2025 All-Freshman Team
24 of the top performers and prospects from the Class of 2028 in Michigan high school hockey
Craig Peterson
March 11, 2025
They lined up across from guys two, three even four years their senior. Yet, these fantastic freshmen managed to not just survive their first year of varsity hockey, but thrive. It’s uncommon for 14- and 15-year-olds to be making immediate impacts at this level. That’s why this group in particular is always my favorite to scout each year. Prospects who may be undersized, but use their hockey smarts to make up for a lack of physical development. Others who look the part, with good size, great footwork and strength on the puck. Rest assured, this freshmen group is packed with potential and features some big names that’ll soon dominate the Michigan high school hockey scene in the years to come — if they aren’t already.
My criteria for the All-Freshman Team:
- Overall skill, ability and potential
- Impact and role they played to their respective team
- Performance and production
A look at some of the most impressive performers from the Class of 2028 during the ‘24-25 season:
FORWARDS
Bryce Pietila
R | 2008 | Howell
Easton Bal
R | 2010 | Marquette
Braden Kari
R | 2009 | Houghton
Colin Hoppe
L | 2009 | Novi
Mike Truby
R | 2010 | Clarkston
Bryce Pietila
R | 2008 | Howell
Easton Bal
R | 2010 | Marquette
Braden Kari
R | 2009 | Houghton
Colin Hoppe
L | 2009 | Novi
Mike Truby
R | 2010 | Clarkston
Connor Duffany
L | 2009 | Brighton
Elliott Fricano
R | 2010 | FHC
Brayden Ash
R | 2009 | Saline
Cooper Karapuz
L | 2009 | Plymouth
Nick Martinson
R | 2009 | Escanaba
Connor Duffany
L | 2009 | Brighton
Elliott Fricano
R | 2010 | FHC
Brayden Ash
R | 2009 | Saline
Cooper Karapuz
L | 2009 | Plymouth
Nick Martinson
R | 2009 | Escanaba
Owen Perry
R | 2009 | Flint Powers
Evan Mattila
R | 2009 | Marquette
Max Nordstrom
L | 2009 | Jeffers
Connor Helminen
R | 2010 | Hancock
Owen Perry
R | 2009 | Flint Powers
Evan Mattila
R | 2009 | Marquette
Max Nordstrom
L | 2009 | Jeffers
Connor Helminen
R | 2010 | Hancock
Howell Forward Bryce Pietila
A top-six forward for the Highlanders all season long. Bryce Pietila scored nine goals and 23 points playing for the No. 3-ranked team in the state, displaying a next-level hockey IQ and an understanding of the game few possess at this level.
Brighton Forward Connor Duffany
Connor Duffany is a compact forward with a high motor and work ethic that made him a regular in No. 17 Brighton’s forward rotation. He finished his freshman year with six goals and 12 points for the Bulldogs, including four points against Top-25 teams.
Flint Powers Forward Owen Perry
May be the most skilled player of the 2028 class, and has the stat line to prove it. Owen Perry dominated his first year of varsity hockey with 25 goals and 62 points in what has to be one of the highest scoring seasons by a freshman in the modern era.
Marquette Forward Easton Bal
Finished second on the team in scoring with nine goals and 19 points. Easton Bal is a gifted skater who played on a line alongside a sophomore and fellow freshman, at times looking like the Sentinels’ top scoring threat this season.
Forest Hills Central Forward Elliott Fricano
Just one goal and six points this season, but Elliott Fricano’s potential far exceeds his stat line. He’s a cerebral forward who anticipates and flows with the play as it unfolds. That’s not something you see many at this age do at this level.
Marquette Forward Evan Mattila
The other half of the Sentinels’ freshmen forward faction. Evan Mattila scored eight goals and 15 points this season, seeing a significant role on the power play and penalty kill. His puck skills combined with feet that are constantly in motion allow Mattila to play in all three phases.
Houghton Forward Braden Kari
Braden Kari was a depth forward on a Top 10-ranked Houghton team this season. His strong skating ability and nose for the net will certainly propel him into a significant role in the near future with the Gremlins program, scoring seven goals and 11 points in his first season.
Saline Forward Brayden Ash
An all-situations forward for Saline, Brayden Ash played top-six minutes with a role on both special teams units. In 27 games this season, he scored seven goals and 15 points, including points in seven of the team’s 14 wins.
Jeffers Forward Max Nordstrom
Finished the ‘24-25 season with 11 points in Jeffers’ final nine games of the season, including the Jets’ four-game playoff run. Max Nordstrom played behind a senior-heavy top line, scoring eight goals and 30 points as a freshman.
Novi Forward Colin Hoppe
Colin Hoppe has all the tools to be a top-level player at the high school level. He skates well, has great energy and nice puck skills. The 2009-born forward scored 10 goals and 27 points, ending the season on an active eight-game point streak.
