skip navigation

Top 25 Matchups

By Craig Peterson, 01/22/20, 9:15AM EST

Share

Big week for the big dogs

Well the weather wasn’t the only thing that spoiled last week’s picks. Snowmageddon canceled lots of games over the weekend and those that remained in action, well those didn’t go so good for your boy Petey either. I believe a 2-3 record takes a good bite out of the overall this season, but we keep grinding along as we now have just four weeks left to go in 2020.

PETEY’S PICKS: 26-16

Wow, so many Top-25 matchups this week. No. 12 U-D Jesuit topped No. 16 Brighton 5-1 and No. 19 Gabriel Richard defeated No. 25 Macomb Dakota 5-2 on Monday. That’s just the beginning, as the schedule is chocked full of top teams squaring off in heated contests as we enter final few weeks of the regular season. A handful of those games feature the same teams, so I won’t do as deep of a dive into the matchups, but I’ll have picks and predictions for all eight of the Top-25 matchups coming up this week! Let’s get going...

 

Salem vs. Brighton

Wednesday, January 22nd at 5:00 p.m.

BREAKDOWN: Salem actually won 6-3 when these two teams met on Thanksgiving weekend. I think a lot has changed since then, as the Rocks started the year with their hair on fire and the Bulldogs started exceptionally sluggish. Brighton has won four of its last five, though, and Salem is 4-3-0 in the last seven games since Christmas. The Rocks are a fantastic team with electric playmakers that I like in Devan Grayshaw and Alex Schaumburger. A young Brighton team may be inconsistent at times, but I’m buying the run they’re on right now and I think this matchup is coming at the right time for coach Paul Moggach’s squad.

PREDICTION

#16 Brighton

4

#8 Salem

3

 

Livonia Stevenson vs. Hartland

Wednesday, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m.

BREAKDOWN: Another rematch and another game I *think* could flip flop in Game 2 of the series. Stevenson is undefeated in-state and has given up two goals or fewer in 10 straight games. I would not want to play these guys, especially given the sheer amount of weapons Stevenson has up front and how stellar Brendan Stroble has performed in net with a 1.74 goals-against average. Hartland, however, is not a team that’ll be intimidated by the Spartans’ offense and I could see Adam Pietila, Dakota Kott and Ryan Piros coming into this one with something to prove. Seth Lause’s short-handed hat trick was the difference in their first meeting, and if you take away that anomaly, it’s a 2-2 game. They might get outshot, outplayed, out-possessed but I’m actually going with Hartland in this one on a bit of a revenge tour against the Spartans.

PREDICTION

#5 Hartland

3

#3 Livonia Stevenson

2

 

Brother Rice vs. Detroit Catholic Central

Wednesday, January 22nd at 7:30 p.m.

BREAKDOWN: The third — and final — meeting between these two heated rivals, with the season series split at a game apiece. I fully expect this tilt to be one of the most intense games of the entire season, in front of a packed house, fans going crazy and a pace of play resembling a track meet. While the Shamrocks have shown moments of mortality, and at least being susceptible of being defeated by other top teams around the state, they’ve also gone 17 consecutive periods without giving up a goal against. The previous two games have happened on DCC’s terms hosted at USA Hockey Arena, and with Game 3 taking place at Rice’s Hazel Park Arena, I think that could play a factor. Rice plays inspired, motivated and keeps the game close with a chance at the end but CC ultimately survives in enemy territory.

PREDICTION

#1 Detroit Catholic Central

3

#2 Brother Rice

2

 

Brighton vs. Howell

Friday, January 24th at 7:30 p.m.

