All-Sophomore Team Selections
Some of the best players in Michigan high school hockey from the Class of 2026
Craig Peterson
March 14, 2024
There was certainly no 'sophomore slump' for these top performers from the Class of 2026. Some led their teams in scoring. Others already sporting leadership letters on their jerseys. All of them impressive well beyond their years of experience. Twenty-five players from 21 different Michigan high school hockey programs across the state represent this season's All-Sophomore Team.
My criteria for the All-Sophomore Team:
- Overall skill, ability and potential
- Impact and role they played to their respective team
- Performance and production
FORWARDS
Jake Pietila
L | 2008 | Hartland
Gabriel Polyviou
L | 2007 | Trenton
Jack Sayen
R | 2008 | Houghton
Gavin Winterstein
L | 2008 | Alpena
Tommy Marinoff
L | 2007 | Northville
Jake Pietila
L | 2008 | Hartland
Gabriel Polyviou
L | 2007 | Trenton
Jack Sayen
R | 2008 | Houghton
Gavin Winterstein
L | 2008 | Alpena
Tommy Marinoff
L | 2007 | Northville
Graham Johnson
L | 2007 | Escanaba
Graham Peters
R | 2008 | TC Central
Ben Mielock
L | 2007 | FHC
Chase Potter
R | 2007 | Cap City
Cam Staskowski
L | 2008 | Chippewa Valley
Graham Johnson
L | 2007 | Escanaba
Graham Peters
R | 2008 | TC Central
Ben Mielock
L | 2007 | FHC
Chase Potter
R | 2007 | Cap City
Cam Staskowski
L | 2008 | Chippewa Valley
Brooks Rogowski
R | 2007 | DCC
Connor Arko
R | 2008 | Houghton
Ayden Cook
R | 2007 | Flint Powers
Cam Gagnon
R | 2008 | Sault Ste. Marie
Brooks Rogowski
R | 2007 | DCC
Connor Arko
R | 2008 | Houghton
Ayden Cook
R | 2007 | Flint Powers
Cam Gagnon
R | 2008 | Sault Ste. Marie
Detroit Catholic Central Forward Brooks Rogowski
The first sophomore to lead the Shamrocks in scoring in at least 30 years. Given his size (6-foot-4 and 190 lbs), speed and skill, Brooks Rogowski is already one of the top prospects in Michigan high school hockey, with two years of eligibility remaining.
Escanaba Forward Graham Johnson
Plays with incredible pace and is extremely effective in the offensive zone. Graham Johnson was Escanaba’s top-line center, scoring 27 goals and 50 points. He is dangerous off the rush, attacking with speed through the neutral zone and letting off a heavy wrist shot.
Houghton Forward Connor Arko
A really solid skater with a great first burst into the play. Connor Arko is smooth with the puck on his stick as well, with an ability to create space and make plays. His 37 points were second on the team that played a Top 10 strength of schedule.
Hartland Forward Jake Pietila
The first sophomore in program history to lead Hartland in goals (20) and points (28) in a season. At one point, Jake Pietila scored in seven consecutive games for the Eagles, with 12 of those 20 goals coming against Top-25 teams. He’s got good size, plays with pace and possesses a heavy shot.
Traverse City Central Forward Graham Peters
Very high hockey IQ and overall understanding of the game. Can play every position and do it effectively. Graham Peters has good puck skills and has a high value on possession; rarely throws pucks away. Led Traverse City Central in scoring with 26 points.
Trenton Forward Gabriel Polyviou
Explosive and shifty. Gabriel Polyviou has an ability to change directions on a dime and attack with speed. His footwork is great, and he puts himself in a position to create offense on his own. Nine goals and 20 points, with six multi-point games.
Houghton Forward Jack Sayen
Jack Sayen is a very crafty player with the puck on his stick. He’s solid on his feet and very fluid with possession, difficult for defenders to separate from the puck. He played a pivotal role in the middle of the Houghton lineup, with six goals and 15 points.
Forest Hills Central Forward Ben Mielock
Scored points in 17-of-27 games to lead Forest Hills Central in scoring with 31 points. Ben Mielock plays fast, and can operate at that pace as well. He can get up and down the ice with anyone, moving pucks and making plays without breaking stride.
Sault Ste. Marie Forward Cam Gagnon
Good size for the age group and his feet never stop moving. Cam Gagnon is a buzzsaw on the forecheck and a constant threat without the puck. He’s very busy in the offensive zone, regularly getting his momentum moving towards the net, in scoring position.
Flint Powers Forward Ayden Cook
His 47 points this season ranked fourth among sophomores in the state. Ayden Cook went a six-game stretch with multiple points in each outing. He’s a busy player, creating several opportunities on a single shift. Very tough to contain when attacking off the rush.
Cap City Forward Chase Potter
In his first season with the program, Chase Potter led Cap City in scoring with 18 goals and 41 points. He’s go very quick hands and feet, and was a do-it-all type forward for the Caps. He factored in on 54.7 percent of the team’s offense this season.
