By Nathan Reilly –

The 2010-11 season was a memorable one for the members of the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League.

Wyandotte-Roosevelt captured a state title, and Brother Rice and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s both reached the finals in their respective divisions.

The longtime mission of the league has been to get players onto the next level, and two underclassman – Scott Dornbock (Grosse Pointe North) and Michael Downing (Catholic Central) – went on to the USHL, the top junior hockey league in the United States.

As the conference continues to be the best in the state of Michigan, they now rival the top conferences in Minnesota and Wisconsin. During this off-season, the MIHL added the Trenton Trojans and Wyandotte-Roosevelt Bears, two more elite teams to their conference who will begin MIHL play this year.

Here is what some of the other MIHL coaches had to say on the decision to accept Trenton and Wyandotte’s applications to join the league.

“Our entire league is thrilled with the additions of Wyandotte and Trenton.  They not only have solid programs but their coaches have similar views to the other MIHL coaches from a discipline and competitive standpoint.”- Catholic Central Coach Todd Johnson

“I think it is great for our league to add these two teams.  You cannot afford to take a night off or it will be a long night, which is great because it prepares you for the state tournament.” -GPN Coach Scott Lock

“The tough MIHL just got tougher, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.  We always want to play the best competition, so three more games against them can only help us as a team.” – Brother Rice Coach Lou Schmidt

“Both teams have great coaches and great programs; this should make the MIHL the best league in the State.” – DLS Coach Dan Barry

“There are four more tough games.  Both Mike (Turner) and Mike (Quint) are doing a fantastic job and it can only make us better.” – Port Huron Northern Head Coach Darryl McCarrel

Team-by-team previews:

 

Brother Rice Warriors

2010–11

Overall Record: 23-6-1

MIHL Record: 10-3-1

Summary: After a state final loss to MIHL newcomer Wyandotte-Roosevelt (1-4), Brother Rice graduated 15 seniors, including two of their top three scorers (John Hickman and Jake Jaskolski).  They do return one of the state’s top players, Mackenzie MacEachern (23 goals and 64 points), with head coach Lou Schmidt echoing ‘Mac’s’ high praise.

“Mac is a special player that will definitely be playing at the next level,” Schmidt said. “Last year he led the MIHL in scoring, and was named as a co-MVP.  This year, our expectations are that he continues to grow and improve as a team leader, player and person.”

Brother Rice also graduated all three goaltenders, so inexperience will be manning their net.

“We have the two goalies from last year’s JV team; Alex Thomas (senior) and Jack Bowman (sophomore).  They have similar numbers, so we will continue to watch to see who will step up and be the No. 1.”

On the challenge Schmidt will face is losing fifteen players with state championship game experience, he said “it’s always tough to go through one of those senior heavy cycles.”

However, no matter how young Brother Rice is, their expectations never change.

“As a coaching staff, our expectations remain the same; be playing at Compuware in March.”

Strengths – Mackenzie MacEachern

Weakness- Inexperience

 

Novi Catholic Central Shamrocks

2010-2011

Overall Record: 16-8-1

MIHL Record: 9-4-1

Summary: The Shamrocks will be trying to replace 10 seniors from last year’s squad as they enter another MIHL season.  However, they will be bringing back last year’s top scorer Charlie Green (12 goals and 30 points), and their coach isn’t concerned about experience.

“The strength of our team is fourteen returners who lost a difficult state playoff game last year,” coach Todd Johnson said. “Green led our team in scoring and certainly will be looked upon to maintain his offensive production.”

Out of seven defenseman, Catholic Central only lost one defenseman due to graduation and one (Michael Downing) to the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL. They lost both goaltenders Alex Nork (1.67 GAA) and Connor Pankow (1.97 GAA) but Johnson feels the transition will be smooth.

“We have two junior goalies that both played in our JV program the past two years, and we feel confident that they will make a smooth transition to the varsity level.”

Strength: Solid depth/experience throughout the line-up

Weakness:  Inexperience at the goaltending position

 

Cranbrook-Kingswood Cranes

2010-2011

Overall Record: 17-10-2

MIHL Record: 7-4-1-2

Summary:  A semifinals loss to Grand Rapids Catholic Central last season graduated ten seniors for the Cranbrook-Kingswood Cranes, including their top four scorers – Jarett Friedland (19 goals, 37 points), Nick Carrothers (17 goals, 38 points), Brendan Kirk (15 goals, 34 points), Ryan Doucet (21 goals, 35 points).  With 65 percent of their point production graduated, Cranbrook will need to rely on goaltenders Justin Kirk and Aaron Alkema (1.66 GAA in MIHL play) to keep opponents from scoring.

There is very good competition between them for the starting goaltender spot,” coach Andy Weidenbach said. “We are very young and inexperienced on defense, so both goaltenders are going to have ample opportunity to play an important role in our success, especially early.”

To help out defensively, Cameron Heath (8 goals and 23 points) has made the move back to defense, joining only one returning defenseman – Jeff Martin.

“For scoring we’ll be relying on junior Alex Alger, sophomore Christopher Brown and newcomer, junior Billy Young.

“Our goal is to get production from all of the lines – we want everyone to produce.”

Just like every other MIHL team, Cranbrook never rebuilds, only reloads, and people can expect to see them competing for a spot at Compuware Arena come March.