Plymouth Forward Cooper Karapuz
Cooper Karapuz is quick to go north when the play transitions, using good instincts and puck skills to attack and make himself a scoring threat. He finished with just four goals and five points, but the foundation for being a high producer in the future is certainly there.
Hancock Forward Connor Helminen
Played on a line of all freshmen, scoring five goals and 10 points for Hancock. Connor Helminen already has the size and skates to fit in at the varsity level, and I expect he’ll soon thrive after getting a season of experience and development under his belt.
Clarkston Forward Mike Truby
A standout during the fall season with Michigan Hockey Advancement (MHA), 2010-born Mike Truby showed he can contribute at the varsity level as well. He scored three goals and eight points on a senior-heavy, Top 10-ranked Wolves team.
Escanaba Forward Nick Martinson
Nick Martinson played in all three phases for Escanaba, scoring 10 goals and 22 points this season. A bit undersized currently for the varsity level, but certainly demonstrated the footwork and puck skills to be a high-volume guy for the Eskymos.
DEFENSE
Griffin Johnson
L | 2010 | Escanaba
Jax Pierner
L | 2009 | Hancock
Cullen McGowan
L | 2009 | Divine Child
Griffin Johnson
L | 2010 | Escanaba
Jax Pierner
L | 2009 | Hancock
Cullen McGowan
L | 2009 | Divine Child
Whitaker Hill
R | 2009 | East Grand Rapids
Daniel Avery
R | 2009 | Howell
Gunner Flachs
L | 2010 | Houghton
Marty Wayman
R | 2009 | Grosse Pointe South
Whitaker Hill
R | 2009 | East Grand Rapids
Daniel Avery
R | 2009 | Howell
Gunner Flachs
L | 2010 | Houghton
Marty Wayman
R | 2009 | Grosse Pointe South
Escanaba Defenseman Griffin Johnson
Listed as a D but showed the versatility to play forward at times this season as well. The 2010-born Griffin Johnson scored a hat trick in Escanaba’s 4-1 win over No. 9 Clarkston and finished the season with five goals and 11 points.
East Grand Rapids Defenseman Whitaker Hill
At times, looked like East Grand Rapids’ best defenseman this season, playing top-pair minutes in the face of team injuries. Whitaker Hill finished his freshman year with three goals and nine points, including two during the Pioneers’ playoff run.
Hancock Defenseman Jax Pierner
Hancock played 10 games against Top-25 opponents this season, and half of Jax Pierner’s point total came in those contests. Two goals and four assists of his 12-point total came against ranked opponents while manning the blue line for the Bulldogs.
Howell Defenseman Daniel Avery
Scored arguably the biggest goal of the season for Howell, winning its state semifinal in overtime against Salem to send the Highlanders to the title game. Daniel Avery finished the season with four goals and 17 points, including four in the playoffs.
Divine Child Defenseman Cullen McGowan
A decent skater who competes well physically, engaging in the corners and bearing down on opposing puck carriers. Cullen McGown scored six goals and 37 points, ending his freshman year on an active eight-game point streak.
Houghton Defenseman Gunner Flachs
A top-four D for the No. 6-ranked Gremlins. Gunner Flachs didn’t have a robust stat line— just one goal and three points — but he certainly has the size — 5-foot-11, 170 lbs — and puck skills and skating ability that few other 2010s possessed this season.
Grosse Pointe South Defenseman Marty Wayman
Marty Wayman showed good transition play through the neutral zone, maintaining defensive gaps and moving pucks through regroups. He finished his freshman year with five goals and 17 points; eight of those points coming in winning efforts.
GOALIES
Charlie Finch
L | 2009 | East Grand Rapids
Jake Stewart
L | 2009 | LCU
Rosario McGovern
L | 2009 | Divine Child
Charlie Finch
L | 2009 | East Grand Rapids
Jake Stewart
L | 2009 | LCU
Rosario McGovern
L | 2009 | Divine Child
East Grand Rapids Goalie Charlie Finch
May be one of the best seasons by a freshman goaltender in recent memory. Charlie Finch went 21-5-1 this season with seven wins over Top-25 opponents. He posted a 1.53 goals-against average and .923 save percentage; some of the best numbers in the state regardless of grade.
L’Anse Creuse Unified Goalie Jake Stewart
Played nine games this season in a three-way timeshare between the pipes for LCU. Jake Stewart went 7-1-0 in the regular season, and was called upon to start in the team’s playoff game. He had a 1.70 goals-against average and .906 save percentage as a freshman.
Divine Child Goalie Rosario McGovern
His 15 starts in net were the most among Divine Child goalies this season, and that included the team’s lone playoff game. Rosario McGovern posted a 7-5-1 record as a freshman with three 40-save games and an .893 save percentage.
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