For the second time in three seasons, the Metro League will be adding a new member. Gibraltar Carlson joined the fray prior to the ‘22-23 season, and now 24 months later, Jackson Lumen Christi will embark on its maiden voyage through the Metro this winter. The Titans are coming off of a 20-win season and a league championship from where they were previously a member of the South Central Hockey League (SCHL). They graduated just three seniors from that team, and return one of the best goalies in the state, in Zach Jaakkola. Lumen comes into the Metro and becomes an instant contender in a league with Top-25 teams, Regional Champions, Final Four attendees and State Champions. It’s a big step up in league competition, but the Titans should fit right in.

Last Season’s Champion: Riverview Gabriel Richard, Grosse Ile

Riverview Gabriel Richard won the East Division for the third year in a row. Last season’s race proved to be one of the closest in recent memory, with four teams finishing within two points of each other at the top.

Grosse Ile had arguably its best season as a program since winning a Regional Championship in 2011. The Red Devils went 23-4-0 with a 10-0-0 record in the Metro West Division. Fisher Gurney, Tate Hubler and Adalar Hovis finished one, two and three in the league in points. The first two have departed the team by way of graduation, as have seven other seniors from that team including starting goalie Wyatt Thompson. Hovis is a nice, young talent, just now entering his sophomore season. But Grosse Ile will have to add pieces around him in order to build off of last season’s historic campaign. It’s a young team with many of its key returners still being underclassmen this winter. A division that was dominated by the Red Devils in ‘23-24 may very well be wide open 12 months later.

Returning Players to Watch

Rylan Crozier, Country Day Senior Forward

Crozier shows flashes of having a higher gear, making some high-level plays at top speed. The 6-foot forward scored 24 points in 25 games as a first-year player for the Yellowjackets, and may be the team’s go-to guy after graduating their top four scorers from last season.

Adalar Hovis, Grosse Ile Sophomore Forward

A little buzzsaw with a nose for the net. Hovis has a knack for getting to the scoring areas and the puck seems to always find him. With the departure of Gurney and Hubler, though, Hovis may have to be the one creating opportunities for himself and others. 

Braeden McNamara, Divine Child Senior Forward

Led the Falcons in scoring for the second time in his varsity career last winter. McNamara looked dangerous at Michigan Developmental Hockey League (MDHL) tryouts this fall, and senior season may be his best performance yet. 

Alex Hoerle, Allen Park Junior Defenseman

Hoerle is offensive minded with good footwork, and very comfortable with the puck on his stick. I love the way he pushes the back end and joins the rush. Seven goals and 19 points from the blue line as a sophomore last season. 

Easton Husak, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard Senior Defenseman

A two-year captain for the Irish, Husak will anchor a defensive unit that lost three players to graduation. Having the four-year righty back on the blue line should provide a huge sense of stability, with 77 career games and 51 points under his belt.

Zach Jaakkola, Lumen Christi Senior Goalie

One of the best goalies in Michigan high school hockey heading into the season. Jaakkola has a 37-13-1 career record with a .930 save percentage. In addition to that, he was one of the best goalies in the MDHL this fall, playing on their tournament team as well.

Petey’s Prediction: Country Day, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard

Country Day hasn’t won a Metro League Division championship since the COVID-shortened season of ‘20-21. That could have changed last winter, had they been victorious in a 4-3 loss to Riverview Gabriel Richard in the final games of the season. The Jackets came up just short in a race where four teams had a legitimate chance at winning a title right down to the final days of the regular season. DCD graduated a lot; eight seniors including the top four scorers and starting goalie. But Coach Frank Novock is no stranger to reloading. Forwards Rylan Crozier and Ryder Novock are a good place to start, plus, junior Bonner Upshaw appeared in 13 games last season as well. 

Riverview Gabriel Richard has left the Metro League, and Allen Park incurred a few significant losses in terms of graduation and other departures. University Liggett could factor into the equation, with top scorer Gary Stacey set to return. The East Division, though, just feels like it runs through Country Day first.

In the West, newbies Lumen Christi should be a major player right out of the gate. Great goaltending is the ultimate equalizer at any level of hockey, especially high school. No one else in the division has it to the level at which the Titans do. I do believe Ann Arbor Pioneer is trending in a positive direction and could build off of its 5-4-1 outing last season. And Divine Child may have the best forward in the league with Braeden McNamara, coupled with his younger brother Brody McNamara up front. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard is the front-runner here, even after losing three of its top four scorers and No. 1 goalie. Wyatt Emmett has really elevated his game this fall with Michigan Hockey Advancement (MHA) and should make for a strong tandem alongside Ryan Naughton. That duo coupled with Easton Husak on the back end, and you’d be hard pressed to find another Metro League team with that many proven prospects coming back.
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