We’ve turned the calendar to a new year, and as the page reads ‘2024’ so comes new changes to the Michigan high school hockey coaches’ poll. 

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:

Plymouth enters the Division-I Top 10

Since the last rankings update, Plymouth is 1-1-0, improving its overall record to 7-6-0 on the season. Friday’s 4-2 win over No. 8-ranked M-1 United may be the Wildcats’ biggest performance to date, and it was enough to catapult them into Top-10 consideration. Additionally, four of the six losses have been by just one goal, and the other two games by just two goals. Plymouth has been a tough team to play against all season long. The rest of the Division-I Top 10 remains unchanged, with Detroit Catholic Central at the top.

Lakeland moves up, Port Huron Northern cracks the Top 10 in Division-II

Senior goaltender Paul Baker has played every minute of action for White Lake Lakeland, backstopping the team to a 9-3-1 record. He has a 1.94 goals-against average and .921 save percentage, and made 32 saves in a 3-0 shutout of Chippewa Valley United on Saturday. The Eagles have also played ranked teams tough, like D-III No. 10 Sault Ste. Marie (4-1 loss) and D-II No. 2 Trenton (3-2 loss). Since those losses, though, Lakeland has on a nine-game unbeaten streak. Port Huron Northern slid into the Top-10 picture for the first time this season. The Huskies are 2-2-0 since the last rankings update with wins over Marysville and Divine Child. They also played No. 5 De La Salle and No. 3 U of D Jesuit tough in close games. PHN is now 8-4-0 this season.

The biggest mover in D-III is East Grand Rapids, up two spots

East Grand Rapids has played just one game since the last rankings update, but that one game was a 5-2 win over previously No. 5-ranked Flint Powers. Ian MacKeigan’s hat trick propelled the Pioneers ahead of Powers and into the No. 4 spot, while the Chargers dropped three spots to eighth. MacKeigan leads EGR in scoring with 10 goals and 19 points, and the team has won six of its last seven games. East will play three games over the next five days, and six games before the end of the month to wrap up a busy January. Jackson Lumen Christi doubled its amount of total games played since the last rankings update. They’re on a four-game winning streak, and winners of six of the last seven. Saturday’s 3-2 win over No. 7-ranked Grand Rapids Catholic Central being their biggest win of the season thus far. Zach Jaakkola made 39 saves in that game, while three different goal scorers found the back of the net. 

OLSM and Brighton trade spots in Super 10

Despite falling 3-2 to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s back in November, Brighton leap-frogged the Eaglets in the Super 10 after going through a 2-1-0 stretch. The Bulldogs thumped No. 10 Howell 4-0 in a heated rivalry game prior to winter break, and followed that up with a 1-1 split in the upper peninsula with Hancock and Calumet. OLSM is on a slight skid, winless in its last three outings. All three of those games were MIHL matchups against ranked opponents, and their next five games will come against Top-10 teams as well. Trenton also swapped spots with No. 9 Bay Reps. The Trojans are on a six-game winning streak, including a 4-3 win over Livonia Stevenson and 3-2 win over U of D Jesuit.