Showcase Showdowns Across The State
MAHA, KLAA-MIHL and D3 Showcases highlight a busy weekend of games
Craig Peterson
December 7, 2023
The Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) will host its second Tier-1 Showcase of the season. Additionally, 117-of-130 programs will be in action on Saturday to help celebrate High School Hockey Day in the state of Michigan. That includes a pair of key events with the KLAA-MIHL Showcase in Livonia and the D3 Showcase in Gaylord. This may be the busiest weekend of youth hockey we’ll see all season. So, what better way than to have our busiest picks segment of the season as well? I’ve got picks for 34 — yes, thirty-four! — games this weekend. Play along if you’ve got what it takes.
Petey: 16-11-1
Public: 13-11-1
MAHA Tier-1 Showcase
I’m not going to break down all 51 games on the slate this weekend in Fraser because, well, a lot of matchups aren’t all that intriguing. There’s no sense in making predictions for games where the No.1 team in the state takes on the last-place team. However, I have highlighted 12 intriguing matchups at all four age levels this weekend at Big Boy Arena.
18U #2 Little Caesars vs. #4 Fox Motors
Saturday at 2:30pm
The two teams have split a pair of games this season, with Caesars taking the most recent matchup 2-1 in a shootout. Caesars has progressively gotten better as the season’s worn on, I expect that trend to continue here.
Petey’s Pick: Little Caesars
16U #1 Little Caesars vs. #3 Compuware
Friday at 12:30pm
Caesars thumped Compuware 7-2 when they played back in September. The rematch should be closer but I still think chalk wins out and Caesars is victorious yet again.
Petey’s Pick: Little Caesars
16U #4 Fox Motors vs. #2 Victory Honda
Saturday at 1pm
Fox actually holds a 2-1 season series lead despite VH being the higher ranked team. I like VH, I think they even up the series with a win here, but if Fox pulls an upset, I may have to rethink things in the rankings.
Petey’s Pick: Victory Honda
16U #3 Compuware vs. #4 Fox Motors
Sunday at 9am
They split a pair of games last weekend, with Compuware’s 5-1 win being more decisive than Fox’s 3-2 shootout thriller. A win here would be Compuware’s third of the season over Fox, but I’m not ready to buy it.
Petey’s Pick: Fox Motors
15O #4 Victory Honda vs. #6 Compuware
Friday at 2pm
Both of their previous matchups have been close, decided by two goals and one goal. VH was victorious in both of those games, and I like them to get the ‘W’ here as well. Maybe a bit more decisive too.
Petey’s Pick: Victory Honda
15O #2 HoneyBaked vs. #5 Fox Motors
Friday at 6pm
These two teams haven’t yet played this season, but if you look at their shared opponents and just the overall strength of schedule, I give the edge to HoneyBaked.
Petey’s Pick: HoneyBaked
15O #3 OJG vs. #1 Little Caesars
Saturday at 11am
Caesars scored eight goals last time these two teams played. OJG has improved since then, but still has a tendency for giving up goals. I like Caesars to win big again.
Petey’s Pick: Little Caesars
15O #5 Fox Motors vs. #4 Victory Honda
Saturday at 1pm
Fox is appropriately ranked here. They’ve beaten everyone below them and lost to everyone ahead of them. That trend continues on Saturday as the higher ranked Victory Honda wins convincingly.
Petey’s Pick: Victory Honda
15O #2 HoneyBaked vs. #4 Victory Honda
Sunday at 1pm
HoneyBaked won a 5-4 OT thriller last week but I like VH to come out with something to prove after that game. The Rematch tells a different story and VH gets the win in regulation.
Petey’s Pick: Victory Honda
14U #1 Little Caesars vs. #4 Fox Motors
Saturday at 4:15pm
Fox has competed well in this season series despite losing all three previous matchups. I think they compete and show well again, but ultimately Caesars comes out on top again as well.
Petey’s Pick: Little Caesars
14U #4 Fox Motors vs. #2 HoneyBaked
Sunday at 1:30pm
HoneyBaked throttled Fox 6-0 in October but they tied 2-2 just last weekend. Does Fox finally get in the win column against HoneyBaked? I say yes.
Petey’s Pick: Fox Motors
14U #3 Victory Honda vs. #1 Little Caesars
Sunday at 3:15pm
They’ve split a pair of games thus far. It’ll be their third game of the weekend for both teams, who has more depth? Caesars, so I’m gonna lean in favor of Caesars as well.
Petey’s Pick: Little Caesars
D3 Showcase
This event has been a figure in the Michigan high school hockey calendar since at least 2004. That means the D3 Showcase is officially older than the participants who will play in it this weekend. Three of the last five Division-III state champions had played in this event prior to winning a title. There’s a lot on the line, and plenty of top talent expected to be on hand, including four teams I had ranked in my preseason Top-25.
Bay Reps vs. Bay City
Bay City will compete well, but I’m not sure they have the depth to trade blows with the Bay Reps. I like Grant Lucas and Ethan Coleman to stay hot and pull away as the game wears on.
Petey’s Pick: Bay Reps
Country Day vs. Manistique
Manistique is a tough out! They hung with Alpena, hung with Bay Reps, hung with Grosse Pointe South. I think they hang with Country Day as well but Clay Spencer and company are bound to string some wins together. They start to do that here.
Petey’s Pick: Country Day
Big Rapids vs. Grosse Ile
One matchup to watch will be Grosse Ile’s Fisher Gurney going up against Big Rapids’ Marek Mraz. Mraz is a talented exchange student who played for a reputable Mountfield HK program in the Czech Republic. I expect a good amount of offense in this game, but Grosse Ile may have a slight edge defensively.
Petey’s Pick: Grosse Ile
Flint Powers vs. Grand Rapids Catholic Central
GRCC might be even better than I thought they’d be. Zach Westrick and Nate Sova have a point in every game so far for the Cougars. GRCC is the better team and has played better competition thus far as well, I’m taking GRCC to stay hot against a tough opponent in Powers.
Petey’s Pick: GRCC
Riverview Gabriel Richard vs. Chelsea
A rematch from last month when RGR won 2-1 in overtime. This one will be close too, but the Pioneers have a real strong edge in goal. Ryan Rainey is a top goaltender and sophomore Connor Ptak was actually in net the last time these two played. Gabriel Richard wins the rematch and doesn’t need OT to do it either.
Petey’s Pick: Riverview Gabriel Richard
Divine Child vs. Gaylord
Bryton Thaxton has factored in on 11 of Gaylord’s 20 goals this season. While Divine Child may not be able to stop Thaxton, a guy like Braeden McNamara can certainly keep pace with him. Should be a high-scoring back and forth game, that I’m actually gonna lean DC’s way. Take the over in this one, 6-4 Falcons.
Petey’s Pick: Divine Child