This week’s rankings were a tough one. I struggled balancing my sheer love for programs like Forest Hills Central, and recency bias for teams like Novi. Are they really a Top-25 team or am I blinded by my own passion? Ultimately, I settled on both of these squads earning numbers next to their names for the first time this season, and the body of work is there to verify those claims.

Fact is, No. 1 through probably No. 20 in this week’s update is pretty solid. We can debate the order of teams, but your top 15-20 teams are generally the same regardless of your source of truth. The next 15-20 teams? Your 21 – 25 in the rankings and the next group of bubble teams are wildly interchangeable. I think there’s a real case to be made for another U.P. team to enter the fray; Calumet and Jeffers in particular are right there on the cusp. Northville beat Novi head-to-head, yet the Wildcats go up and Mustangs left still knocking on the door. You get to this range of ‘the next 20’ and every program’s resume has bright spots and dull moments.

Here’s where I’ve settled on as we enjoy winter break:

Honorable Mention: Calumet, Jeffers, Northville, GR Christian

25. Riverview Gabriel Richard ^

After debuting in my preseason rankings and quickly exiting with a 1-4-0 start, the Pioneers return as winners of four straight. That includes a victory over No. 8 Houghton at Dee Stadium, a 4-3 win over previously ranked Salem and a 5-2 win over fellow bubble team Calumet. Things are starting to click for coach Rick DeSana’s young squad.

24. Grand Rapids Catholic Central ^^

Their body of work can’t be ignored any longer. I don’t see a ton of star power in this roster, but it doesn’t seem to matter for a team whose sum is greater than its parts. It’s been a collective effort for coach Mike Slobodnik’s squad who was tied with No. 4 Flint Powers heading into the third period, and went toe-to-toe with FHC despite the 4-0 result. It may not be pretty but the Cougars’ style is effective.

23. Forest Hills Central ^^^

The Rangers have played five consecutive Top-25 opponents, and seven in their last eight. Going 2-2-0 in their recent stretch proves they deserve a seat at the ranked table, with wins over No. 15 Byron Center and No. 24 GRCC. Plus, they very nearly pulled off an overtime upset of No. 3 Livonia Stevenson, dropping a 6-5 result with five lead changes. Senior D-man Eli Lipke leading the charge with eight goals.

22. Lumen Christi vvvv

Losses to University Liggett and West Ottawa drop the Titans down the rankings a bit. They’ve got a pivotal stretch of games ahead with three straight Top-25 games to begin the New Year. Will Lumen continue to fall or solidify its spot in the rankings? We’ll find out soon enough, but goal-scoring duo Brodie Gregory and Luke DuMont won’t go down without a fight.

21. Novi ^^^^^

A 4-1 win over No. 23 Forest Hills Central is the Wildcats’ best win of the season thus far, but what stands out to me is even in defeat, they’re scoring on everyone. A 4-3 loss to Northville, four goals in defeat against Stevenson, a pair of goals in a competitive loss to Hartland. With top contributors like Trevor Reed and Teddy Donahue, and Luke Londo on the back end, Novi is good enough to compete with anyone. 

20. Sault Ste. Marie ^^^

The Blue Devils are 2-1-1 since the last rankings update, with the only loss coming 3-2 at the hands of No. 7 East Grand Rapids. Nick Wood and Evan Kennedy lead a competitive bunch that never seems to be overmatched. I can’t wait to see their upcoming four-game stretch against No. 13 Clarkston, No. 6 Howell, Hancock and No. 4 Flint Powers. Sault Ste. Marie just might surprise someone with a big upset win.

19. Caledonia ^^^

The 4-1 loss to Grand Rapids Christian was a bit of a surprise, but the Scots made Brayden Melinn earn that one with a 54-save effort. Caledonia continues to cruise on the backs of Tony Kauffman and Ty Lewandowski, but junior Sam Hoag’s role in net can’t be overlooked either. He’s got a 1.43 goals-against average and .943 save percentage.

