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On To Plymouth

By Craig Peterson 03/07/2020, 8:00am EST

24 Teams Just One Win Away From USA Hockey Arena

Are you still playing? Did your team survive Championship Wednesday? We are just seven days away from the State Finals at USA Hockey Arena next Saturday, and any team still standing as of today has a one-in-eight shot at a State Championship. Let that sink in for a moment.

There’s been blowouts. There’s been upsets. Some Regions went according to plan. Others were wrought with parody. Nonetheless, the dust has settled and our State Tournament matchups are set. With 12 games on the docket for Quarterfinals on Saturday, I’ve got game-by-game breakdown and predictions on who will be marching on to Plymouth next week.

Petey’s Picks: 70-48

 

Division-I

 

Starting on the Westside with Byron Center and Reeths-Puffer, this should be the tightest of the four D-I matchups. I’ve been very outspoken about my obsession with BC and the raw, young talent that they’re loaded with. However, that might need to get checked at the door with Reeths-Puffer in the mix. Nolan Convertini, Caden Brainard, Quinn Fowler, Navarre Klint… The Rockets have plenty of goal scoring and a nice amount of depth that should offset what the Bulldogs bring to the table. RP is 0-2 against Byron Center this season but took the Dogs to OT in the most recent matchup on Feb. 14th. This one will be snug as well. Beating a team three times in one season is a tall task, but I just can’t take off my BC biased glasses. Cautiously, I’m going with the Bulldogs.

Byron Center

4

Reeths-Puffer

3


 

Kalamazoo could continue their thrilling playoff run in Year 1 of the program against Saginaw Heritage. I’m not ruling the Eagles out of it completely, I just think they’d need a lot of things to go their way for an upset to happen. Kalamazoo is the most penalized team in the state (probably) and Heritage has the best power play in the state (also probably). That adds up to one volatile combination. If the Eagles can stay out of the box and play 5-on-5 for significant stretches of time, I could see this one being close on the scoreboard. I don’t know how comfortable Kzoo is playing from behind though, so if frustration sets in, I could see Brady Rappuhn and company really throttle down and pull away in convincing fashion.

Saginaw Heritage

6

Kalamazoo

2

 

Similar to the Stevenson-Novi Regional Final that went to three overtimes, Salem could pack things in, play a really conservative game and keep this Quarterfinal matchup uncomfortably close for top-seeded DCC. The Rocks are disciplined enough and have sound enough structure. I think they’ll be smart about picking their battles within the bigger war that will take place at Novi Ice Arena. The Shamrocks have superior talent and depth but all it takes is a power-play opportunity or two for the Rocks to capitalize, energize their own bench and really put the pressure on their heavily-favored counterparts. I’ll take CC to out-shoot and out-possess Salem, but coach Ryan Ossenmacher’s squad dictates the pace by making the game painfully slow. That at the very least puts the Rocks within a cross-bar or missed open net away from a stunning upset. 

Salem

1

Detroit Catholic Central

3


 

L’Anse WHO Unified?!? The biggest Regional Champion shocker in my book; I never saw LCU coming and hats off to them for a fantastic playoff run thus far. Never been ranked higher than 60th in the state this season, had a sub-.500 record until playoffs and their biggest win was against No. 41 Grandville until this magical postseason. BUT… here they are, and I’m not counting them out of this matchup with Howell either. The Highlanders will be the most talented, deepest and structured team that LCU has faced all season, so it’s going to be a monumental task matching up with Stefan Frantti and Steven Miller. With Jeffrey Deriemacker and Jack Majchrzak though, Howell will have to defend as well as they attack as one slip up or mistake could keep this game tight as well.  

Howell

3

L’Anse Creuse Unified

2

 

 

Division-II

 

“The King of the North! The King of the North! The King of the North!” Two Top-25 teams square off in Gaylord at 1 p.m., and only one can continue the trek downstate. I’m expecting an ugly one here; physical, every inch of ice is earned, knock-down, drag-out, garbage goals from scrums in front with bodies flying all over when Marquette and TC Central take the ice. This is gonna have that playoff-type atmosphere from the opening puck drop and it’s going to be tense. These kinds of moments are typically dictated by the seniors, and guys like Nick Sommerfield and Chris Usiondek will throw their best punch (figuratively). However, I like Jakob Peterson and Gaetano Cammarata to take over, willing the Redmen to victory in an absolute battle. 

Marquette

3

Traverse City Central

1


 

It’s an MIHL matchup between Brother Rice and Port Huron Northern at Suburban Ice Macomb. The Warriors outscored PHN 13-4 in two games just one week apart from each other. However, I think the Huskies will come into this one highly motivated to knock off the favorite and Rice hasn’t faced a challenge in two weeks. Watch Brendan Dickinson, Chad Noetzel and Logan O’Flanagan catch the Warriors off balance by scoring first, or even hanging onto a lead after the first period. Ultimately though, I like Rice to regain its footing and secure a comfortable victory given the way Ryan Murphy and crew have been cruising along this postseason.