BREAKDOWN: Howell is riding high lately, winning seven of its last eight and the lone loss coming in overtime to Ann Arbor Skyline. They’ve got some nice wins against Top 30-40 teams, but struggle a bit when they get into the Top 10-15 range. Stefan Frantti and Dominic Rossi have been sensational for the Highlanders and if they knock off the Bulldogs in impressive fashion, ears around the state should perk up. Brighton has won the last six consecutive meetings between these two Livingston County neighbors and the Bulldogs haven’t lost in this series since Dec. 3, 2014. I like Brighton’s ability to have a good game plan, and think they could neutralize Howell’s top threats. If the Highlanders end the drought, it’ll be secondary contributors like Brent Wolf and Steven Miller getting the job done.

PREDICTION

#18 Howell

1

#16 Brighton

4

 

Detroit Catholic Central vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

Friday, January 24th at 7:30 p.m.

BREAKDOWN: The Shamrocks won 6-0 when these two squared off two weeks ago, and OLSM hasn’t pulled off a win over a higher ranked opponent since they defeated Brighton back in November. The Eaglets’ top line can skate with CC; Krys Petryla, Chris Dundas and Matt Kuphal will generate opportunities but the Shamrocks have so much depth and they’ve added to it by getting Brendan Miles back as well. I could see OLSM strike early in this one and hang onto a lead for some time, but CC ultimately overwhelms them and takes the rematch convincingly.

PREDICTION

#20 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

1

#1 Detroit Catholic Central

5


 

Grosse Pointe South vs. Marquette

Saturday, January 25th at 1:00 p.m.

BREAKDOWN: The Redmen haven’t lost in regulation since Nov. 26th, and they are 10-2-0 since that date. They’re a scary squad that I’ve got on my radar for the postseason push, and Gaetano Cammarata and Jakob Peterson are good enough to produce against anybody. South is in that same boat for me too as a potential favorite to win a State Title in their respective division, so this matchup is a real tough one. I tip the scales in the Blue Devils’ favor when it comes to depth and I really like their top line. I know they’re super close in the rankings but I think Marquette winning here would be a pretty significant upset and cement themselves as one of the top teams. Give me the Redmen in a stunner.

PREDICTION

#9 Marquette

4

#6 Grosse Pointe South

2

 

U-D Jesuit vs. Detroit Catholic Central

Saturday, January 25th at 4:30 p.m.

BREAKDOWN: It’ll be the Shamrocks’ third Top-25 matchup just this week — and eighth in a row — and I picked them to win their first two, so what are expectations for the last one? Well, U-D got shut out in the first meeting 2-0, and they’ve been a little wishy-washy since Christmas. One minute, they’re shutting out No. 14 Houghton and rolling No. 16 Brighton, the next, they’re getting shut down by No. 3 Stevenson and No. 5 Hartland. The Cubs can keep it close with CC, especially with it being the Shamrocks’ third game in four days. Watch U-D get out to a lead in this one, maybe 2-0 or 3-1 heading into the third before the Shamrocks come back and close out the weekend with a come-from-behind win. 

PREDICTION

#1 Detroit Catholic Central

5

#12 U-D Jesuit

2

 

Trenton vs. Brother Rice

Saturday, January 25th at 7:30 p.m.

BREAKDOWN: The first, but might not be the last meeting between these D-II teams, as we could be looking at a potential State Final preview here. The Trojans are 10-1-1 in their last 12, with the lone loss being a 2-1 decision to No. 3 Stevenson. Rice may have the best line in this matchup with Ryan Murphy, D.J. Dixon and Nick Marone, but I like Trenton’s depth scoring and senior Joey Cormier is good enough between the pipes to neutralize anyone’s top line. If Rice falls to CC earlier in the week like I think, then I’d expect them to bounce back in a big way, motivated to top Trenton on Saturday.

PREDICTION

#2 Brother Rice

2

#4 Trenton

1


Alright, alright, alright. I’m making predictions based on other predictions. I've gone too far! There’s a ton of great games, and regardless of outcome, it’ll make for some exciting hockey. Time to pump the brakes and see how the upper echelon of MI-HS shakes out over the next couple days. Be sure to tell me who you think stands out in these Top-25 tilts on Twitter.