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A group of coaches from the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches’ Association (MHSHCA), collaborate to produce Top-10 Rankings during the regular season. Representatives from around the state submit their ballots —  on a bi-weekly basis until Jan. 1, and a weekly basis after the New Year — to rank the top 10 teams at the Division-I, Division-II and Division-III levels. Additionally, a Super 10 is assembled, ranking the top 10 teams in the state overall. 

The latest rankings have been posted, and here are some of the most notable changes in this update:

Romeo, M-1 United, Hartland all on the move in in Division-I

After a 5-0 win over Brighton on Saturday, Hartland leap-frogged both the Bulldogs and Clarkston to slide into the No. 2 spot behind Detroit Catholic Central. The Eagles have won five of their last seven games, with goalies Brady Hubenschmidt and Gaige Deuigenio doing much of the heavy lifting in net. A 10-1-0 start for Romeo has landed them in the Top 10 for the first time. After suffering its only loss of the season to Orchard Lake White, Romeo went on another winning streak with victories over Rockford, Stoney Creek and L’Anse Creuse Unified. They’re slotted just behind No. 8 M-1 United, who just had its undefeated streak snap over the weekend, with a 4-3 loss to Liggett.

Byron Center takes over the top spot in Division-II

Out to a 10-0-0 start to the season, Byron Center is undefeated heading into the holiday break for the second year in a row. Not only that, but the Bulldogs have picked up wins over ranked opponents such as Livonia Stevenson, East Grand Rapids, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Grand Rapids Catholic Central along the way. After losing three of its first four games of the season, White Lake Lakeland has strung together six straight wins to move itself into the Top 10 for the first time. Only one game — Tuesday against Fenton-Linden — stands between the Eagles carrying an active win streak into the New Year.

The only undefeated team left in Division-III is Houghton

Bay Reps dropped two games on consecutive weekends, while GRCC — who lost to the Bay Reps — also lost a second game to Byron Center on Saturday. That leaves Houghton as the only undefeated team in Division-III, with a deathlock on the top spot. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s may not be too far behind, though. Its losses are to the No. 1 team in D-I (Detroit Catholic Central) and the No. 1 team in D-II (Byron Center). The Eaglets are the only team this season to have played every in-state game on their schedule against a ranked opponent. 

Trenton debuts in the Super 10 for the first time

Hartland made the biggest jump of any rankings, climbing up five spots in the Super 10. Byron Center and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s also made moves north. No. 9 Trenton is the only new face to Super 10 this week, though, after the Trojans went 4-0-0 since the last update. Wins over Cranbrook, Stevenson, Riverview Gabriel Richard and U of D Jesuit pushed Trenton into the Super 10 heading into the New Year.