Leading scorer Brit Heinonen has seen the Jeffers program come full circle. 

When he joined the team four years ago, the Jets ranked 95th in the state; a common spot for the program, having finished no worse than 108th and no higher than 82nd in recent years, according to MyHockeyRankings. By sophomore year, the Jets climbed to 63rd in the state and finished as high as 47th last March; the program’s highest statewide ranking on record. This winter, Heinonen and the Jets continue their climb up the rankings with a 10-1-0 record and wins over Escanaba, Country Day and Hancock. Should Jeffers become a Top-25 team in the state, it would be one of the most impressive four-year turnarounds in recent memory. 

Hudsonville hockey building ‘the right way’

They won just six games all of last season. Yet, Hudsonville enters winter break of the ‘24-25 season with five wins already. Sophomore Lucas Brandow was a young forward I liked a lot last winter for his play in the D-zone. He’s got three goals and 10 points in 11 games this season, and is one of four Eagles to eclipse the 10-point mark already. They’ve compiled a 5-6-0 record, with three of those losses by two goals or fewer. What’s most impressive is the way they’re playing; structured, disciplined, organized hockey. The foundation of a program building around a young core of four juniors and seven sophomores.

Alex Kozar is the real deal at Milford

They’re just 5-6-1 playing against a bottom-half strength of schedule (ranked 86th in the state), but three-year senior Alex Kozar and his state-leading 31 goals scored are legit. Kozar is a big-bodied forward with a motor and a willingness to engage. At times, he looked to be the best forward on the ice in the Mavericks’ 4-2 loss to Caledonia; a game that featured other talented players like Tony Kauffman, Ty Lewandowski and Harmon Esch. Kozar can absolutely hold his own with that crowd, and I’d be very curious to see how he’d compete with others at a Team Michigan type of tryout with top performers around the state. Kozar and junior Craig Borges make for a formidable ‘Twin Towers’ type of approach offensively as they center their respective lines. 

A pair of former AAA prospects leading Lakeshore hockey

They’ve played the weakest strength of schedule in the state, ranked last out of 126 teams on MyHockeyRankings. Lakeshore’s remaining slate doesn’t provide much of a test either, as only one future opponent currently ranks higher than 80th. That’s unfortunate, because the Badgers’ top line of Isaac Embury, Levi Young and Drake McKay may be the best trio the program has ever had. Embury comes from a 16U Victory Honda AAA team that ranked in the Top 10 in the country last season. He has 19 goals and 37 points in his first 10 games of varsity hockey. Young has scored 19 goals and 26 points in his first 10 games, after playing for a Top-30 15U AAA team in Fox Motors last season. McKay, a second-year senior, is having a career year with 10 goals and 13 points this season. This is a talented top line that’s going to put up record-breaking point totals, but we may not find out what they’re really capable of until playoffs. Lakeshore is in a tough Division-III region with No. 6 East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Catholic Central and Grand Rapids Christian. 

Port Huron Unified making history this winter

On Nov. 29th, Port Huron Unified did something that hadn’t been done in over 30 years. Senior defenseman Cory Hall scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to beat cross-town rival Port Huron Northern. That’s been one of a couple feathers in the cap for a program that’s 8-3-0 to start ‘24-25; a stark contrast from the 14-game losing streak that began last season. The Hawks gave up nearly seven goals against per game last winter; that number is down to 3.73 this season thanks in large part to goaltending tandem Bode Gerwolds and Maverick Dyer. Fifteen different players have scored a goal for PHU, with Case VanSingel and Jaxon Turnbull leading the charge at 10 goals apiece. 

Diverse, disciplined, structured attack by GRCC

They’re on the verge of having a number next to their names with signature wins over Grand Rapids Christian, No. 24 Midland Dow and the Bay Reps. Yet, I’ve admittedly talked about the Cougars very little so far this season. Second-year junior Cooper Maas leads the way with 12 points in nine games, but as many as 15 different skaters have worked their way onto the scoresheet already this season as well. GRCC plays disciplined hockey, allowing 21 or fewer shots on goal in six of nine games. Coach Mike Slobodnik’s squad has tough matchups on the horizon, though, including six games against Top-25 opponents currently on the books. 

Don’t sleep on Jack Bydalek and Jenison hockey

I warned of Jenison’s capabilities ahead of its game against Eastside last week. On Saturday, they validated those concerns with a 5-2 win over the Stars. Jack Bydalek scored four times in that game, and leads the Wildcats with 11 goals and 16 points this season. Under coach Jack Williams, this team has taken on an identity of being scrappy, hard-working and tough to play against. In nine games, only one has been decided by more than three goals. They just don’t go away, whether it’s a 3-2 defensive chess match or a 5-5 offensive track meet.  

Adalar Hovis keeps Grosse Ile at the top of the Metro League

After graduating the top two scorers in the state last season, Grosse Ile once again has a top-five offense this winter. Sophomore forward Adalar Hovis leads the team with 15 goals and 29 points, and the Red Devils are averaging 5.8 goals scored per game. They’ve already swept the West Division of the Metro League, sitting atop the standings heading into winter break. With only one ranked opponent on the schedule — No. 18 Lumen Christi — Grosse Ile could stockpile another 20-win season for the second year in a row.  

Troy United shows early signs of progress

Their record heading into winter break is the complete opposite end of the spectrum from last season’s 2-10-0 start. Troy United won seven of its first eight games this season and has a 7-4-0 record overall. Resume-building wins over Bishop Foley United, North Oakland and Farmington United — teams that they were a combined 1-4-1 against, giving up a total of 32 goals in those games last season. The tides are slowly starting to shift for Troy; a program that went 0-24-0 as recently as two seasons ago. Could they be heading towards their first winning season since ‘19-20?

When a tie is a ‘win’ for Muskegon hockey

Reeths-Puffer’s Final Four appearance last March was the first for the city of Muskegon in 14 years (Mona Shores, 2010). I was hoping Saturday’s matchup between cross-town rivals Sailors and Rockets would provide some clarity as far as who reigns supreme in the region, but a thrilling 5-5 tie with three lead changes only muddied the waters. Both teams are good. Both teams have talented, high-level players and both teams are deserving of statewide recognition.

Mona is now 6-2-1 with a notable overtime win over Traverse City Central. Nathan Tilden, Brady Tilden and Eli Habetler are a force worth noting, accounting for 25 of the team’s 37 goals. Junior Quinn Addicott is a stout defender, who’s game I grew to appreciate this fall as well. The Sailors still have a lot to prove, but will have opportunities to do so against opponents like GRCC, Escanaba, GR Christian and Caledonia.

Similarly, Reeths-Puffer is 5-2-1 and if you thought this program was going to fade away after its 2024 Division-I state semifinal appearance, you’re wrong. They’ll have ‘prove it’ games similar to Mona in key OKC matchups, with important returning contributors like Ayden Hartzell, Eli Cuti, Tyler Tindall and Huck Van Dyke leading the way.