Port Huron Northern

2

Brother Rice

6


 

Two teams in complete survive-and-advance mode, the stage for this Hartland-Rockford matchup was set after both teams escaped Regional Finals by way of one-goal victories. I think this Quarterfinal will be much, much closer than the 42 spots that separate them in the state rankings and this is where Hartland’s playoff road gets... “Rocky.” We are going to find out just how good Rams like Dayton Perroud, Braeden Fouchea and Will Haggerty are when they line up against the Eagles’ best. Coach C.J. Pobur’s squad is going to throw everything and the kitchen sink at Hartland’s Ryan Piros and Rockford could dictate the pace of play for long stretches in this one. However, I’ll take Piros to have a big performance between the pipes and frustrate Rams shooters in a way they haven’t seen yet this season. Two-time defending champs in a low-scoring close one.

Rockford

2

Hartland

3


 

HOT GOALIE ALERT!! Joey Cormier has given up just three goals in his last five starts, putting a bow on what has been a fantastic season for the three-year senior who maintains a 1.64 goals-against average and .942 save percentage. Stevenson was nearly bitten by a hot ‘tender in the previous round when Austin Muirhead stopped 52-of-54 shots on Wednesday. Now, they collide with a Trenton team that’s had their number in the postseason as of late, having ended the Spartans’ run in each of the last two seasons and the goalie whose done it each time. This is a hurdle Stevenson hasn’t been able to get over in the playoffs and if the offense goes cold again like it did in the Regional Final, Hunter Allen and Ethan Holt will make them pay in ways Novi could not. I’m actually going with coach Chad Clements’ crew to pull off the upset thanks to Cormier coming up clutch.

Trenton

3

Livonia Stevenson

2

 

 

Division-III

The day begins with Calumet and Gaylord at 1 p.m., and of all the matchups on Saturday, I’m the most confident in this one. Sam Gorno has been outstanding in the playoffs and getting the Blue Devils their first Regional Championship since 2004, but we’re wading into deeper waters and the shore is a long ways away. The Copper Kings have Gaylord right where they want them, and I believe Tanner Rowe, Alex Mattila and the Loukuses will be too much to keep up with. Coach Dan Giachino’s group should overwhelm and dominate this Quarterfinal matchup, entering the Final Four as favorites to win the whole thing now that Grosse Pointe South is out of the picture.  

Calumet

6

Gaylord

0


 

Gabriel Richard got a huge monkey off its back on Wednesday with a 6-0 drubbing of rival Riverview who had beaten them twice before. With the Pioneers getting over the hump, I see them head into this Quarterfinal matchup with Chelsea cool, calm, collected and confident. I’m not writing off the Bulldogs, either, as they’re a bunch that just keeps finding ways to win. Tyler Valik and Chelsea are playing much better than their No. 66 ranking, with a 2-1-1 record against teams ahead of them in the standings since the beginning of February. Valik has two goals and eight points in those four games and another big game from him could give the Dogs an outside chance at an upset. Give me Nathan Vazquez to lead RGR past Chelsea for a return trip to Plymouth. 

Chelsea

1

Gabriel Richard

4


 

Of all 12 Quarterfinal picks, I hate this one the most. Two evenly-matched teams with similar makeup, elite-level playmakers and smart hockey minds. I wish I could make a confident selection in this one but I just look at Jacob Onstott against Luke Blasy? Wash. Collin Lemanski or Ryan McClelland? Coin flip. Mike Slobodnik and Dick Blasy? Even. I could see multiple lead changes, trading power-play goals, huge swings of momentum and a total roller coaster of emotions. I believe quite confidently that the winner of this will go on to the State Final, and legitimately could go either way with this pick. GRCC started out the season hot and look to be finishing the same way, so I’ll give the Cougars the slightest of edges based purely on momentum. 

Grand Rapids Catholic Central

5

Midland Dow

4


 

After upsets of No. 14 U-D Jesuit and No. 5 Grosse Pointe South, University Liggett turns its attention to two-time defending champion Country Day. I’m not ruling out the Knights completely, as I Country Day is not invincible like in year’s past, but it won’t be easy either. Doug Wood is on another planet right now with 10 goals and 15 points in the playoffs which bodes well for Liggett. If he can catch a break or two and catch the Yellowjackets napping, Wood can single-handedly keep this game within reach. The problem for Liggett lies in Country Day’s strength; their blue line. Jacob Thomas, Gino Sessa and this senior laden group have faced some pretty dynamic forwards in their careers, and they’re well equipped to contain a dangerous threat. I think Wood is effective, but kept in check just enough for Country Day to continue its title defense for a few more days.

