No better feeling than playoff hockey! Action gets underway at 4 p.m. on Monday when Jenison and Grand Haven go head-to-head with the season on the line. The first of 120 elimination games over the next three weeks will decide who reign supreme in the Division-I, Division-II and Division-III state playoffs. A quick update of my picks so far this season and then I’ll go through all 24 Regional Playoff brackets, Final Four picks and an eventual state champion for each division.

Petey’s Picks: 100-43-2

Forest Hills Central playing some of its best hockey at the right time

Winners of nine of its last 11 games to end the regular season, Forest Hills Central looks to be the favorite coming out of Quarter 1 in Division-I. Now I’ll admit, I’ve felt this way about the Rangers each of the last two years and both times they were eliminated prematurely at the regional level. However, this group has a different feel to it with leading scorer Benny Mielock taking his game to another level. He’s the best player in this bracket and playing like it too, with 19 points in the last 11 games. Plus, Nolan Bateson has looked sharp in net down the stretch. 

Rockford presents a unique challenge in the Regional Final, especially considering the Rams beat FHC 4-1 back in November. In fact, Rockford should probably be considered the favorite and the top seed in this bracket despite trailing the Rangers by seven-thousandths of a percent in MPR. 

The other half of the bracket could be chocked full of upsets. Both the 4-seed Eastside and 3-seed Jackson United are more than capable of upending the top two seeds in Region 2. Kalamazoo United has lost six of its last seven prior to playoffs, giving up 5.0 goals against per game in that stretch. Leading scorer Brady Penny is an offensive weapon, but that’s asking a lot to overcome. 

On the other side of the bracket, the Stars have already proved to be superior to top-seeded Cap City, knocking them off not once, but twice. Region 2 may be the most volatile of all D-I brackets at the regional level, but regardless of who emerges, I don’t see any of the five having enough to eliminate an FHC or Rockford in the Quarterfinal.

Howell vs. Detroit Catholic Central in the most anticipated playoff matchup of the season

Undeniably, the two best high school hockey teams in the state this season. Yet one of No. 1-ranked Detroit Catholic Central or No. 2-ranked Howell won’t be in Plymouth when the tournament enters the Final Four rounds. Make it make sense, people. You cant, but hey, geography and stuff. If you want a healthier playoff format alternative that puts the best teams in the final rounds of the tournament, check out my playoff proposal from last week’s episode of the pod. 

If the Highlanders aren’t careful though, Hartland could spoil the party for everyone. The 2-seed in Region 3 is the only Michigan high school hockey team to defeat the Shamrocks this season. Vinnie Sabala gave the Eagles a shot at a second upset over a higher ranked D-I team when Hartland skated to a 3-2 loss on the road at Howell. Luke Storm and company outshot the Eagles mightily in that one 30-14, but it was Nate Halonen giving the underdog an early 1-0 lead and Ian Evans doubling down to retake the lead at 2-1 as well.

Everyone wants the matchup of the year 1-v-2 on Feb. 28th, but if the Highlanders aren’t careful — and CC for that matter — you could see the gritty Eagles emerge from Q2.

Eisenhower hockey on ‘Easy Street’ to the D-I Final Four

I have Utica Eisenhower ranked 12th in my final Top 25 of the season, and MyHockeyRankings has them as high as eighth. The next highest ranked team in Quarter 3 is 34th ranked Troy United, making this section of the bracket arguably the easiest in Division-I. The Eagles have beaten fellow regional foes Anchor Bay, Chippewa Valley and Romeo by a combined score of 42-12 in five games. Very little stands in the way of Nathan Schilkey, Joey Zelenak, Bode Farr and the D-I Final Four.

I am very intrigued should the other top seed in the quarter, Troy United, get a shot at Ike in the Quarterfinal. Troy has won 19 straight games, most notably their 6-3 victory last Wednesday over No. 20-ranked Rochester United. A pair of 30-goal scorers, Kaiser Ascencio and Ben Dumas should have the difficult challenge of trying to create offense against the best goalie they’ll have faced all season. Eagles senior goaltender Connor Holmes is an impressive 15-0-0 with a 1.86 goals-against average and 92.6 save percentage; the biggest reason why I’m Sharpee-ing Eisenhower into the D-I Final Four.

Which KLAA hockey team emerges from Quarterfinal 4?

Six of the 10 teams in this quarter of the bracket stem from one of Michigan high school hockey’s best conferences; the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA). We could see as many a five rematches from regular-season action, from Plymouth-vs-Salem and Northville-vs-Novi in the Regional Semifinal rounds to any combination of Brighton, Northville, Plymouth-Canton-Salem in the Quarterfinal. Lots of familiarity in this portion of the D-I bracket.

