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State Champs! Boys Hockey Rankings: Hartland, Romeo make moves up; Hancock enters rankings at No. 20
1. Detroit Catholic Central. The Shamrocks are sitting at 9-1 with a total of nine goals allowed. Showdown looming Wednesday at USA Hockey Arena with Brother Rice is always a must-see game.
2. Hartland. Coach Rick Gadwa and the Eagles have won nine straight, and at 13-1, have set the pace in the incredibly tough Division 2 ranks.
3. Romeo. Coach Nick Badder and his Bulldogs are nipping at the heels of Hartland in Division 2, and are one of the most exciting teams to watch in the state at 14-0.
4. Flint Powers. Quite the battle for the top spot in Division 3, but I give the Chargers the bragging rights for now based on the fact that they are unbeaten in their last eight at 7-0-1.
5. Birmingham Brother Rice. The Warriors went 4-0 since our last rankings, and are ready for the Catholic Central game.
6. Grand Rapids Catholic Central. The Cougars dropped their first game of the season with a 2-1 defeat to East Grand Rapids, but rebounded nicely with a big win over East Kentwood and sit at 12-1 overall.
7. Brighton. Coach Paul Moggach and the Bulldogs have a brutal slate, and will be battle tested by playoff time.
8. Livonia Stevenson. The Spartans are the third team from the Kensington Lakes Activities Association in the top eight at 10-3-1, and have a big week ahead at Canton, and hosting Division 2 rival Trenton.
9. U-D Jesuit. The Cubs are playing as well as anybody as of late with a win over Catholic Central, a tie against Flint Powers, and two more ties in Calumet.
10. Allen Park. The Jags are sitting at 14-0-1, with the tie coming against traditional powerhouse Trenton. They are a legitimate threat in the congested Division 3 ranks.
11. Saginaw Heritage. The Hawks are yet another tough Division 3 squad at 10-1 and averaging over six goals a game.
12. Trenton. The Trojans check in at 9-4-2, and the eyes of Division 2 will be on the match against Livonia Stevenson Friday night in Livonia.
13. Grandville. The Bulldogs have won six straight to improve to 12-2 overall. Coach Joel Breazeale has his team getting hot at the right time.
14. Calumet. The Copper Kings continue to make the case as the best in the U.P. and one of the teams to watch in Division 3.
15. Marquette. The Redmen were knocking on the top 25 door, but kicked it in after going 3-0, and outscoring their opponents 30-5 since our last rankings.
16. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood. While Division 3 is soaring, it also comes with the realization that somewhere down the line, Coach Andy Weidenbach and the Cranes are waiting.
17. Wyandotte Roosevelt. Coach Mike Quint’s Bears have won five straight after dropping their only two losses of the season in late December and are 12-2-1 overall.
18. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. Coach Kormos and his Eaglets play an incredibly tough schedule that will pay off come playoff time.
19. Hancock. The Bulldogs move into the top 20 with wins over Brighton, Novi and Kingsford.
20. Grosse Pointe South. The Blue Devils are 11-3-1 overall, and poised for another deep run in Division 2.
21. Howell. Coach Mike Mantua has the Highlanders at 11-3 and are a team to watch in Division 1.
22. Livonia Churchill. The Chargers have won seven straight, and have improved to 11-2 overall. Coach Jason Reynolds deserves serious Coach of the year consideration.
23. Chelsea. Coach Don Wright and the Bulldogs are 12-1 and led by the incredible goaltending exploits of Derek Schaedig.
24. Salem. Coach Ryan Ossenmacher and the Rocks are unbeaten in their last eight at 6-0-2. Two big tests this week as the host Brighton, and a rivalry game with Plymouth.
25. Livonia Franklin. The Patriots are at 9-4, but the four losses have come against ranked teams, Romeo, Stevenson, Howell and Churchill.
The Next 5: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, Houghton, Lake Orion, Northville, Sault Ste. Marie.
