A small sample size for many across the state, but even with a limited body of work, we can draw some conclusions and move pieces around the Top-25 rankings. Not a ton of movement, but Clarkston falls as Marquette rises, and two new faces get added to the mix as well. I’ve broken Top 25 into five different tiers as well, grouping like teams together. A reminder on the groupings:

On the Rise
Challengers
In the Hunt
Title Contenders
Detroit Catholic Central

Now, the updated Top-25 rankings in Michigan high school hockey.

Honorable Mention

Escanaba, Northville, Riverview Gabriel Richard, Sparta, Grand Rapids Christian

On the Rise

25. University Liggett ^

This may be short-lived if the Knights can’t — at the very least — go .500 through their next six games. But I’m willing to be optimistic, considering University Liggett has only allowed two goals against in three games and has 11 different goal scorers already. 

24. Caledonia ^

A big matchup with No. 23 Alpena looms this Friday; the loser risks losing the number next to their name. The Fighting Scots are 4-0-0 to start the season and leading scorer Henry Simon has five goals and 10 points out of the gate.

23. Alpena

They beat a good Romeo team and a solid Saginaw Heritage squad. Alpena is 4-0-0 to start the season for the second time in three years. They’re getting contributions from the usual suspects Gavin Winterstein and Garrett Hamp, but the secondary scoring is there too. That makes the Wildcats very dangerous.

22. Midland Dow 

I’m not breaking down the 9-1 win over Cheboygan last weekend, but the Chargers have weapons that I like and I think there’s a lot of potential with this group. GRCC and Saginaw Heritage will be good tests, but the real measuring stick won’t come until after the New Year.

21. Sault Ste. Marie vv

It’s possible the Soo has another sound goalie in net, after graduating Cam LaBadie last spring. Senior Casey Engle has a 1.75 goals-against average and .923 save percentage through four games, and nine different skaters have scored a goal. 

Challengers

20. Cranbrook ^^

Back-to-back shutouts in Traverse City showed how stout the Cranes can be defensively. Goaltending is good and the offense has some weapons. What’s not to like about this Cranbrook team early on? They jump up a tier as a legitimate Contender.

19. Grandville ^^

“It’s not worth winning if you can’t win big!” The Bulldogs are channeling their inner Edina Hawks from The Mighty Ducks. Grandville has out-scored opponents 23-1 through three games, and might not be slowed down for a while.

18. Midland v

Only one game under their belts, and a dominant performance at that. So not much to analyze with the Chemics. They should be undefeated heading into a winter break meeting with their cross-town rival Midland Dow.

17. Lumen Christi v

We might not know what Lumen Christi is really capable of until after the New Year. Chelsea, Liggett, Sault Ste. Marie and Country Day will all be tests, but No. 14 Byron Center on Jan. 11th is the real benchmark for the Titans.

16. Salem ^^^^^

Up five spots from the preseason rankings, the Rocks’ win over Howell was impressive. A free-flowing, ad libbing approach allows Nolan Kaminski, Dom Chaput and Karsen Patel to be creative offensively. 

15. De La Salle –

They were up 3-1 on No. 2 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s last Saturday. A four-goal third period by the Eaglets robbed De La Salle of the upset. Second-year coach Chad LaRose has the Pilots in the mix yet again, and will be a problem to deal with in the MIHL.

14. Byron Center –

We’re going to learn a lot about West Michigan on Saturday, when the Bulldogs take on No. 9 East Grand Rapids. I believe Byron Center can be really good this season with guys like Luke Philo and Braxton McKee, and Quinn Sall looks like a viable option in net. But it’ll take more than ‘really good’ to climb much higher in the rankings.

In the Hunt

13. Trenton v

Winless through their first three games for the first time since at least the ‘12-13 season (as far back as the Michigan High School Hockey Hub goes). There’s no need to panic, though. Ties with No. 11 Brother Rice and No. 20 Cranbrook prove this team belongs in the mix.

12. Brighton v

We’re going to find out what this young Bulldogs team is really made of this weekend at the Thanksgiving Invitational. No. 3 Hartland, No. 10 Clarkston and Forest Hills Central will provide a great measuring stick to see where guys like Jacob Daavettila, Tim Peterson and Everett Bosak are at.

11. Brother Rice v

I don’t see them winning against No. 1 Detroit Catholic Central on Wednesday. That would drop the Warriors to 1-2-1; their ‘worst’ start to a season since ‘21-22. Now, I think that means very little because Rice was a Final Four team that season, but the wins might not pile up for this team until later on.

10. Clarkston vvvvvv

Maybe a little aggressive to drop the Wolves six spots after just three games, but they’re going to get a shot as soon as this weekend to work their way back up. A pair of one-goal losses to ranked opponents can be remedied with wins at the Thanksgiving Invitational.

9. East Grand Rapids –

I said it all preseason. The Pioneers weren’t rebuilding, they were retooling and reloading. After back-to-back D-III state finals appearances, East once again has the pieces to be a real problem on the state level. James Albers with seven goals and 11 points through three games.

8. Marquette ^^^^^

I’m willing to overlook the Sentinels’ 3-1 loss to Escanaba after earning two huge road wins against No. 11 Brother Rice and No. 10 Clarkston. The Eskymos are a damn good team, and may find themselves in the rankings soon too. Marquette doesn’t have a bad performance on their resume yet. Watch out.

7. Flint Powers ^

One more ranked win, and Powers is going to be jumping up a tier. Beating No. 10 Clarkston in overtime last week was a statement game that the Chargers are for real. They may be 9-0 before facing their next big test of the season.

Title Contenders

6. Houghton v

Gremlins are down a spot after falling to No. 5 Howell. By all accounts, their top guys are performing as such with Jace DeForge, Noah Maillette and Connor Arko leading the charge. Do they have the goaltending to make a run though? Time will tell.

5. Howell ^^

Bounced back from a tough 4-2 loss to No. 16 Salem with dominant wins over Calumet and No. 6 Houghton. Howell is loaded with top-end talent and all three levels of the lineup; the tie to Stevenson is much more indicative of who they are than their lost to Salem.

4. Livonia Stevenson ^^

Up two spots from the preseason rankings, the Spartans looked very good — and at times, the better team — against No. 1-ranked DCC. Owen Hall, Colin Stroble, Connor Buchanan… This team just plays hard and heavy, and are going to be hard to beat.

3. Hartland

Eagles have cruised to a 3-0-0 start, shutting out all three opponents. They’ve got some tough teams on the horizon, starting with the Thanksgiving Invitational this weekend. 

2. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

Two league wins to open up the season. The Eaglets are 2-0-0 and Thaddeus Raynish leads the team with five goals already. No. 15 De La Salle put a scare into OLSM carrying a 3-1 lead into the third, but a hat trick from Raynish clinched the victory.

Detroit Catholic Central

1. Detroit Catholic Central

The Shamrocks are 4-0-0 to start the season and have allowed just three goals against in that span. Surprise, surprise. I watched their game against Livonia Stevenson, and the Spartans battled hard. It was a fantastic back-and-forth game where Stevenson had some grade-A chances, but ultimately ran out of gas down the stretch. Catholic Central is deep and diverse yet again, with a death grip on the No. 1 spot.