Senior goaltender Cully Hayes has played 80 games behind senior defenseman Nolan Bink who played 80 games behind senior forward Graham Johnson. Add in fellow classmates Owen LaBonte and Ben Sands, and you’ve got a core group of Escanaba hockey players that have been together for a long time and played a lot of games together. 

But even with that much continuity over the course of almost 100 games, the Eskymos have yet to win a Great Lakes Conference title over that span. They’ve actually never finished higher than third in the standings. 

That changes this season. 

I’ve been saying for a few years now, this Escanaba team was going to be dangerous, considering the weapons they have. But what was holding Hayes and Bink and Johnson back the last few seasons was depth. Not necessarily depth in talent, but just depth in numbers! Two years ago, I recall watching the Eskymos play a game in Traverse City with 13 skaters. My men’s league team had more bodies on the bench last Sunday. 

Like most things in life, it’s a process. While Coach Andy Johnson had cornerstone, foundational players to build upon, the other pieces of the puzzle needed time to come together. Consider sophomore Nick Martinson, who was a 10-10-20 guy last season in his first year of varsity hockey. He’s now primed for a breakout campaign. Same can be said for 2010-born prospect Griffin Johnson, who could anchor the team’s defensive efforts alongside Bink this season.

It’s no longer just the three-headed monster for Escanaba. There’s plenty of weapons and prospects that have been built up around Hayes, Bink and Johnson, set to crescendo over the coming months. It’s going to be a dogfight in the GLC, but this is certainly the Eskymos’ best chance at a conference title in almost a decade. 

Last Season’s Champion: Jeffers

Jeffers took Michigan high school hockey by storm last season, and the Great Lakes Conference had to pay the price for it. The Jets went 9-1-0 in conference play, and a 24-5-0 record overall that took them all the way to the Division-III state semifinals. A senior-heavy class out-scored GLC opponents by a 3-to-1 margin, but senior scorers Brit Heinonen, Benton Rajala and Cody Turner won’t be back for the Jets this season. That leaves a heavy torch to carry for Senior Brogan Turner and sophomore Max Nordstrom. 

I expect the Jets to continue some level of statewide success, considering some of the key returners like Turner, Nordstrom, Griffin Heinonen and goalie Kasen Helminen. But repeating as champs will be a tough task in a conference with plenty of parity. 

Returning Players to Watch

Graham Johnson, Escanaba Senior Forward

He is dynamic and dangerous with the puck on his stick. No active player in high school hockey has more points at the varsity level than Johnson ahead of the ‘25-26 season. I expect him to be at or near the top list of producers one final time this winter. 

Nathan Londo, Calumet Senior Forward

The Copper Kings have no shortage of offensive threats at their disposal this season. Londo led the team in goals last winter, playing fast with a heavy shot off the rush. He’s got the size, speed and ability to be a very dangerous goal scorer.

Brody Sheldon, Marquette Senior Forward

Sheldon will spearhead a Sentinel offense that I love, with talented skaters like Seth Sandstrom, Brody LeMire and Lucas Belkowski, to name a few. Sheldon is relentless on a forecheck, and that effort leads to production with 17 goals and 31 points as a junior. 

Nolan Bink, Escanaba Senior Defenseman

Arguably the best defenseman in the state, and I don’t know if enough people are talking about him. Bink is so smooth, calm and fluid with the puck on his stick and he makes such smart plays with the game in his hands. Looking for a fourth straight 30-point season as a senior.

Griffin Heinonen, Jeffers Sophomore Defenseman

Heinonen and Class of 2028 classmate Blake Heltunen anchored the Jets defensive unit last season as freshmen. Look for both of them to make significant jumps in their development in Year 2, with Heinonen expanding on his six goals and 21 points. 

Cully Hayes, Escanaba Senior Goalie

No one in high school hockey has seen more games between the pipes than Hayes right now. He’s experienced, athletic, moves very well and has seen a ton of action. Look beyond the numbers with Hayes because there’s a lot more to his game than stats. 

Petey’s Prediction: Marquette

It’s gonna be an absolute rock fight in the U.P. this season. Your GLC champ should have multiple conference losses on their record when all is said and done. I expect defending champ Jeffers to have a hand in the outcome, along with the aforementioned Eskymos and Calumet too, for good measure. But there’s just something about the way coach Doug Garrow’s team plays, and how they grind their way through the regular season. No one is battle tested quite like the Sentinels. Jeffers has the throne, Escanaba has the stars, Calumet has the depth but Marquette is gritty and tough, and built for the gauntlet that will be the GLC this season.

Check out Petey’s Picks on Instagram for complete conference standings projections!