DIVISION 1
Teams to watch statewide: Detroit Catholic Central, Rochester United, Utica Eisenhower, St. Mary’s Preparatory
Top local teams: Rockford, Bay City Central
Preview: Marquette, which had a 15-7 record from last season, will be the top U.P. team. Coach Doug Garrow is confident his team can improve and be in the Final Four.
Catholic Central appears to have enough fire power to win it all again.
Top players in state: Max Harper and Marshall Bowery, Rochester United; Ryan Burnett, Alec Calvaruso, Mitch Ossowski, Catholic Central; Jake Phillips, Marquette; Alex Frye, St. Mary’s Preparatory
State final prediction: Catholic Central prevails over Utica Eisenhower.
DIVISION 2
Teams to watch statewide: Trenton, Brother Rice, Livonia Stevenson, Mona Shores, Traverse City Central
Top local teams: Midland Dow, Heritage, Swan Valley
Preview: Livonia Stevenson lost in double overtime to Trenton in the regional final round last year and had Dominic Lutz, Mr. Hockey. “We have a real solid group of kids who are committed to working hard in order to improve,” Stevenson coach David Mitchell said.
Trenton was 26-4-1 last season and state champion. Coach Chad Clements wants his team to play its best during playoff time.
Top players in state: Quinn Preston, Conor Cunningham, Trenton; Alex King, Wyandotte Roosevelt; Matt Manning, Brother Rice
State final prediction: Brother Rice prevails over Livonia Stevenson.
DIVISION 3
Teams to watch statewide: Cranbrook-Kingswood, Houghton, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Powers Catholic
Top local teams: Powers Catholic, Freeland-Nouvel-Valley Lutheran, Okemos
Preview: Coach Andy Weidenbach’s Cranbrook-Kingswood team was 26-2 last year and hopes to go deep into the playoffs this year. Sault Ste. Marie was state runner-up at 25-3-2 but will be younger this season and led by Chase Meehan, Hunter Krause, and Abby Roque. The Freeland-Nouvel-Valley Lutheran Griffins are coming off a 17-7 season and will be led by Ben Rybicki, Wyatt Hundley, and Brandon Hausbeck. St. Mary Catholic Central is coming off a 19-9-2 year and hopes to be competitive with players like Anthony Cicero, Joel Frazee, Adam Theisen, and Jacob Willets.
Top players in state: Austin Alger, Cooper Stahl, Cranbrook-Kingswood; Marcus Gloss, Houghton
State final prediction: Cranbrook-Kingswood defeats Grand Rapids Catholic Central.