Alpena Forward Gavin Winterstein
A big-bodied power forward who’s really strong and heavy to play against along the walls. Gavin Winterstein scored 10 goals and 34 points this season, with 19 of them coming in the final 11 games down the stretch.
Northville Forward Tommy Marinoff
Led Northville in scoring with 35 points this season. Tommy Marinoff has a really high compete level, willing to engage in puck battles and compete in spite of his 5-foot-9 frame. After scoring just six points in the first month of the season Marinoff produced 18 points in the final month.
Chippewa Valley United Forward Cam Staskowski
One of the hardest working forwards in the Class of 2026. Playing center, Cam Staskowski is engaged in the play all over the ice. In his first varsity game, Staskowski scored a hat trick against Utica Eisenhower, and finished the season with 47 points.
DEFENSE
Luke Miller
L | 2008 | Alpena
Nolan Bink
L | 2007 | Escanaba
Hunter Turkstra
L | 2008 | West Ottawa
Brady Brink
L | 2007 | Farmington United
Luke Miller
L | 2008 | Alpena
Nolan Bink
L | 2007 | Escanaba
Hunter Turkstra
L | 2008 | West Ottawa
Brady Brink
L | 2007 | Farmington United
Todd Kilpela
R | 2008 | Hancock
Colin Stroble
R | 2007 | Stevenson
Chad Pietila
R | 2007 | Howell
Kyle Moyer
R | 2008 | Marquette
Todd Kilpela
R | 2008 | Hancock
Colin Stroble
R | 2007 | Stevenson
Chad Pietila
R | 2007 | Howell
Kyle Moyer
R | 2008 | Marquette
Alpena Defenseman Luke Miller
One of the smoothest skating defensemen in the Class of 2026. Luke Miller has a much more mature playing style than his 2008 birth year would suggest. Scored eight goals and 24 points from the blue line for Alpena this season.
Hancock Defenseman Todd Kilpela
Potentially the best sophomore prospect in Michigan high school hockey. Todd Kilpela’s skating ability, hockey IQ and puck skills are next level. He led Hancock in scoring with 32 points this season, and defends as well as, if not better than, he produces offensively.
Escanaba Defenseman Nolan Bink
So many puck touches. Nolan Bink always seemed to have possession and a chance to make a play whenever he was on the ice for Escanaba. With the game in his hands regularly, Bink scored eight goals and 34 points this season.
Livonia Stevenson Defenseman Colin Stroble
Colin Stroble is as dependable for a first-pass defenseman as they come. He values the six- and eight-foot passes, avoiding the Hail Mary-type plays. If Stroble is on the ice with the puck on his stick, the play is in good hands. Twenty points in 22 games this season.
West Ottawa Defenseman Hunter Turkstra
A big, physical presence on the back end that also keeps pace with the play. Hunter Turkstra can flash an offensive ability too, with a good understanding of how to find the soft areas in the ice. Five goals and 14 points, with eight of them coming in the final two weeks of the season.
Howell Defenseman Chad Pietila
One of the better one-on-one defenders in the Class of 2026, as Chad Pietila is very tough for attacking forwards to get around. He led Howell’s blue line in scoring with 25 points in 28 games, is an efficient skater and a responsible puck mover.
Farmington United Defenseman Brady Brink
Led all sophomores in scoring with 57 points in 25 games this season. Brady Brink is the highest scoring active player in the Class of 2026, and did so from the blue line. He’s got good size at 6-foot-1, with a knack for producing offense.
Marquette Defenseman Kyle Moyer
Four points in the first month of the season, but put up 15 points after the New Year. Kyle Moyer got hot for Marquette as the season wore on, becoming their top defender and nearly leading the team in points. Not a flashy playmaker, but a dependable D that puts pucks where they need to go.
GOALIES
Cully Hayes
L | 2008 | Escanaba
Brady Damian
L | 2008 | Clarkston
Tyler Boynton-Fisher
L | 2008 | Bay Reps
Cully Hayes
L | 2008 | Escanaba
Brady Damian
L | 2008 | Clarkston
Tyler Boynton-Fisher
L | 2008 | Bay Reps
Escanaba Goalie Cully Hayes
Faced 30 or more shots in 15 games this season. If you judge Cully Hayes based off of his 3.56 goals-against average and .880 save percentage, you’re gonna be wrong. He’s got good size, he’s very athletic and his movements are crisp. Not many sophomores possess his skill set.
Clarkston Goalie Brady Damian
Earned wins over six teams ranked in the Top 25 this season. Brady Damian has good footwork, challenges the initial shot well and then manages his rebound efficiently. His 1.82 goals-against average was the second lowest among sophomore goalies with 15 or more starts.
Bay Reps Goalie Tyler Boynton-Fisher
A high compete level with a calm demeanor. Tyler Boynton-Fisher backstopped the Bay Reps to a 16-9-2 record and a Final Four appearance this season. He’s athletic, good on this initial shot and battles well on scramble plays and secondary attempts. Never completely out of the play.
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