University Liggett

3

Country Day

4



Who’s making it on to Plymouth next week? Let’s talk about it on Twitter and tell me who you’re picking today in the Quarterfinals.

 

 

 

 

 

State Bound

By Craig Peterson 03/04/2020, 8:00am EST

Who will punch their ticket to the Elite Eight?

The first two rounds have been completed and now just 48 teams remain in the state of Michigan. Hardware is on the line for the first time, and 24 Regional Champions will be decided in the span of just five hours. It is going to make for a wild Wednesday and arguably one of the most exciting days of the MI-HS calendar, so let’s get into and serve up some awesome projections.

PETEY'S PICKS: 53-41

 

DIVISION-I

DIVISION-II

DIVISION-III

 

It’s CHAMPIONSHIP WEDNESDAY! Where will you be watching all the action? Tweet me your picks and let’s talk about it.

 

 

 

 

 

All-Sophomore Team

By Craig Peterson 02/25/2020, 8:00am EST

Class Of 2022 Standouts Who Had Breakout Seasons

Had some really constructive conversations on the heels of my All-Freshman Team article yesterday. Lots of great standouts and admittedly, some snubs who should have been considered. We continue the series today with some of the best players from the Class of 2022, and again, just a reminder that there are no awards or plaques, just an opportunity for me to acknowledge some stellar sophomores. 

Plenty of the players mentioned below filled integral roles for their respective teams, some even sporting captain’s letters. My All-Sophomore Team consisting of 12 forwards, six defensemen and two goalies from the Class of 2022 are...

 

Doug Wood

University Liggett

33G, 33A, 66P

Matthew Witt

Midland

16G, 17A, 33P

Billy VanSumeren

Midland Dow

22G, 18A, 40P

Jack Waldo

Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard

16G, 34A, 50P

Will Dawson

Traverse City Central

17G, 25A, 42P

Hunter Fortner

Kingsford

12G, 10A, 22P

Todd Anderson

Hancock

3G, 12A, 15P

Kolin LeDuc

Macomb Dakota

5G, 18A, 23P

Andrew Seminara

St. Frances Cabrini

10G, 14A, 24P

Karson Krutina

Escanaba

11G, 14A, 25P

Pierce Ashcroft

Milford

13G, 28A, 41P

Connor Dvorak

FNV

18G, 20A, 38P

Jacob Spitz

Grosse Pointe South

3G, 30A, 33P

Kaden Hemme

DCC

6G, 8A, 14P

Aaron Ackerson

Bay Reps

4G, 24A, 28P

Logan Johnson

Capital City

5G, 12A, 17P

Nick Temple

Fenton-Linden

15G, 12A, 27P

Ryan Almassian

Forest Hills Northern-Eastern

9G, 9A, 18P

Josiah Dembrosky

Riverview

19W, 2.39 GAA, .905 SV%

Austin Muirhead

Novi

9W, 2.00 GAA, .919 SV%

 

Jacob Spitz may be the best all-around player from the Class of 2022. He was consistently one of the most effective players for No. 4-ranked Grosse Pointe South and logged a ton of minutes from the back end. Ryan Almassian and Logan Johnson are actually a bit similar in my mind, being that they both are very impactful offensively and love to engage on the rush from their defensive positions. I’ll be looking for them to really commit in the D-zone, develop and be as dominant defensively as they are on the attack.

Austin Muirhead has taken huge strides in his development this season. He struggled a bit in his first game against Howell but over the course of 19 starts, Muirhead blossomed into a stellar netminder for the Wildcats posting three consecutive shutouts during a solid stretch in January. The winningest goalie among sophomores this season, Josiah Dembrosky was the backbone to Riverview’s impressive 19-win season. He started all 25 games for the Pirates, with wins over No. 22 Gabriel Richard (twice) and No. 34 Allen Park. I’m throwing an “honorable mention” to Aiden Steele from Grand Haven as well. The Buccaneers had a tough season, but Steele battled and had a pretty decent outing with 40-plus saves in 10-of-20 starts and a respectable .916 save percentage while seeing a lot of action

Doug Wood is dynamic with the puck on his stick and is no doubt a dangerous goal scorer around the net. If I put together an All-Freshman Team last year, he would’ve highlighted that group. Now in 2020, he’s highlighting the All-Sophomore Team as well. I'd like to see him be more impactful without the puck to really round out his game into a complete player. Speaking of well-rounded, Kolin LeDuc is my personal favorite from the Class of 2022. He plays a really strong 200-foot game, sees the ice well and is stout in the defensive zone. LeDuc plays the game the right way, which doesn’t always add up to a bloated stat line but is so crucial to team success.

Lots of super sophomores out there this season; I know I missed some. It’s hard limiting it to just a 20-man lineup but connect with me on Twitter and let’s talk about it.

 

 

 

 

 

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