp against Michigan.

Heading into a Frozen Four meeting with Boston College at Ford Field at 5 p.m. on April 8, Blasi has yet to decide which of his netminders will get the start. Regardless of who plays goal, look to Miami’s deep and mobile defense that includes Gaylord’s Will Weber as the ultimate key to the game.

The RedHawks are loaded up front with junior forwards Carter Camper, Tommy Wingels, Pat Cannone and Andy Miele (G.P. Woods) leading the way. But Miami players pride themselves on making plays defensively and lead the country with allowing only 1.84 goals a game. The combination of top-end off ensive players who pay attention to their own end has put the RedHawks right back in the hunt for the national title.

Even Knapp, who fell just two saves shy of a school record in the victory over Michigan with 55 saves, was quick to give credit to the team in front of him for helping keep pucks out of the net.

“I’m sure it looked like it was worse than it really was,” Knapp said. “The guys did a great job in front of me keeping shots to the outside. They really battled in front of the net for rebounds.”

Boston College sophomore forward

Jimmy Hayes played in the NTDP and graduated from

Ann Arbor Pioneer HS.

Gaylord’s Will Weber is a big part of

Miami’s top-ranked defensive unit.

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Semifi nal – Thursday, April 8 - 8:30 p.m.

Boston College (27-10-3) vs. Miami (Ohio) (29-7-7)

ESPN2


College Hockey : Frozen Four

SCHEDULE OF EVENTSWednesday, April 7

10:45 a.m. -RIT practice: Open to the public Noon - Wisconsin practice: Open to the public

1:30 p.m. - Boston College practice: Open to the public 2:45 p.m. - Miami practice: Open to the public

Thursday, April 810 a.m. - 5 p.m. - College Hockey Fan Festival at the Renaissance Center Wintergarden

3 p.m. – Doors open at Ford Field for Semifi nal GamesThe fi rst 2,000 fans through the doors for the semifi nal games will receive

a commemorative championship item courtesy of AT&T.5 p.m. - Semifi nal - RIT vs. Wisconsin

8:30 p.m. - Semifi nal - Miami vs. Boston College After the second semifi nal game fans will receive an

NCAA® Men’s Frozen Four® poster courtesy of the NCAA®.

Friday, April 911 a.m. - 8 p.m. - College Hockey Fan Festival at the Renaissance Center Wintergarden

11:15 a.m. - Winner of Semifi nal Game 1 practice; Open to the public 12:30 p.m. - Winner of Semifi nal Game 2 practice; Open to the public

Friday Night at the Frozen FourTickets: $10 or $5 for groups of 15 or more - To order tickets call 800-745-3000 or

go to: www.ncaa.com/frozenfour5 p.m. - Ford Field doors open

5:15 p.m. - AT&T Autograph Session with team fi nalists6:30 p.m. - Hockey Humanitarian Award Presentation7 p.m. - Hobey Baker Memorial Award Presentation

7:45 p.m. - Paralympic Sled Hockey demonstration presented by The Hartford8 p.m. - Announcement of RBK Hockey/AHCA Division I Men’s All-American Team

8:10 p.m. - NCAA® Frozen Four® Skills ChallengeThe competition will be conducted in an East versus West format with each team having six male skaters, six female skaters, two male goaltenders and two female goaltenders. The competitions will include puck control relay, fastest

skater, hardest shot, rapid fi re shooting, accuracy shooting and penalty shot.

Saturday, April 1010 a.m. - 5 p.m. - College Hockey Fan Festival at the Renaissance Center Wintergarden

5 p.m. - Ford Field doors open for National ChampionshipBauer Fan Giveaways - The fi rst 7,000 fans to enter Ford Field will receive a paper helmet courtesy of Bauer.

5:15 p.m. - AT&T Autograph Session with Skills Challenge participants7 p.m. - National Championship

Meet UpAll week during the Frozen Four the restaurants below are serving as Fan Gathering Restaurants and

will adopt fans from each of the Men’s Frozen Four teams during the championship in Detroit.

Hockeytown Cafe2301 Woodard AvenueDetroit, MI 48201313/965-9600www.hockeytowncafe.com

Bookies Bar & Grill2208 Cass AvenueDetroit, MI 48201313/962-0319www.bookiesbar.com

Angelina’s Detroit1565 BroadwayDetroit, MI 48226313/962-1355www.angelinadetroit.com

Detroit Beer Company1529 BroadwayDetroit, MI 48226313/962-1529www.detroitbeerco.com

Ford Field ready for recordbreaking 2010 Frozen Four

With the 2010 Frozen Four less than a week away, final preparations are underway for the record setting event at Detroit’s Ford Field.

The rink is set up in the end zone nearest the ramp leading to the fi eld entrance (see view from Section 337 at left with rink location outlined in black). A 4,500-seat temporary riser has been constructed lengthwise on the side of the rink along the 30-yard line. A curtain will be placed on the east side of the stadium to close off the unused seats.