I think that bodes well for one of the best bench bosses in high school hockey. Brighton coach Kurt Kivisito — despite losing six straight games at one point this season — chess matched his way to wins over Plymouth, Northville, Canton, Novi and Salem. Despite those early-season struggles, he still found a way for this young group to scratch and claw their way to 16 wins, and the Bulldogs are peaking at the right time. Since that six-game skid, Brighton has won 11-of-13 games with Vince Walkup, Connor Duffany, Nic Smith and Tim Peterson all scoring 14 or more goals this season.

Northville presents a difficult challenge in the Region 7 Final. Penalties were a major factor back in December when the Mustangs and Bulldogs last linked up. Tommy Marinoff and company outshot Brighton significantly but even so, 21 minutes of killing penalties will certainly hamper your offensive opportunities. A 5-on-5 game could have a much different feel to it. Whoever wins that matchup punches their ticket to Plymouth, because I just don’t see any of the Park schools standing in the way of either team on the other half of the bracket.

An All-Muskegon Regional Final for the first time in 13 years

For two rivals who have regularly found themselves in the same playoff bracket, they haven’t gone head-to-head very often, and even less with hardware on the line. Should chalk prevail and top-seeded Reeths-Puffer and No. 2-ranked Mona Shores both advance to the Region 9 Final, it would be the first time since 2013 that the state saw an all-Muskegon matchup at this stage of the tournament.

Stakes would be at an all-time high in this inspired series that divides Lumbertown, and it’s ironic a wooden mitten would be at stake. Puffer may be the top seed in the bracket, but the season series is split at a game apiece, trading 3-1 wins with each other earlier this season. The Rockets aren’t exactly propelling their way into the playoffs, having lost five in a row. I’m going with the Sailors because they’re playing a bit better hockey at the moment, but the margin for error in the final chapter of this rivalry is razor thin.

I love the momentum Caledonia has right now. 14-2-1 since Dec. 1st, coming off of an OKC tournament championship and arguably the best team in West Michigan. As good as they’ve been and as quickly as I penciled them in through the Quarterfinal, let’s not get overconfident here.

The Scots have already lost to 4-seed Mattawan and 3-seed Byron Center. You could even argue they should have lost to 3-seed Grandville last week after giving up 38 shots in a low-scoring 2-1 game that was decided in overtime. However, the reason they won that game is the same reason I have so much confidence in this Caledonia club. The top two lines are rock solid, but its senior Sam Hoag in net that will make them a super tough ‘out’ in Division-II. If I gotta pick one team that has the best shot at upsetting the defending champ Flint Powers, its Hoag and Caledonia.

Flint Powers hockey primed for a third state title in four years

To borrow a quote from one Maxwell Jacob Friedman, “I’m better than you, and you know it.”

I can’t imagine a more frustrating team to play against in the Michigan high school hockey state playoffs right now than Flint Powers. They’re so good, so talented, so deep and nobody in Division-II has even come close to their level this season. Heritage? 9-1. Alpena? 6-0. Stevenson? 9-1. The Chargers are the heel you love to hate, and they relish in it. The way the bracket plays out for them too, Powers may not even break stride until the D-II Final. In fact, their 2026 playoff run may be the most dominant one we’ve seen since CC pitched five straight shutouts en route to a D-I title three years ago. 

Senior Ayden Cook should reach career marks 100 goals and 200 points. Sophomore Owen Perry has posted back-to-back 60-point seasons. Park Bendall is north of 50 points. Second-year starter Hunter Clark has already been to the mountaintop and is more than confident he can do it again with a 2.03 goals-against average. And if that wasn’t enough, 6-foot-4 senior Andon Harwood falls from the heavens after playing 30 games in the GOJHL, only to return for a Powers playoff run. It’s an embarrassment of riches that I just don’t think anyone in the field is equipped to compete with, much less defeat.

Is a red-hot Rochester United starting to cool off?

After starting the season 16-2-0 and drawing major headlines around the state, I worry Rochester United may finally be cooling off at the worst possible time. They’ve lost three of their last five, and a late third-period goal from Zach Brennan avoided a near catastrophic loss to Lake Orion 2-1; a team they mercied just two months prior. With four goal scorers in double figures, I’m not nearly as concerned about the offense as I am defensively at the moment. 

A second consecutive regional championship would still be an immense accomplishment for an RU program that’s still very much on the rise. But this group wants its third crack in the same fiscal year at Livonia Stevenson, and I could see them finishing the job this time if they get it.

A couple other upsets to watch for in Quarterfinal 7, how about Ann Arbor Skyline finally knocking off cross-town rival Ann Arbor Huron? The Eagles haven’t beaten Huron since Jan. 31, 2024, but goalie Benny Billings comes through in the biggest game of the season. He gives Skyline a reliable performance in net and Lucas DeYoung, Cooper Onsted and Isaiah Garcia get the Eagles over the Huron hump in the Regional Semifinal.

