Performance of the Week: Houghton's Jack Sayen

March 12, 2026

Jack Sayen headshotJack Sayen ♦ Houghton
Senior ♦ Hockey

The Gremlins senior forward capped his high school career with a game his community will never forget. Sayen scored the opening goal of Houghton’s Division 3 championship game against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, then a full hat trick during the third period including the tying and go-ahead goals in a 5-2 win that earned the Gremlins their first Finals title since 1982.

Sayen was the third player in MHSAA history to have three goals in one period of a championship game, and one of four players – and first since 1993 – to score four goals in a Final. He also had two assists in Houghton’s 4-0 Semifinal win over Traverse Bay Reps and finished this season with 19 goals and 21 assists in making the Division 3 all-state second team. The Gremlins entered the postseason ranked No. 2 and finished the winter 25-6-1.

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Previous 2025-26 honorees

March 5: Devin Patrick, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - Report
Feb. 26: 
Madison Nieuwenhuis, Plainwell wrestling - Report
Feb. 20: Sophie Ramey, Allen Park competitive cheer - Report
Feb. 13:
Cam Ryans, Grand Rapids Northview basketball - Report
Feb. 6:
Melanie Kolnitys, Midland Dow basketball - Report
Jan. 29:
Stella Musialowski, Huron Valley United gymnastics - Report
Jan. 22:
Baylor Perkins, Grand Blanc swimming - Report
Jan. 15:
Delaney Vanier, Flint Kearsley bowling - Report
Jan. 8:
Stevie Hall, Detroit Cass Tech basketball - Report
Dec. 18:
Ethan Martha, Ishpeming Westwood basketball - Report
Dec. 11:
Louis Smith, Three Rivers wrestling - Report
Dec. 4:
Traverse Moore, DeWitt football - Report
Nov. 28:
Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield swimming - Report
Nov. 20:
Brady Kieff, Blanchard Montabella football - Report
Nov. 13:
Ella Laupp, Battle Creek Harper Creek swimming - Report
Nov. 7:
Hunter Eaton, Charlevoix cross country - Report
Oct. 31:
Stephen Gollapalli, Lansing Christian tennis - Report
Oct. 23:
Talya Schreiber, Pickford cross country - Report
Oct. 16:
Avery Manning, Dexter golf - Report
Oct. 9:
Brady Van Laecke, Hudsonville football - Report 
Oct. 2:
Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock volleyball - Report
Sept. 25:
Sam Schumacher, Portage Central tennis - Report
Sept. 18:
Kaylee Mitzel, Saline field hockey - Report
Sept. 11:
Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4:
Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report

State Champs! Michigan: Hockey Time Episode 1

December 2, 2022

Join Jonathon Kidd and Sean Baligian for the first episode of State Champs! Hockey Time for the 2022-23 Hockey Season.

1:25 - Upper Peninsula Preview
3:31 - Northern Lower Peninsula Preview
5:16 - West Michigan Preview
6:40 - Mid-Michigan Preview
8:30 - Coaches' Corner - Ryan Ossenmacher
11:57 - DMC Gamechangers
14:10 - DAC Athlete of the Year Promo
15:38 - OAA-MAC Conference Preview
17:25 - Metro League Preview
18:58 - Ann Arbor Area Preview
20:04 - KLAA Preview
22:51 - MIHL Preview
25:34 - Warrior Hockey Player of the Year and Wall Award Preview
31:03 - Thoughts on MHSAA Hockey Division Realignment
32:24 - Detroit Catholic Central vs. Brother Rice Preview
33:07 - Hartland vs. Livonia Stevenson Preview
33:34 - Brighton vs. OLSM Preview
34:50 - Trenton vs. Cranbrook Preview
35:49 - No More Beanies for Sean