Playoffs Are Here

2022 MDHL Regular Season Wrap-Up
As we head into November and the high school season kicks off, MDHL regular season play has wrapped up and this weekend’s playoffs will determine who wins the championship.  As we look forward to the remaining five games, here’s a quick breakdown of each team’s performance up to this point.

Green (1^st Place – 10W, 2L)
Sitting atop the league standings with a record of 10-2, the West Michigan-based Green squad is rolling into the playoffs with a five game winning streak.  Led by a trio of Mona Shores seniors (Jack Reelman, Trent Benedict, and Isaac Habatler), this team will be a tough out in the playoffs. 
Reelman leads to team in total points with 21 (12G, 9A), with Benedict 14 pts (8G, 6A) and Habetler 11 pts (2G, 9A) not far behind.  It’s nice to see some younger players on this year’s team contributing as well.  Byron Center’s Jackson Froysland (3G, 9A) and Traverse City Central’s Luke VanderRoest (6G, 4A) are in the top six in scoring.  Playing a gritty style that gets under their opponents’ skin, Green’s scoring differential of +26 puts them far and above everyone else in the league.  The winner of the Blue vs. White quarter final is in for a challenge.

Red (2^nd Place – 8W, 4L)
Perhaps the biggest surprise this season has been the play of the Red squad.  While they have continued the Red legacy of scoring a lot of goals (a league-leading 69), they have tightened up significantly on the defensive end, and finished second in scoring differential at +15.
Chelsea senior Jack Roberts has opened a lot of eyes this season.  A strong, smooth skating forward, Roberts is always a threat in the offensive zone.  His 26 pts (11G, 15A) put him in second place overall in the league.  On the back-end, Cranbrook’s Nathan Hooker and Grosse Ile’s Fisher Gurney have impressed.
Red’s balanced scoring attack could give them the edge in their semifinal matchup against the winner of Black vs. Orange, with nine players having 10 or more points.  If the Catholic Central line of Griffin Crampton (18 pts) , Jackson Walsh (16 pts), and Collin Dell (11 pts) continue to have the chemistry they’ve exhibited in the last few games, Red has the depth to beat anyone.

Black (3^rd Place – 6W, 5L, 1L OT)
The Black squad has been tough to figure out.  They don’t score many goals, but they don’t give up many either.  Their strength starts in the net, where Brighton’s Levi Pennala and Catholic Central’s Kyle Moore have put up some impressive numbers.  Pennala leads the league in both GAA (2.56) and save percentage (93%), while Moore is third in GAA (3.03) and second in save percentage (92%).
Only two players have reached double digits in scoring, led by Canton’s Chris Borg (7G, 7A) and U of D’s  Aidan Charron (5G, 6A).  To win in the playoffs, they’re going to need some players to step up.  Chelsea’s Devin McIntyre, Brighton’s Dominic Vincent, and Catholic Central’s Sebastiano Iavasile all have the ability to make things happen in the offensive zone, and Catholic Central’s Nathan Grondzieleski can be a game-changer on the back-end.

Blue (4^th Place – 6W, 6L)
Blue had an up and down regular season.  They put together a couple two game win streaks but couldn’t find the consistency to put teams away on a regular basis.  Gabriel Richard’s Jack Lapinski leads the way on offense, where his 9G and 14A have him tied for third in the league in points with 23.  Only two other players have 10+ points, with Catholic Central’s Andrew Urbain and Clarkston’s Owen Croston tied with 16 pts a piece.  After missing a couple games early in the year, Catholic Central’s Landon West has been impressive.  He plays a 200 foot game and is heavy on the puck in the offensive zone.   Defensively, two of the younger players on the team have stood out, with Skyline’s Graham Newton and Brighton’s Ryan Watkins showing that they can compete with the best in the league. 
To win in the playoffs, Blue will have to clean up their defensive zone play and their two goalies (Flint Powers’ Blake Zloto and Brighton’s Ryan Nickerson) will have to steal a game.

White (5^th Place – 4W, 8L)
White comes into the playoffs riding a three game losing streak, and has had trouble scoring goals, with just 38 in the 12 game regular season.  Their scoring differential is -17, but their top two goalies have been solid.  Churchill’s Ryan Price is third in the league with a 91% save percentage, with Salem’s Eliot Duerr not far behind with 90%.
Four out of the top five point scorers are Brighton Bulldogs.  Dylan Hunt leads the team with 13 pts, Evan Wohlart is second with 12 pts, and Lane Petit is tied for third with Mattix McMullen and Catholic Central’s Tyler O’Brien (8 pts a piece).
While their record might not show it, the White squad has been playing better and better hockey as the regular season wore on.  To win in the playoffs, it’s going to come down to goaltending and a “scoring by committee” approach from the rest of the team.

Orange (6^th Place – 2W, 7L, 3L OT)
While Orange has given up a league-high 68 goals (-15 scoring differential), they are a scary matchup in the playoffs given the high-end talent they have offensively.  Brighton’s Cameron Duffany leads the league in goals (13), assists (20), and points (33).  Linemate Ryan Wantuck (Catholic Central) is third in all three categories (9G, 14A, 23pts).  Three other players have more than 10 points – Stevenson’s Owen Hall (16 pts), Salem’s Colin Kelley (15 pts), and Stevenson’s Charlie Ward (11 pts).
The bench has been uncharacteristically light the past few games, but if Orange can keep their top line fresh and limit scoring chances in their own end, they have the firepower to surprise in the playoffs.  Their matchup vs. Black in the quarterfinals should be a good one, and if Duffany and Wantuck keep putting up points at the pace they have the last few weeks, Orange could be the dark horse pick to make it to the finals.