- Michigan
Top 25 Michigan hockey rankings: Top four stay the same, with Davison, Midland Dow, FHNE, Macomb Dakota and Howell climbing into rankings
Now that the holiday season is behind us, here’s a look at the top 25 teams in the state entering the new year:
1. Novi Detroit Catholic Central — The Shamrocks are 10-0 in-state, and have outscored their opponents 61-14. A big home and home match up with a very good Cranbrook-Kingswood squad this weekend will be a big test.
2. Hartland — The Eagles continue to roll, as they now sit at 11-0 in state. They also have two big tests this weekend, when they host U of D Jesuit, and travel to Plymouth to take on Salem.
3. Saginaw Heritage — The Hawks remain unbeaten at 11-0, and have allowed just a goal a game on average, while averaging almost seven per game offensively.
4. U of D Jesuit — The Cubs have won six straight, and now sit at 11-1 on the season. Two big road games this weekend at Hartland and at Warren De La Salle provide the Cubs with an opportunity to move up in the rankings.
5. Livonia Stevenson — Coach David Mitchell and his Spartans are unbeaten in 11 games at 10-0-1 since an opening-night loss to Brother Rice.
6. Trenton — The Trojans sit at 9-2-1 and Coach Chad Clements has a squad that is one of a few teams that are capable of winning it all in Division 2.
7. Cranbrook-Kingswood — The Cranes are riding a six-game win streak, and the home-and-home series this weekend against Catholic Central is can’t-miss for hockey fans.
8. Warren De La Salle — The Pilots are sitting at 9-5-1, and a danger to anybody in Division 3 come playoff time.
9. Calumet — The Copper Kings are off to a 9-3 start, and one of 4 teams from the incredibly competitive Division 3 ranks in our top 10.
10. Brownstown-Woodhaven — The Warriors are riding a 12-game win streak since an opening-night loss to Trenton. Senior Zach Robinson has 17 goals and 24 assists in 13 games.
11. Brother Rice — The Warriors’ brutal schedule continues this week with a home game against a good Grosse Pointe South team, and a road trip to the Upper Peninsula to take on Houghton and Calumet.
12. Detroit Country Day — The defending Division 3 champs are sitting at 8-2-1 in-state, and senior Sam Evola remains one of the best players in the state.
13. Houghton — The Gremlins are yet another threat in Division 3, as they have posted a 10-3-1 record so far.
14. Saline — The Hornets are unbeaten in seven, and have compiled a fine 8-1-1 mark to start the season.
15. Flint Powers Catholic — Coach Travis Perry has his Chargers rolling with 10 straight wins, after an opening-night loss to Detroit Country Day.
16. Plymouth — Coach Gerry Vento and his Wildcats at off to a 10-4 start to the season, and has one of the state’s toughest slates ahead of them, to get them ready for the playoffs.
17. Salem — The Rocks are a team that will play anybody in-state, and coach Ryan Ossenmacher has built a year-in, year-out ranked threat because of it.
18. Davison — The Cardinals make their 2018-19 debut in our rankings, after being ranked most of the season last year. Off to a 9-1 start, with the only loss coming to our No. 3-ranked team here, Saginaw Heritage.
19. Byron Center — The Bulldogs remain, perhaps, the best team on the west side of the state, as they have put together a fine 10-2 start to the season.
20. Brighton — The Bulldogs split a pair of games up in Copper Country this past weekend, knocking off Hancock, 8-4, and falling to a tough Calumet team, 2-1.
21. Midland Dow — The Chargers make their debut in our rankings by virtue of their 8-3 start to the season. Two interesting match ups loom this weekend at the North/South Showcase in Traverse City, where they will face Brownstown-Woodhaven and Utica Eisenhower.
22. Forest Hills Northern-Eastern — Coach Tom Bissett and his squad have been a threat for a few years now in the Division 2 ranks, and jump back into our rankings with an unbeaten streak of four games. Two big tests this week with Holland West Ottawa and Grand Rapids Catholic Central on the docket.
23. Macomb Dakota — The Cougars make their debut in our rankings as they are riding a four-game win streak, as part of an impressive 9-3 start on the season. They should be an interesting watch in Division 1 come playoff time.
24. Orchard Lake St, Mary’s — Coach Brian Klanow and his Eaglets are always a danger in Division 1, and the schedule they play yearly has them battle-tested come playoff time.
25. Howell — The Highlanders make their debut in our rankings after winning three straight, including going to Copper Country and winning the MacInnes Holiday Classic.
PREVIOUS RANKINGS:
For rankings from the week of Dec. 17, CLICK HERE.
For preseason rankings, CLICK HERE.