I’m also taking Port Huron Northern in the other 4-5 matchup in Q7. The Huskies fell to L’Anse Creuse Unified 3-1 just 10 days ago but the rematch nets different results a second time around. Sawyer Kemp gets involved this time, as does Chris Herms and the Huskies advance past the first round of the playoffs for a third straight year.

Don’t doubt U-D Jesuit hockey in Division-II

Trenton hockey should cruise to an impressive ninth consecutive regional championship. The Quarterfinal matchup could be a nailbiter though. Now, you may quickly dismiss both U-D Jesuit and Brother Rice as both are in the midst of uncharacteristic stretches. The Cubs have a sub-.500 record for the second consecutive season and the Warriors’ six wins this season are the fewest for the program in decades. 

I’m actually really optimistic about the U of D team. They’re young and the record ain’t great, but there are some impressive marks on their record this season. Wins over St. Edward’s and Huron Valley are admirable. Plus, inspired performances against Liggett, Calumet and Eisenhower; all Top-25 teams according to one outlet or another. I’m not saying the Cubs will beat Trenton — Hell, it’ll be a challenge just for the boys to reach that game — but I do expect it to be closer than the experts may think.

Donovan Durbin bodied the Cubs with a hat trick in a 6-1 game back in November, but none of Carter Gogate, Zach Barringer, Teo Mosera or Will Balasia — U of D’s top four scorers — managed to get on the score sheet that night. If the Cubs get out to an early lead, I think they can pack things in a bit and play a defensive style down the stretch that could pull off what would be the upset of the tournament. 

Too many good teams eliminated too early in the D-III tournament

People have been rightfully outraged over the Division-I Quarter that includes No. 1 CC, No. 2 Howell and No. 4 Hartland. But we should be equally, if not more, upset over Division-III’s Quarterfinal 9 consisting of all 10 upper peninsula-based programs.

I have Houghton, Calumet and Marquette all in my Top 10, with Escanaba and Jeffers also sporting a number next to their names. That means four of the top teams in D-III will be eliminated from contention before anyone packs a bag for the Final Four. Be mad about CC and Howell, but be outraged over this injustice. Some of the best hockey in the state this season — and virtually every season — resides in the U.P., and having just one of these teams represented at Plymouth is wrong. 

I’m an admitted ‘fanboy’ of Marquette so I’ll drive the bandwagon right through the quarterfinals in my bracket. Let’s not forget though, this is supposed to be Escanaba’s year with a senior class that’s been together for four years. Nolan Bink and Graham Johnson lead an experienced, tight-knit group who won’t go quietly into the night.

The other half of the bracket is wide open. The 4-seed Hancock holds a 6-5 win over top-seeded Houghton. Fluke? I don’t think so, as the Bulldogs also took the Gremlins to a 2-2 tier earlier this season. This is the single-toughest Regional Semifinal matchup of any No. 1-seed in the state playoffs. And should the Gremlins survive their first test, they’ll get ‘rewarded’ with either Calumet or Jeffers; two teams that have already proved to be a threat to Houghton’s hockey hopes. There’s four teams in this field and any one of them could emerge to face Marquette.

Can the Bay Reps battle their way back to the Final Four?

The Bay Reps enter the playoffs just one game over .500 with a 13-12-1 record. They don’t have a single win over a Top-25 team this season, but mark my words, Quarterfinal 10 goes through Grand Traverse Bay. The Reps are 11-0-0 this season when scoring three or more goals; senior Tyler Boynton-Fisher doesn’t need much run support to steal a couple games for his co-op. He has a 1.70 goals-against average and 92.6 save percentage; both are career highs in his three-year tenure. I don’t see anyone at the regional level producing enough offense to eliminate the Reps, so it comes down to a pivotal Quarterfinal matchup with top-seeded Bay City. 

I like the Wolves. Their top line is talented and they have the offensive firepower to overwhelm the Reps with Kaid DuRussel, Carter Richard and Max Johnston. But they’ve run into brick walls a couple times this season like Sam Hoag in a 3-1 loss to Caledonia and Shaun Story in a 5-1 loss to Cap City. Boynton-Fisher is on that same level and if he’s on his game, BC could shoot all night and not score on him. If Reps skaters Eddie Walter and Thatcher Beaudoin can muster up just two or three goals in this one, it could be enough to launch the co-op back into the Final Four.

Defending state champ Orchard Lake St. Mary’s marches back to the D-III Final Four

Should Orchard Lake St. Mary’s hockey return to the Division-III Final Four as I’ve projected below, it’ll be the first time the program has done so since the ‘10, ‘11 and ‘12 seasons. The Eaglets are in the midst of a white hot run under long-tenured coach Brian Klanow. This season’s group may be the best of the bunch, which is hard to believe considering last year’s star goaltender Will Keane is a standout in the USHL post-graduation. 

