MiHockey’s annual ’50 Most Influential People in Michigan Hockey’

Josh Mervis

The owner of the Muskegon Lumberjacks – the only USHL team in the state (not counting the NTDP) – is helping players from Michigan and beyond move on to the next level.

In his first year as the head coach of the Broncos, Andy Murray led them to a league title. (Dave Reginek/DRW)

Andy Murray

The former NHL bench boss won a CCHA tournament title in his first season with the Western Michigan Broncos, and has them ready to repeat this year.

Jim Nill

The Red Wings’ assistant GM still has plenty of work to do during the lockout, as he oversees the Grand Rapids Griffins – currently the top-level team in Michigan.

Mel Pearson

The Michigan Tech alum is rebuilding his alma mater, and making sure that the Huskies won’t be taken lightly in a revamped WCHA next season.

The Perani family

It wouldn’t be fair to give it to just one of them. The late Bob Perani started what is now the biggest hockey supply company in the state (and potentially the world), and the family has been remarkably supportive of every level of hockey.

Lyle Phair

Phair is the executive director of Suburban Sports Group, which owns or manages six ice arenas in Michigan. He is also active in both the Honeybaked hockey club and in the High Performance Hockey League, along with the ‘One Goal’ program in association with MAHA.

Fred Pletsch

The commissioner of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association is guiding the league through its final season.

Lou Schmidt

The founder of the Honeybaked hockey program and coach of the Brother Rice Warriors continues to be one of the top hockey minds in Michigan.

Carol Schwanger

Schwanger is MAHA’s leader for disabled hockey in Michigan. The long-time member of MAHA has helped people across the country experience playing the sport.

Brian Sherry

The NTDP’s director of player personnel has a hand in which players get identified and scouted by the Ann-Arbor based program. Sherry is a Lansing native with years of experience in coaching and recruiting.

Mike Snee

The new executive director of College Hockey, Inc. will be keeping a close eye on Michigan, which is perhaps the main battleground in the recruiting wars between college and junior programs.

Jeff and Joe Spedowski

The Spedowski brothers run the Adray youth hockey league, the second biggest youth league in the state.

Mike Vellucci

The coach and GM of the Plymouth Whalers helps develop talent both in the OHL, and at the youth level; Vellucci is also active in the Compuware youth club.

Andy Weidenbach

Weidenbach has been, among other things, the bench boss for Cranbrook for almost two decades, and he has been nationally recognized for his accomplishments with the storied program.

Don Wright

The vice president of the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches’ Association is working to build a more united front for high school hockey in our state as the level of play continues to grow. Wright organized the high school squad that won a title in Minnesota, and he is the MAHA representative for high school hockey.

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