18. Alpena ^

A sweep of Traverse City teams before winter break puts the Wildcats atop the Big North standings, on a fast track to their third consecutive conference championship. They’re going to face their biggest tests of the season at the North-South Showcase in January and February’s annual MIHL Showcase. But I’m confident this team’s offensive prowess, led by Gavin Winterstein and Garrett Hamp, will compete well.

17. Grandville –

The Bulldogs’ seven-game win streak to begin the season was unsuspectingly snapped by a 3-win Forest Hills Northern-Eastern team. But coach Joel Breazeale’s squad responded the next night with a strong effort in defeat at the hands of No. 6 Howell. Landon Smith and Bennett Eisma are enough to keep this Grandville team in the Top-25 conversation, and they’re only a fraction of the talent on this young roster.

16. Marquette vvvvvv

I’m course correcting on Marquette a little bit after they came out on fire to start the season. A decisive 6-1 loss to unranked Hancock followed by back-to-back defeats at the hands of a superior No. 5 Orchard Lake squad leaves the Sentinels falling down the ranks quite a bit. Eight of Seth Sandstrom’s 13 points this season have come in the last five games. He’s stepping up as a running mate for Brody Sheldon, and a string of strong performances to begin 2025 could certainly ‘stop the skid’ for Marquette.

15. Byron Center vv

We all have games that get away from us. A string of penalties, a couple bad bounces, and the score can snowball on ya quickly. That’s what I make of the 8-0 mercy loss at the hands of No. 6 Howell at the East-West Showcase. The Bulldogs bounced back the following day with a scrappy 2-0 loss to No. 10 Brighton, which seemed more on brand for Braxton McKee and Quinn Sall. 

14. Brother Rice ^

Winter break is coming at the perfect time for Rice. They dressed just 14-of-19 skaters in their 5-0 win over U of D Jesuit last Thursday. The Warriors will now go 22 days between games before taking on No. 8 Houghton, which hopefully serves as a good stretch to get some guys healthy. Even with a partial roster, Rice played inspired hockey against No. 5 OLSM and No. 2 Hartland. At full strength, they could put together a nice stretch to begin the New Year.

13. Clarkston ^^^

Don’t look now, but the Wolves are 4-1-1 in their last six. Four of their next five games are against ranked opponents, and I expect this stretch to look much different than the 1-4-0 run they opened up the season with. Calum Hartner and Brady Damian are winless in goal this season against Top-25 foes, but that drought should end real soon. There’s a path for this team to still win 15 games before playoffs.

12. De La Salle ^^

They’re 3-1-0 since the last rankings update, and held onto a 2-0 lead in that 5-3 loss to No. 5 OLSM. Offense comes at a premium in Pilots games, with four of their last five games ending with five or fewer total goals scored. Dylan Blackwood up front and Gavin Szalkowski in net spell a recipe for success in these types of defensive slugfests. They should be heavy favorites in at least five of their next six games as well. 

11. Trenton ^

Dee Stadium is a tough place to play in, so I’m willing to gloss over the Trojans’ 7-1 loss to Houghton right before winter break. Trenton was on a pretty good run prior to that game, and with a favorable January schedule, they could certainly return to their winning ways. In six games against Top-25 opponents this season, though, they’ve edged out just one 2-1 win over No. 12 De La Salle. To climb much higher in the standings, we gotta start winning the big ones.

10. Brighton ^

A stretch of seven Top-25 opponents in nine games saw the Bulldogs go 4-4-1, with wins over No. 15 Byron Center and No. 13 Clarkston. Freddie Londo and crew have been competitive in defeat as well; five of his six points have come in the last five games. A dual-sport football player, Londo rounding back into ‘hockey shape’ only makes Brighton that much better. Add him to the mix with Tim Peterson, Jacob Daavettila and Everett Bosak? The Bulldogs may just be getting started.

