Each year, it seems there’s one team on the Eastside that separates itself from the pack in the Macomb Activities Conference (MAC). Last season, it was Utica Eisenhower — in the midst of back-to-back MAC championship runs — that went on to the Division-I Final Four. Before that, Romeo won 19 games going all the way to the state tournament rounds in the ‘23-24 season. And the prior season, Chippewa Valley United made history with the program’s first 20-win campaign. 

Four years later, CVU looks poised to reclaim the throne atop the MAC. Key returners at all three levels of the lineup; Forwards Caileb Peterson and Cooper Jones combined to score 32 goals and 73 points. Plus, defenseman Colby Staskowski enters his sophomore season after being a point-per-game guy as a rookie. To top it all off, a pair of returning goalies in Croft Rosales and Colin Vanvallis who combined for 15 starts and 10 wins last season.

Experience has been a key characteristic of top MAC teams. Last season’s champion had 13 returning players from the prior season. ‘23-24 champion Romeo returned 14 Bulldogs from the previous season. It’s not complex, nor surprising. Experience goes a long way at the Michigan high school hockey level. Chip Valley returns 13 in total, with six up front, five on the back and and two in goal. Couple that with expected newcomers like Hunter Fleming, Gavin Pranito, Logan Baecke and Dominic Savich, and CVU is primed to be the heavy favorite in MAC action.

Last Season’s Champion: Utica Eisenhower, Marysville

Utica Eisenhower’s dream run last season was a Cinderella story for a senior-laden group that went on a 24-win run to the D-I Final Four; the Eagles’ first appearance at USA Hockey Arena in 20 years. I’m afraid that story has come to an end, at least for the time being. The team’s top four scorers — and starting goalie — have all graduated. That’s 75 percent of all goals scored last season by Eagles skaters and nearly 1,000 minutes between the pipes. 

Marysville, on the other hand, has been promoted to the MAC’s Red Division after winning the White Division championship last winter. The Vikings join the fray with the aforementioned Utica Eisenhower and Chippewa Valley, as well as St. Clair Shores Unified and Romeo. Marysville went 1-3-0 against these opponents last season. They do return key contributors in Parker Sheffer and Brady Nolfo; a pair of prospects who were both named to Team Michigan this past spring. 

Returning Players to Watch

Finn Aprea, Anchor Bay Junior Forward

He scored 25 goals and 40 points in his first season of varsity hockey last winter. Finn Aprea is key to the Tars’ success, having scored in all but one of the team’s nine wins last season. 

Parker Sheffer, Marysville Junior Forward

Fourteen of Parker Sheffer’s 39 points last season came on special teams. He played in all facets of the game as a sophomore, and that role will only expand from here after the departures of Austin O’Boyle and Luke Thick.

Joe Tringali, L’anse Creuse Unified Senior Forward

Really took off in his second season with LCU, leading the team in scoring with 19 goals and 42 points as a junior. One year later, Joe Tringali looks poised to be one of the best forwards in the MAC as a senior.

Brady Nolfo, Marysville Senior Defenseman

A compact, smooth skating defender who’s been a top prospect in high school hockey for two seasons now. It’s great to see Brady Nolfo get some well deserved recognition after playing for Team Michigan this spring.

Weston Szudarek, Utica Eisenhower Senior Defenseman

Never been a high-volume guy in his four-year career, with a career high of just 13 points. However, the Eagles will absolutely rely on Szudarek — and others — to take a significant step in production after graduating a group of impactful seniors. 

Salvatore Previti, Romeo Senior Goalie

He’s had a strong showing this fall in the Michigan Developmental Hockey League (MDHL), after winning seven games last season. Salvatore Previti and classmate Nathan Smith may be the best goaltending tandem in the MAC. 

Petey’s Prediction: Chippewa Valley United and Utica Unified

While I don’t expect Ike to three-peat as MAC Red champs, I also don’t see them getting steamrolled either. Returners Ryan Dex, Zach Morrison and A.J. Hosu still makes the Eagles a tough out for most opponents in the conference. Couple that with Romeo’s goaltending tandem, Marysville’s top prospects and St. Clair Shores coming off a 20-win season. A road back to the throne may not be an easy one for Chip Valley, even if they are adding a pair of AAA prospects to the lineup in Fleming and Baecke. 

In the White Division, Utica Unified may find itself in a race with LCU. L’anse Creuse has its own one-two punch as well with forward Tringali and Ethan Shrilla on defense. I’m buying stock in Utica early though — big fan of the now graduated Alexander Gorgievski — as younger brother Aiden Gorgievski comes over from AAA, along with Emerson Stanczak and Connor Lane. Factor in the returns of leading scorer Lucas Beels and Nate Sheridan, and Utica could be in for a historic season for the program. 

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