Shamrocks Clinch 7th-Straight Division 1 Title with Familiar Finals Dominance

By Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com

March 8, 2026

PLYMOUTH — In another dominant championship game performance, Detroit Catholic Central made it seven straight Division 1 titles Saturday with a 6-0 win over a Northville team making its first appearance in a Final.

As has been the case often in the championship game, Catholic Central was just too much at USA Hockey Arena.

The Shamrocks outshot the Mustangs, 47-15. 

Junior Myles Schlack had a goal and two assists, and juniors Sam Masek and Elian Szerlip each had a goal and an assist to lead the way for DCC (29-1-1).

“It doesn’t get old,” Catholic Central head coach Brandon Kaleniecki said. “I think each one’s special in their own way. We try not to look at the numbers in a row. Each year is its own special team, and that’s what makes it so much fun for us.”

It was even more fun for Schlack, a defenseman who netted three points.

“We didn’t know much about them coming in,” Schlack said. “We just wanted to play our game. We knew we could dominate them that way, and we did.”

Northville’s Jake Jurcisin (12) controls the puck on his team’s end of the ice. Northville ended its longest MHSAA Tournament run at 23-9.

“We have absolutely no regrets,” Northville head coach Ryan Ossenmacher said. “We didn’t lose a minute of time this year to get better. For some of the guys it’s just a start, for some of the guys it was a great finish.” 

Catholic Central peppered Northville with shots in the first period but couldn’t get on the scoreboard until there was 2:16 left before the first intermission, when junior Luke Perdue jumped on a rebound in front of the Northville goal and shot it into a half-open net to make it 1-0. 

The Shamrocks made it 2-0 with 10:34 remaining in the second period on a goal by Masak, who fired a point shot that went just underneath the crossbar. 

Catholic Central then took a 3-0 lead 2:19 later when Schlack scored on a shot near the top of the left face-off circle. 

The Shamrocks took a 4-0 lead with 12:53 remaining in the game on a goal by Szerlip, who took a shot that deflected off a Northville defensemen and fluttered underneath the crossbar. 

With 9:07 left, Catholic Central went up 5-0 when junior Lucas Szmagaj scored on a wrist shot from the right face-off circle. 

Senior Kristian Marchese then got into the act, scoring on a shot from the right face-off circle to give Catholic Central a 6-0 lead with 3:10 left. 

“It was not a year where we were going to show up and dominate from the get-go to the end,” Kaleniecki said. “We knew there were going to be some challenges and a building experience as the year went on. The record sounds great whatever it ended up being, but there was a lot of challenges along the way where these guys rose to the occasion and got better at the end. Obviously, I love the way we played down the stretch.”

Click for the full box score.

PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Catholic Central players celebrate during their Division 1 Final win Saturday and USA Hockey Arena. (Middle) Northville’s Jake Jurcisin (12) controls the puck on his team’s end of the ice. (Photos by Adam Sheehan/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)

Story in Photos: 2023 Ice Hockey Semifinals

March 10, 2023

PLYMOUTH – This season’s MHSAA Hockey Finals will include a Division 1 rematch of last season’s deciding game, a Division 2 rematch of the 2021 finale and a Division 3 championship game guaranteed to produce a first-time title winner.

All three Finals are Saturday at Plymouth’s USA Hockey Arena:

Division 2 – 11 a.m. – Byron Center vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
Division 3 – 3 p.m. – Flint Powers Catholic vs. East Grand Rapids
Division 1 – 7 p.m. – Detroit Catholic Central vs. Brighton

Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured plenty of action from the Semifinals – all photos and text below are by John Castine. Click for more as they are posted.

Evan Wohlart (8), who later scored the game winner in Brighton’s 4-3 triple-overtime win in Division 1 on Friday, has a shot blocked by Hartland goalie Colin Babcock.

Evan Wohlart (8), who later scored the game winner in Brighton’s 4-3 triple-overtime win in Division 1 on Friday, has a shot blocked by Hartland goalie Colin Babcock.

Detroit Catholic Central gets a breakaway goal from John Rocco despite being shorthanded two players on the way to a 2-0 Division 1 win Friday over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central.

Detroit Catholic Central gets a breakaway goal from John Rocco despite being shorthanded two players on the way to a 2-0 Division 1 win Friday over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central.

DCC goalie Kyle Moore makes a save during his shutout performance.

DCC goalie Kyle Moore makes a save during his shutout performance.

Byron Center goalie Carson MacKenzie turns away a shot during the second period against U-D Jesuit on Thursday.

Byron Center goalie Carson MacKenzie turns away a shot during the second period against U-D Jesuit on Thursday.

Byron Center players celebrate their 8-4 Division 2 Semifinal win Thursday over Detroit U-D Jesuit.

Byron Center players celebrate their 8-4 Division 2 Semifinal win over the Cubs.

Brother Rice’s Luke Sacca scores during the first minute of the third period of his team’s 11-3 win over Saginaw Heritage in Division 2.

Brother Rice’s Luke Sacca scores during the first minute of the third period of his team’s 11-3 win over Saginaw Heritage in Division 2.

Jack Cassidy (21) and teammate Peter Rosa celebrate Cassidy’s game-ending goal Thursday.

Jack Cassidy (21) and teammate Peter Rosa celebrate Cassidy’s game-ending goal Thursday.

East Grand Rapids' Charlie Hoekstra (16) fires the game-winning overtime goal with 1:11 left to play in the first extra period to give his team a 2-1 win over Houghton.

East Grand Rapids' Charlie Hoekstra (16) fires the game-winning overtime goal with 1:11 left to play in the first extra period to give his team a 2-1 win over Houghton.

EGR players rush to the glass in front of their fans Friday to celebrate the comeback win.

EGR players rush to the glass in front of their fans Friday to celebrate the comeback win.


Mason Czarnecki scores Flint Powers Catholic’s fifth goal of a 6-0 win Friday over Riverview Gabriel Richard in Division 3.

Mason Czarnecki scores Flint Powers Catholic’s fifth goal of a 6-0 win Friday over Riverview Gabriel Richard in Division 3.

Chargers goalie Nicholas Kurtiak makes one of 25 saves in his shutout performance.

Chargers goalie Nicholas Kurtiak makes one of 25 saves in his shutout performance.

TOP PHOTO Brighton’s Charlie Burchfield nearly flies over the goal after getting stopped during the third period of his team’s win over Hartland.