- Michigan
Catching up with the contestants for the STATE CHAMPS! Michigan High School Hockey Player of the Year
The hockey season is nearly two months old and STATE CHAMPS! has already had to move a couple of players around for the 2020 Michigan High School Hockey Player of the Year candidates.
Let’s check in on the progress of the players so far:
Luke Blasy F Midland Dow: The Chargers are 9-2 on the season a week into 2020. Blasy has been a producing machine as he’s the top point getter for Dow with 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists). Not only is he scoring the puck, he’s also staying out of the penalty box this year earning only six penalties.
Joey Cormier G Trenton: Cormier has faced stiff competition playing in nine games this so far this season. He comes in with the second-best save percentage in the state at 95.6 percent against the likes of Woodhaven, Livonia Stevenson, Grosse Pointe South, U-D Jesuit, Hartland and others. He holds four shutouts and has stopped 215 pucks with a Goals Against at 1.23.
DJ Dixon F Brother Rice: A newcomer to the list has been playing well for the Warriors. Dixon had notched 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in nine games, including a five-assist game against De La Salle, and an impressive two-goal, four-assist performance in the CHSL Tournament against Cranbrook.
Kyle Gaffney F Detroit Catholic Central: Gaffney has been an offensive output machine, scoring at least one goal and adding at least one assist in four games this season. The Senior has accumulated 15 points through nine games while not getting in the sent to penalty box once.
Dakota Kott D Hartland: Kott is an offensive-minded defenseman who likes to set up his teammates for opportunities. He has 15 points in eight games (10 of which are assists). His best game of the season came against Hancock with a two-goal, one-assist performance during Hartland’s UP trip at the start of December.
Seth Lause F Livonia Stevenson: Lause is a four-year player for the Double Blue and White, and is the most experienced player coach Dave Mitchell has had in his time in Livonia. The two-year captain is second on the Spartans with 20 points (eight goals and 12 assists). He even tallied back-to-back three point games against Country Day and Canton.
Jacob Onstott F Grand Rapids Catholic Central: One of the best from the west, Onstott is leading the Cougars with 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) and has nine multi-point games in 13 appearances. The senior has posted six games with one or more goals, and multiple assists.
Tanner Rowe F Calumet: Rowe leads a very talented Copper King squad. Only a junior, Rowe has already earned praise beyond high school hockey. His best game this year was against Houghton, where he scored two goals (he’s second on the team with nine), and he’s third on the team with 16 points.
Keegan Spitz F Grosse Point South: Another newcomer to the list but he’s taken the season headfirst. Already through 13 games, Spitz has 31 points behind 16 goals and 15 assists. He has already notched two hat-tricks against the Bay Reps and Warren De La Salle. He started the year with six points against Rochester United, and added a five-point night against Warren De La Salle.
Jacob Thomas D Country Day: Thomas has had a slow start to the season, scoring-wise, with only three points (one goal, two assists), but points aren’t the focal point of his game. A clean penalty sheet for a big body is — he’s taken just four penalties in 10 games — and a strong back check is why Thomas is on this list. He contributes in other ways.
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As always, you can vote for the Michigan High School Hockey Player of the Year by clicking on the “Contests” pull-down menu on the top toolbar of the website, or you can CLICK HERE.
