Finding out if Grandville is for real in this Big Ticket matchup

Ayden Karas faces one of the top offenses in the state in this East-v-West showcase

Craig Peterson

December 3, 2025

Photo from Instagram | @aydenkaras

We’re one month into the season, and some teams have played as many as nine games while others like Bishop Foley United and Jackson Lumen Christi have played just two games so far. I’ve seen enough of programs like Hartland — with an 8-1-0 record — and Alpena, Jeffers and Utica Eisenhower to make determinations based off their resumes thus far. But there’s a few teams featured in this week’s games that I’m looking to find out more about. One in particular is Grandville, who takes on Trenton in a Top-10 matchup this Friday. A huge opportunity to prove the Bulldogs are worthy of climbing the state ranks.

Some others this week have a chance to rewrite the script, having lost as many as five straight games. In Kalamazoo’s case, the Eagles are still in search of their first win of the season. The next few weeks leading up to holiday break can solidify or completely change some of the narratives developing across the Michigan high school hockey landscape.

An update from last week’s picks, and then an eight-game slate for us to make our picks!

Petey: 8-4-0
Public: 9-3-0

Utica Unified vs. Sparta
12/4, 1:00pm @ Griff’s IceHouse at Belknap Park

With nine games in the bag already, no one in the state has played more games this season than Utica Unified. Double-U is off to a 5-4-0 start while averaging 5.22 goals scored per game. Alexander Gorgievski and Lucas Beels have scored 10-plus goals each already this season, but to get past Sparta, Utica’s defense will have to tighten up. As good as the offense has been humming, they’ve struggled mightily in the D-zone giving up four or more goals in eight games. Sparta finally got in the win column last weekend, slowly climbing out of a hole at 2-5-0 so far. I think Trevor Serba and the Spartans stay in the win column in what proves to be a high-scoring affair.

Petey’s Pick: Sparta

Romeo vs. West Ottawa
12/4, 5:30pm @ Griff’s IceHouse at Belknap Park

Something clicked for Krue Anderson, Will Nagelvoort and West Ottawa in their 2-2 tie with No. 10 Grandville two weeks ago. It wasn’t a win, but certainly felt like one to go toe-to-toe with one of West Michigan’s top teams. After starting the season 0-2, this is a Panthers team that is starting to believe. And I believe this is a great matchup stylistically between two teams that’ll want to grind it out with much of the game spent scrapping along the walls. If it’s low scoring, I like WO… but if this total gets north of 5.5, I don’t think they can match Romeo’s offense. Panthers win 3-2 and just might be a dark horse to win the eight-team showcase tournament at Griff’s this weekend.

Petey’s Pick: West Ottawa

Trenton vs. Grandville
12/5, 3:45pm @ Patterson Ice Center

Across town, another West-Michigan showcase takes place at Patterson Ice Arena, featuring five teams currently ranked in the Top 25. Two of them clash on Friday afternoon, when Grandville looks to climb the ranks with a win over No. 6 Trenton. The Trojans are a better team, with elite playmakers at the top of the line in Donovan Durbin, Zach LaMay and Grandon Echols. But the Bulldogs have essentially had two weeks to prepare for this very matchup, and I’m confident coach Joel Breazeale is going to have the boys ready for this one. I think this is a coming out party for Ayden Karas and company. He stands on his head with a big performance, and Kaleb Anderson, Zack Stonehouse and Luke DeBoer come through with some timely goal scoring. Grandville with a bit of a statewide stunner, 3-2 plus an empty netter.

Petey’s Pick: Grandville

Huron Valley vs. FHC
12/5, 6:15pm @ Patterson Ice Center

I was all in on the Huron Valley hype to start the season, flirting with the Top 25 after a 5-0-0 run out of the gate. But a 9-1 drubbing at the hands of No. 5 Flint Powers followed by a lopsided 8-2 loss at the hands of No. 6 Trenton proved the Titans might not be ready for a number next to their names (yet). They’ve got great offensive depth, especially when Craig Borges, Vince Modica and Mikey Yee are your fifth, sixth and seventh producing forwards right now. They don’t have any one player than can go stride for stride with Forest Hills Central’s Ben Mielock, but Huron Valley’s sum may be greater than its individual parts. If — and it’s a big if — they can keep the Rangers offense in check, the Titans could get back in the win column after back-to-back embarrassing losses. I’ll take a chance on the Titans to end the skid.

Petey’s Picks: Huron Valley

Troy United vs. M-1 United
12/5, 7:00pm @ John Lindell Ice Arena

Life after Charlie Price has not been great for M-1 United. An 0-5 start to the season is the program’s worst since 2022. The Griffins were able to end the skid with a pair of wins in a four-day stretch, 5-3 over Lake Orion and 3-2 over Port Huron Northern. Plus, the program hasn’t lost to Troy United since 2017. But coach Josh Brown seems to have a group heading in the right direction in his fourth season behind the bench. Kaiser Ascencio and Ben Dumas lead a team that has five different skaters averaging a point per game, off to a 5-2-0 start. This is a game that can instill a ton of confidence in a young bunch. I’m taking Troy decisively, 5-2.

Petey’s Pick: Troy United

Stoney Creek vs. Petoskey
12/6, 2:30pm @ Petoskey Ice Arena

Petoskey’s only loss so far is a decided 5-1 defeat at the hands of No. 15 Alpena. Chase LaFaive and Eli Brinkman have emerged as additional offensive weapons alongside Madden Pateman and Anderson Ward. I would consider the Northmen heavy favorites in this matchup with Stoney Creek. But the Cougars have played four one-goal games and a colossal second period collapse against rival Rochester United last week. I hate to play the ‘what if’ game, but Kellen Keighron’s Cougars are a few bounces away from being a six-win team right now. Keighron, Cole Chmielewski and Tyler Glowczewski are gonna produce in a game that could be a race to five goals. Give me Stoney Creek to pull off the upset.

Petey’s Pick: Stoney Creek

Lakeshore vs. Kalamazoo
12/6, 7:00pm @ Wings Event Center

Tyler Rocco has scored Kalamazoo’s only goal so far this season and it took 155 minutes of game time before the Eagles finally got on the board. Shut out in their first three games, and then mercied 9-1 by rival Kalamazoo United. The Eagles need something to break their way. Lakeshore has a tough time keeping the puck out of its net, having given up eight goals to KU as well. Badgers games this season are averaging 6.89 total goals, providing a great opportunity for the Eagles to finally generate some offense. Not only do they find the back of the net, but I’m taking Kalamazoo to get in the win column for the first time as well.

Petey’s Pick: Kalamazoo

South Lyon vs. Grosse Pointe South
12/6, 7:30pm @ ESH Ice Arena

Grosse Pointe South enters the game on a seven-game losing streak, with two coming at the hands of Top-25 teams East Grand Rapids and Trenton, as well as Mattawan, Salem and Novi. This Blue Devils team is a lot better than their record might suggest. South Lyon has a 6-1-0 record, much prettier than their GPS counterpart in this matchup. A win over an MIHL team, even if it’s the last place team, is still a feather in the cap of a South Lyon team building its non-conference resume. Nathan Ligi and Braden Hillebrand better not take this road matchup lightly. I’m taking SLU in a one-goal game.

Petey’s Pick: South Lyon