Games of the Week
Week 1 Games highlighted by three Top-25 Matchups
Craig Peterson
November 11, 2024
We’ve gone 247 days without Michigan High School Hockey, but as of Monday, we are officially BACK! Tawas travels to Wexford County Civic Arena to take on Cadillac at 4 p.m., in what is unofficially the first game of the 2024-25 season; the second year in a row these two teams kicked off the calendar.
There’s going to be a ton of great games throughout the season, and I’m here to highlight as many of the key matchups as possible. Top-25 games, rivalry meetings, competitively balanced matchups, showcases, tournaments and more. Not only will I offer up analysis and predictions for these games, but I challenge you to make your picks and play along below as well. Let’s have some fun.
#6 Livonia Stevenson at #1 Detroit Catholic Central
Thursday, Nov. 14th, 7:30 p.m. at USA Hockey Arena
I expect the Spartans to make this a very competitive game. It’s an experienced bunch that’ll require a pretty short runway when it comes to implementing systems and special teams philosophies. Stevenson will hit the ground running against a CC team replacing virtually its entire roster from a season ago. It’ll be a 3-1, 3-0 type of game that the Spartans will keep close by condensing things in the D-zone and limiting opportunities. But ultimately, Catholic Central’s wealth of pure talent will eventually prevail and wear down a disciplined and calculated Spartans effort.
Petey’s Pick: Detroit Catholic Central
#5 Houghton vs. Hancock
Thursday, Nov. 14th, 7 p.m. at Houghton County Arena
At face value, this seems one-sided. Houghton on the heels of a Final Four appearance, returning key prospects like Connor Arko and Jace DeForge. Hancock is 0 for its last 18 in this rivalry game; Nov. 28, 2018 is the last time the Bulldogs beat the Gremlins in the regular season. They also graduated nine seniors, and the team’s top scorer has also departed. Logic suggests Houghton runs away with it, but this is a rivalry game! Hancock played the superior Gremlins tough not once, not twice but three times last season. The Bulldogs are knocking on the door. Tevin Stukel, Jackson Sintkowski, Brady Axford… These guys are going to break through eventually. Is today the day? Not yet.
Petey’s Pick: Houghton
#10 Brother Rice vs. #13 Marquette
Friday, Nov. 15th, 6 p.m. at Oak Park Ice Arena
For the fourth year in a row, Marquette opens the season with a road trip downstate to take on the Warriors. They’ve traveled 449 miles each of the last two years to open their seasons with an ‘L’ at the hands of Rice. That doesn’t happen a third time. The Sentinels come in four lines deep, with wave after wave of buzzsaws in Brody Sheldon, Connor Stade and Seth Sandstrom — to name a few — that wear down Rice and take this game to the tune of 4-2.
Petey’s Pick: Marquette
Sparta vs. Bay City
Friday, Nov. 15th, 7 p.m. at Bay County Civic Arena
Sparta is Bay City. Bay City is Sparta. These two teams are the Spider-Man meme, in a great way. The Spartans are maybe one or two years behind the Wolves in the building process, and Bay City is a forecast of what’s to come for Sparta in terms of climbing the state ranks. This is a fantastic matchup for Michigan high school hockey, with two programs on the rise. Here’s the thing: Sparta could rocket past Bay City with a dominant performance. The flip side of that is, the Wolves could snuff out Sparta’s momentum with an equally impressive showing. I don’t think this is a blowout in either direction, though, and we all win with a close game. THIS IS SPARTA!! 4-3 final.
Petey’s Pick: Sparta
#3 Hartland vs. #12 Trenton
Friday, Nov. 15th, 7:30 p.m. at Kennedy Recreation Center
Ian Kastamo was teammates with Evan Sivi on Michigan Hockey Advancement (MHA) 18U Red just three weeks ago. Same for Donovan Durbin and Vinny Sabala on the 16U Royal team. This weekend, though, Durbin, Landon Leone and Trenton will be firing pucks in Sabala’s direction while Kastamo, Ty Kraut and Drew L’Esperance send ‘em back Sivi’s way. Friends will quickly become foes in this Top-25 matchup. Head-to-head, I like Hartland a lot in this matchup, but going down to Trenton is a tough way to open up the schedule. It won’t be smooth sailing; the crowd and the Trojan Pit make Kennedy a tough place to play, but the Eagles ultimately prevail 3-1.
Petey’s Pick: Hartland
Lakeland vs. #19 Sault Ste. Marie
Friday, Nov. 15th, 8 p.m. at Big Bear Arena
These two teams made a lot of noise last season, both winning regional championships fueled by incredible goaltending. Both Cam LaBadie and Paul Baker have graduated, though, leaving gaping holes in net at both ends. I expect a high-scoring affair in their absence with Nathan Dell and Austin Scanlon on one end for the Eagles, and Nick Wood and Evan Kennedy on the other side for the Soo. A 6-4 type of track meet may favor the Blue Devils who look to be the deeper team at present day.
Petey’s Pick: Sault Ste. Marie
Forest Hills Northern-Eastern vs. Forest Hills Central
Saturday, Nov. 16th, 5:15 p.m. at Patterson Ice Center
I’m sorry. It’s too early in the season for the War of the Woods. I’ve barely had my morning coffee in ‘24-25, and we’re already hashing out cross-town supremacy?! How about a tune up or two, first? Sheeeeesh. On paper, I think its a pretty heavy lean in favor of Forest Hill Central. Ben Mielock will be the best forward on the ice. Gibson Grendel will be the best defenseman on the ice. Jack Pierczynski is solid. Eli Lipke deserves a good amount of credit too. Mike Timmer. Nolan Timmer. There’s guys throughout the entire lineup that can play. But the series is 3-3-1 in the last seven meetings with all but one game decided by two goals or fewer. Logan Spykerman and Sean Hall will find a way to keep this game uncomfortably close. I really like Nolan Geno for Forest Hills Northern-Eastern too. Only five points for the Bird Dogs as a freshman last season, but I could see him taking a significant step this winter.
It’s close. Too close. But I can’t pick against my Rangers. Central wins 3-2.
Petey’s Pick: Forest Hills Central
Northville vs. #25 M-1 United
Saturday, Nov. 16th, 7:30 p.m. at John Lindell Ice Arena
BIG GAME! There’s a lot on the line here for M-1 United. The Griffins as a program have been a fringe Top-25 team for the last few seasons. A number next to their name for a few weeks. Absent for a couple more weeks. They checked in at No. 25 in my preseason rankings last week, but that could easily change with an off night against a Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) team. You wanna be one of the best in the state? You gotta beat one of the best in the state. Playing in the Oakland Activities Association (OAA), M-1 won’t get a lot of opportunities to challenge a top-level program like Northville. So when they get a shot at one, they need to make the most of it. Plus, it’s a home game. Get it done, Griffins!
Petey’s Pick: M-1 United
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