Strengths –Goaltending

Weakness – Inexperienced blue line

 

De La Salle Pilots

2010-2011 (MIHL Regular Season Champs)

Overall Record: 22-4-1

MIHL Record: 11-2-1

Summary: 2010-2011 MHSAA coach of the year Dan Barry lost his top seven point-producers on a senior heavy team from last year, including three 40-point producers.

“Losing 15 seniors is something we have kind of gotten used to,” Barry said. “We have two JV programs that feed our varsity team.”

Stepping up into those 15 seniors’ place will be Matt Taylor, Patrick Giles, and Jack Aliotta, who won a national championship playing travel hockey last season.  Barry is very confident in his team, saying, “we should be a very deep team.”  Also returning from last year’s MIHL regular season championship team are five forwards, three defensemen, and one goaltender.

Strength – Depth

Weakness –Inexperience

 

Grosse Pointe North Norsemen

2010-2011

Overall Record: 10-11-3

MIHL Record: 6-7-1

Summary: Grosse Pointe graduated only four seniors, but they lost top defenseman Scott Dornbrock to Omaha (USHL).  Yet so far, head coach Scott Lock likes his team.

“We have had this core group of players together for a few years now,” Lock said. “So we are hoping that will pay off n the long run.”

The Norsemen are returning seven of their top eight scorers, including second-team all-state selections Joe Aluia (16 goals and 28 points) and J.P. Lucchese (11 goals and 26 points).  “We will look at J.P. and Joe to lead our team on and off the ice.  They had good junior years and will be looking at themselves to have even better senior years.”

Also coming back is goaltender Chip Wujek, who saw action in 13 games last season. Joining Wujek between the pipes is senior goalie Kyle Cosens.

“We have a good tight knit group that likes to skate with each other and are friends off the ice,” Lock said.  “The strength of our team will be the experience we have up and down our line-up.”

With a lot of teams in the MIHL having younger squads, expectations for the experienced Grosse Pointe North squad are high.

Strengths – Experience up front and between the pipes

Weakness – “We have a lot of experience at forward but how much goal scoring we do will be a question mark all year.” – Lock

 

Port Huron Northern

2010-2011

Overall Record: 10-16-0

MIHL Record: 0-13-0

Summary: Graduated only six seniors, the Port Huron Northern Huskies will feature goaltender Matt Fernandez, who saw action in 11 games last season, Dillon Pfeifer (8 goals and 20 points), Bobby King (five goals and and 13 points), Lewy Nowakowski (seven goals and 14 points) and leading goal-scorer Jimmy Radatz (nine goals and 13 points).

Strength – Physical, experienced forwards

Weakness – Depth

 

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Eaglets

2010-2011

Overall Record: 19-11-0

MIHL Record: 7-7-0

Summary: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s graduated 12 seniors after suffering a loss to Novi in the state title game last spring.

“We are young…with this comes time to learn the systems, getting comfortable and understanding their individual responsibilities,” said coach Brian Klanow.

The Eaglets lose two of their top-scorers, but bring back sophomores Cody Milan (16 goals and 27 points, second team all-state) and Mitchell Vanderburg (12 goals and 21 points).  “Our strength must be that we will be a team from the inside-out and will understand our defensive responsibilities.”

Strengths – Defensive hockey

Weakness – Young, inexperience

 

Trenton Trojans

2010- 2011

Overall Record: 17-6-2

(New to MIHL)

Summary:  Playing MIHL teams will be nothing new for the Trenton Trojans as their schedule has featured playing many of the MIHL teams in non-league play.  Coach Mike Turner says “In the past, we have played half the league in non-conference, so now we will play the rest of the league and I hope to have a good showing against these teams.”  Coach Turner will have solid goaltending with Blake Wojtala, “he will keep us in games” said Coach Turner.  The Trojans will be battling some inexperience at forward and thus scoring goals will be a challenge.

Strength – Goaltending

Weakness – Inexperience at forward

 

Wyandotte-Roosevelt Bears

2010-2011

Overall Record: 26-4-0 (Division 2 State Champion)

(New to MIHL)

Summary:  Wyandotte-Roosevelt, entering their first season in the MIHL, will be facing a tough schedule while they try to defend their state championship.  Wyandotte, who beat Brother Rice in the Division 2 state title game, was 1-2 versus MIHL opponents last year.  They must endure a difficult 18-game league schedule.

 

U of D Jesuit

2010-2011

Overall Record: 6-18-0

MIHL Record: 3-11-0

Summary: A pre-regional loss to St. Clair Shores Unified ended the career for eight Jesuit seniors, including their top two scorers from last season.  They bring back Sam Parise (four goals and 12 points) and junior goalie Oscar Mansky (1.76 GAA).

“We hope to come together as a group, focusing on improving the overall team defense which will help us compete in this incredibly competitive and challenging league,” coach Rick Bennetts said.

Bennetts hopes that Craig Pefley will help Sam Parise with scoring goals this season.

“Pefley will be one of our top go-to guys this year,” Bennetts said. “We will be looking for him to pick up the slack lost through graduation and the departure of Timmy Moore.”

Strengths – Commitment, along with team cohesiveness

Weakness – Need to improve on team defense and more balanced scoring