Over 35,000 tickets have been sold for the Frozen Four, but three three-game ticket packages are still available in each of the four price levels - $40, $79, $119 and $189.

And the views of the rink are excellent, even at the top rows of the highest sections, and everything is set for a championship experience for players and fans.

“When people think of a dome stadium, they think of the Metrodome, the RCA Dome and the Pontiac Silverdome. But it’s nothing like this building,” said CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos, “You come into Ford Field, how can anyone say it’s not an excellent sight line.”

For 2010 Frozen Four tickets call 800-745-3000 or visit: www.ncaa.com/sports/m-hockey/champpage/m-hockey-div1-index.html


At this time of the season, the race to be among the worst teams in the National Hockey League can be as fascinating as the race to be one of the best.

Fans of struggling teams have a vested interest in the bottom of the standings because the worst teams will be rewarded handsomely this summer at the 2010 draft, and two of the prize prospects have Michigan connections.

Windsor Spitfi res left wing Taylor Hall, Plymouth Whalers center Tyler Seguin and Farmington Hills defenseman Cam Fowler, also playing with Windsor, have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Certainly there are quality prospects after these players, but these guys all seem like can’t-miss stars.

That’s why if you are a Boston Bruins fan, you are rooting for the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes to perform like stallions over the fi nal six or seven games of the season.

If the season ended today, the Edmonton Oilers would be in last place and the Toronto Maple Leafs would be second to last. Because the Bruins own Toronto’s fi rst pick as a result of the Phil Kessel trade, they would have the No. 2 pick heading into the draft lottery.

Here’s the issue: The Maple Leafs have been playing well down the stretch, and Carolina and Florida are only two points in front of the Toronto franchise. If coach Ron Wilson’s team keeps playing well, it could catch either Carolina or Florida. That would be awful news for the Bruins who would happy to have any of the big three.

If the season ended today, the draft lottery system gives Edmonton a 48.1% chance of picking No. 1. The way the NHL system works is that a team can only move up four spots, meaning right now only the Oilers, Maple Leafs (to the Bruins), Carolina, Florida and Tampa Bay have a shot at the fi rst pick. The Lightning would have the worst odds (8.1%). The others: Panthers (10.7%), Hurricanes (14.2%) and the Maple Leafs/Bruins (18.8%).

The Oilers would pick fi rst if they win the lottery, or the draft winner comes from any team other than the four directly behind them.

The problem with being No. 3 at present is that there is a shot that a team lower

than four spots below you could win the lottery and leap

over you, moving you to No. 4. That would mean no jackpot of Hall, Seguin, or Fowler.

As long as a team fi nishes the season with one of the two worst records, it is guaranteed to land one of those three guys. If a team fi nishes with the third-worst record, it would probably get one of those players, but it’s not guaranteed.

That’s why the Bruins fans have to root against Toronto and for the Lightning, Panthers and Hurricanes.

The Seguin vs. Hall race is considered almost too close to call. They tied for the OHL scoring championship, and both players have support to be No. 1.

Although it seems as if the speedy Seguin might have a slight edge over Hall as the top prospect, I would guess the Oilers would take Hall. Both players will be stars, and Seguin could be another Jonathan Toews. But there is an extra layer of pizzazz in Hall.

“He has entertainment to his game,” said Detroit assistant general manager Jim Nill.

Hall would make a nice fi t to play with hot Edmonton prospect Jordan Eberle.

But no one will be disappointed in Fowler, a fi rst-rate skater who does everything well. That’s exactly what everyone told me about the LA Kings’ Drew Doughty and he worked out reasonably well.

The only discouraging word about Fowler comes from independent scouting publication Red Line Report, which has dropped him down a few spots, noting that his shot and bodychecking ability don’t match his skating and passing ability.

The late slide does seem to happen to some players, particularly with players who have been ranked near the top for a couple of seasons. When scouts see too much of a player they tend to see his fl aws more than his beauty.

Most of the scouts I have talked have a high degree of faith in Fowler. He would seem to be a great fi t for the Panthers whose ability to compete this season was undermined by the loss of defenseman Jay Bouwmeester who signed as a free agent with Calgary.

With the success that young defensemen are now having in the NHL, Fowler has a decent chance of making a quick rise to the NHL. His skating and passing ability are already NHL caliber.

Bruins fans rooting against Toronto

Red Wings streaking at right time

Kevin Allen covers pro and college hockey for USA Today

NHL & Red Wing Insiders April 5, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 17

BY DAVE WADDELLThere’s a red menace laying waste to everything in its path

since the Olympic break ended March 1.The Detroit Red Wings, who started the month of March

out of the playoff s, are no longer a question mark for the post season. The Wings have gotten healthy and hot. In fact, no one is hotter in the NHL than the Motor City men.