Current goalies John Ward and Thomas Reeber had big shoes to fill, and they’ve done so in tandem with a combined 2.20 goals-against average. Defensively, this group is good but offensively? They’re great. Charlie Roberts, Thad Raynish and Dominic Pizzo should all be 20-goal scorers by season’s end and an astounding 13 skaters have reached the 10-point plateau. Everyone is contributing offensively for OLSM, making them the deepest, most versatile team in the bracket.

Chelsea has a real good chance at pulling off the 5-over-4 upset, and 3-seed Huron Valley should put a scare into South Lyon. In fact, the Titans and SLU should deliver the game of the tournament in a tilt that I expect to be back and forth. The last time these two teams met, Huron Valley scored four unanswered goals in the third period to win 5-2. Killian Voorhies, Levi Weinberger and Austin Scanlon on one side, and Nathan Ligi, Braden Hillebrand and Jackson Curtiss on the other. A pair of stellar goalies in opposite nets as well. This matchup is full of talented players and exciting potential. Circle this one on your calendar if you haven’t already.

Can Divine Child or Liggett play spoiler in the D-III playoffs?

Both Divine Child and Liggett have earned Top-25 dubbings by other media outlets including State Champs! And the MHSAA’s MPR, but I’ve had both on the outside looking in all season long. Liggett holds signature wins over Flint Powers and Clarkston, while DC has defeated Jeffers and won 22 games this season. However, neither Metro League team has faced much of a gauntlet this season, ranking outside the top 40 in the state when it comes to strength of schedule. 

I worry both the Knights and Falcons could be in trouble in their respective Regional Final matchups with teams like Cranbrook and Gabriel Richard, who have played a top-10 strength of schedule and hold several wins over Top-25 teams. 

I’ll give Liggett a puncher’s chance against the Cranes. The top line of Nick Gould, Griffin Marchal and Luke Slanec have combined to score 88 goals this season. But you still have to beat Cranbrook on their home ice, with coach John LaFontaine holding onto last change. That makes it very hard for Liggett’s top trio to find a formidable matchup throughout the course of the game.

DC on the other hand, is the top seed in its half of the bracket, and RGR has faded a bit down the stretch. The Pioneers are just 3-7-0 in their last 10 and haven’t won back-to-back games since early January. I like Michael Taucher and Connor Forster, but they look ripe for the picking in an upset matchup. I’ve said for a while now that Brody McNamara, Kole Boike and Cullen McGowan still feel like a year away from making a real run. I’m not picking the “upset” but with the Pioneers looking vulnerable, there’s a chance DC confirms its spot as the top seed in the bracket.

Nobody standing in Detroit Catholic Central’s way now

At this point, the Shamrocks’ biggest hurdle has been cleared and there isn’t a team remaining in the field who can beat CC on home ice. Coach Brandon Kaleneicki continues his reign over Division-I and Michigan high school hockey as a whole with the program’s unprecedented seventh straight state title. 

Eisenhower can extend its run with a favorable matchup against Forest Hills Central. That might prove to be the game of the weekend as both teams would be evenly matched with some real star power on both sides of the ice. Neither, unfortunately, can put a stop to CC’s dominance.

Flint Powers completes the repeat despite fellow D-II teams’ best efforts

I don’t see Trenton slowing down Flint Powers’ potent offense. The Trojans are giving up 3.78 goals against for the season, which means Cook, Perry and company could put up a six-spot in the State Final. Good news is, Trenton’s high-flying attack could try and keep pace in a high-scoring affair. Durbin and Echols lead the charge for an offense that could try trading blows in a 6-5 type of game.

Caledonia in the state final would at least make the Chargers earn their offensive opportunities, as Sam Hoag may be the best goalie in D-II. Getting past Stevenson will be no easy task but just two goals from the Scots’ top line would be enough to advance them to the final in a low-scoring game. That would set the stage for a Final matchup with plenty of intrigue as the exciting offense of Powers looks do break down the brick wall of Hoag.

An all-too-familiar Division-III championship matchup

Something new, something different would be exciting to see. But when you break down the bracket and see the games and matchups unfold, it always comes back to Cranbrook and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. I expect the two teams to run it back to the 2025 D-III matchup we saw last March where the Eaglets claimed their first outright State Title in 18 years. They should probably be considered the favorite to do so again this year as well, but the Cranes seem to have their number. 

Three goals from Matthew Mooradian, Reston Cicco and Kyle Braunscheidel pushed Cranbrook past OLSM 3-0 in an early January MIHL matchup. Senior Blake Tice shut out an Eaglets offense that’s gone on to average 6.12 goals scored per game in ‘25-26. This is a high-powered offense versus a stingy defense that I think favors coach John LaFontaine’s group much more. Tice may not blank them again, but he might not have to either.