Gladwin’s first season in the Mid-Michigan Hockey Conference came up just short, losing to eventual champion Tri-Valley Thunder 2-0 and 2-1 on two separate occasions. This proved to be the difference, as the Flying Gs finished just behind the undefeated Thunder in the conference standings, narrowly missing out on a title in Year 1.

Despite coming up just short, Gladwin was the third-highest scoring offense in the state, averaging 5.84 goals scored per game. And they could return as many as 16 players from last season’s squad that won 19 games and made a Division-III regional championship appearance.

Tri-Valley’s defensive group is strong, though, returning a pair of key contributors in Max Miller and Jake Rau. The duo accounted for 20 goals and 58 points from the back end and should continue to anchor the team’s offensive efforts. Only problem is, both goaltenders graduated last spring, leaving major question marks in goal for Tri-Valley.

Thumb Area Legion, FNV and Tawas all finished outside the Top 100 in the state, according to MyHockeyRankings. What would it take for one of these programs to rise as a contender in the MMHC and challenge either of the previously mentioned top teams?

CONFERENCE FAST FACTS:

There has been a different conference champion each of the last four seasons. 

Gladwin was the highest-ranked team in the state at 64th overall.

As many as seven of the top 10 scorers in the league from last season could return again this winter.

There were only three senior goalies to play in the league last season, two of them played for champion Tri-Valley.

Last Season’s Champion: Tri-Valley Thunder

Undefeated in conference play in ‘24-25, Tri-Valley outscored opponents 59-17 in eight games. I expect the rest of the pack to close the gap significantly this winter, though, even with TVT returning to cornerstone defensemen. Max Miller finished second on the team in points, with 10 goals and 22 assists. Jake Rau — a standout prospect this fall with Michigan Hockey Advancement (MHA) — enters his third season with 50 career points at the varsity level as well. But as I mentioned earlier, the Thunder have a big hole to fill in net and Gladwin is nipping at their heels. Not to mention, if Thumb Area can build around key returners Peyton Bowerman and Chase Talaski — who finished second and third in the conference in scoring — they could become a factor in the conference championship race as well.

Returning Players to Watch

Peyton Bowerman, Thumb Area Senior Forward

Averaging nearly a point and a half per game during his varsity career. Bowerman has led Thumb Area in scoring each of the last two seasons and will certainly have to do it again if they are to build upon their seven-win campaign from ‘24-25. 

Clayton Newman, Gladwin Senior Forward

27 of Newman’s 34 points last season came after the New Year. Things really started to click for the 2008-born prospect in the second half and I could see that rolling over into his senior season for the Flying Gs.

Braeden Guzman, Gladwin Senior Forward

Guzman scores in bunches, producing three-point games six times last season alone. Between him, Newman and Jeff Zeitz, Gladwin will have a formidable three-headed attack offensively that could once again put up big numbers.

Max Miller, Tri-Valley Junior Defenseman

A 2009-born prospect, Miller has 15 career goals and 47 points in two seasons with the Thunder. He may double those totals as a junior this winter with TVT rebuilding a bit and needing more offense out of its top guys. 

Jake Rau, Tri-Valley Junior Defenseman

Still just a junior, Rau has 48 career games under his belt in addition to three fall seasons with MHA. Rau is a big, long defenseman who’s played at a level no one else in the conference has seen before. He could put Tri-Valley — and the MMHC — on the map with a big season.

Preston Willert, Gladwin Senior Goalie

The three-year senior appeared in all 27 games for Gladwin last season, posting a 19-7-1 record with six shutouts. Three of those shutouts came in non-conference games, which is where I think Willert has the most to prove. He’s cemented himself as the best in the conference, but where does that put him amongst others around the state?

Petey’s Prediction: Gladwin

This was a high-powered offense that was fun to watch in ‘24-25. I expect much of that to carry over to this season with guys like Braeden Guzman, Clayton Newman and Jeff Zeitz back for their senior year. Each scored at least 10 goals, and with the departure of Isaac Wheeler, there’s plenty more opport

unity for this trio to go around. The conference should once again come down to Tri-Valley and Gladwin, but I think the Flying Gs only need to win one of those matchups to secure a title. Rau and Miller may be the two best players in the conference, but TVT as a whole could struggle, with an unexpected slip up at the hands of Tawas, Thumb Area or FNV. If that happens, it would make be awfully hard to keep pace with Gladwin in the standings.

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