The Wings have gone 11-2-1 in the fi rst 13 games of March to make very real the possibility they could fi nish as high as fi fth place.

“That’s the Detroit we’re used to seeing from last year,” admitted Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury after the Wings handled the defending Stanley Cup champions rather easily on March 22.

Certainly their streak of post-season appearances should be pushed to 19 consecutive years. That’s the longest active streak in professional sports in North America.

“It sure helps to be on the right side of eighth spot and not just being the team that’s chasing,” Wings captain Nick Lidstrom said. “We know we’re not out of the woods yet. When you’re winning, you’re looking at the teams above you who you can catch.”

The Wings are certainly more comfortable doing the hunting rather than being the prey. Detroit appears to have all aspects of its game in order now that the club is healthy and those returning from injuries have had a chance to fi nd their legs.

The Wings special teams have been key during the hot streak as Detroit now ranks in the top 10 in the league in both penalty killing and power play.

Through their March 27th victory at Nashville, Detroit has allowed one power-play goal in the past 12 games and has killed off 63 of the past 67 penalties.

The Wings have also allowed the fewest shorthanded goals (one) in the league while ranking second with eight shorties in their favor. On the power play, Detroit is converting at a 19 percent rate.

“Our PK, we’ve been a lot more aggressive at the right times,” Lidstrom said. “Our PP, our motion is a lot better. Puck movement, but we’re moving as well. We’re taking more shots too.”

In addition, Detroit’s biggest stars are once again carrying the mail while the supporting cast, which was wonderful in keeping the Wings in the playoff race while the club was wracked with injuries, has maintained its excellence.

Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Nick Lidstrom, Johan Franzen, Brian Rafalski and Niklas Kronwall seem to have been re-invigorated by their Olympic experience while Tomas Holmstrom’s aching knee benefi ted from the rest.

Although to be fair to Lidstrom, he began raising his game

as he always does in early December. Also Datsyuk has been excellent much of the season, but now has wingers that are fi nishing. As of March 27, Datsyuk has 25 points in his last 25 games while Zetterberg has 17 in his last 13.

The Wings aren’t the only ones sensing things are going Detroit’s way these days. Their return to form is creating an uncomfortable feeling in the NHL.

“Oh yeah,” said Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby when asked if the Wings are a diff erent team than in the teams’ fi rst meeting Jan. 31. “They’re healthy. They’re defi nitely desperate. They’re fi ghting for a playoff spot.”

There wouldn’t be a playoff spot to fi ght for if not for rookie goalie Jimmy Howard.

After serving a four-year apprenticeship in the AHL, Howard has clearly established himself as Detroit’s starting goalie. Through the Nashville game, Howard has started 22 straight contests, the second longest streak by a Detroit goalie in 17 seasons.

If anything, the 26-year-old netminder appears to be getting stronger and more confi dent as the season progresses. He currently ranks fourth in the NHL in both goals against average (2.24) and save percentage (.926). Those numbers are comparable to league MVP candidate Ryan Miller, who leads both categories with a 2.21 GGA and .929 save percentage.

If nothing else, Howard surely must be at least a candidate to become Detroit’s fi rst Calder Trophy winner as the NHL’s rookie of the year since Roger Crozier in 1964.

“I’m just enjoying winning,” Howard said. “Those things (awards) will take care of themselves. When you play a lot it’s easier to get into a rhythm.”

Howard has been so good, Wings coach Mike Babcock said after Detroit posted the 1-0 win in Nashville that his team’s goaltending has been as good as it has ever been since he arrived on the scene four years ago.

Pretty lofty praise considering the tandem of future Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek and Chris Osgood backstopped Detroit to a Stanley Cup and won the Jennings Trophy (lowest goals against average) in 2008.

The Wings also look to be a serious threat to put together another long run in the Western Conference playoff s.

With most of the other teams in the playoff s, outside of Nashville and Phoenix, kicking it around of late, Detroit has become an attractive choice to come out of the west for the third straight year.

“They’ve defi nitely stepped up their game to make sure they’ll make it into the playoff s,” said Minnesota defenseman Greg Zanon said. “They’ve got a lot of real good players, a lot of guys who know how to take it to the next level at this time of year.”

The strong play of the Detroit’s top players like Henrik Zetterberg has helped the Red Wings have a big month of March.

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Red Wings streaking at right timeRed Wings streaking at right timeRed Wings streaking at right time

Farmington Hills defenseman Cam

Fowler played for the U.S. National Team before joining the

OHL’s Windsor Spitfi res and is expected to

be a top pick in this summer’s NHL Draft.

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to blade with every stride. So you can go from dead stop to breakaway in a split second. Just like Matt Duchene.

© 2010 Reebok International Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Reebok is a registered trademark of Reebok International. NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2010. All Rights Reserved.

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Michigan Hockey April 5, 2010