9. Cranbrook –

They’ll go 21 days between games before taking on White Lake Lakeland on Jan. 8th. That’s a long layoff, but after a strong start like the Cranes had, I’m not expecting much of a letdown in the second half. Cranbrook is tough defensively, and that makes life difficult on opponents. They’ve got a rematch with No. 1 Detroit Catholic Central next month, and I’m sure the Cranes will be looking to avenge their double overtime loss from a few weeks ago. 

8. Houghton v

Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in. After watching a tough performance against No. 7 East Grand Rapids and a surprising home loss to previously unranked Riverview Gabriel Richard, I had all but phoned it in on the Gremlins. What do they do? Rip off four-of-five games with wins over No. 23 FHC, No. 11 Trenton, and what?! No. 2 Hartland! No team makes me eat my words more than coach Micah Stipech’s Gremlins.

7. East Grand Rapids v

Down two defensemen and their head coach, the Pioneers continue to find ways to win. 2-2 in four games since the last rankings update, East continues to build its resume with a 3-2 win over No. 20 Sault Ste. Marie and a 3-2 overtime loss at the hands of No. 16 Marquette. It’s starting to feel like a tight-knit, gritty group that’s battle tested and not afraid of a little adversity. They’re down one spot from the previous update but the ‘Neers are going nowhere!! (Like Jordan Belfort in Wolf of Wall Street).

6. Howell v

Winners of seven of their last eight — and played well enough in the 2-1 loss to No. 5 OLSM to feel like a win. Howell’s the hottest team in hockey right now after beating cross-county rival No. 10 Brighton for the first time in KLAA action since Dec. 3, 2014. They’ll need Rory Sturos and others to stay hot, with seven straight ranked opponents on the schedule… Happy New Year to the Highlanders! Whew.  

5. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s v

They didn’t just sweep No. 16 Marquette in a two-game college hockey-esque weekend series. They dominated the Sentinels in consecutive games, outshooting Marquette 66-31 over the course of 102 minutes, and drove eight hours one way on a bus to do it. A statement road trip for the Eaglets who enter the New Year with a 9-1-1 record; the program’s best pre-break resume on file.

4. Flint Powers ^^^^

One of two undefeated teams remaining in the state, Flint Powers added wins over No. 7 East Grand Rapids, No. 18 Alpena and No. 24 GRCC to its list of victims. That gives the Chargers six wins over teams currently or previously ranked this season, out-scoring those teams 28-13 in the process. Seven guys averaging a point per game, and a goalie in Hunter Clark with a sub-2.00 goals-against average and .925 save percentage.

3. Livonia Stevenson

The Spartans are averaging 6.20 goals scored in their last six games. The top line of Owen Hall, Connor Buchanan and Christian Lang may be the best line in hockey, with Hall making a case to be the best player in the state. Add in Colin Stroble and Dawson Wallis on the back end, and I’m not sure anyone outside of Hartland has a starting five to match Stevenson right now.

2. Hartland

Last Wednesday, I said on the podcast the Eagles had a chance to go undefeated this season. 48 hours later, they lost 3-1 to No. 8 Houghton. I’ll take the minus there, coach Gadwa, my fault. Those three goals — one being an empty netter — were the most given up by Hartland in a game all season. They’ve shut out seven opponents already, allowing the fewest goals against in the state (10). Ian Kastamo and the offense draw all the attention, but the Eagles disciplined defense has been the real story this season.

1. Detroit Catholic Central

They’ve got one more hurdle to clear against in-state teams before clearing the board for yet another season. No. 5 Orchard Lake is the only team I see on the Shamrocks’ schedule right now that could provide any resistance. Rematches with No. 9 Cranbrook, No. 14 Brother Rice and No. 12 De La Salle — all on the road — may prove to be difficult, but CC is just on another level. Five of their next 11 — not counting the MIHL Showcase — are against out-of-state teams, so the argument could be made that they’re in the midst of the toughest stretch of the schedule. With five guys in double figures and 11 skaters with three or more goals, CC seems ready for its biggest challenge yet.