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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Flashback 100: Walled Lake Northern's Hellebuyck Reigns as NHL's Elite Netminder
March 7, 2025
Connor Hellebuyck has been a Knight, a Jackalope, a River Hawk, and a Jet – but above all, he’s one of the NHL’s premier goaltenders.
The Walled Lake Northern alum is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner (2020, 2024), awarded annually to the league’s top goalie. This season, his numbers are even better than during his award-winning years, and he has led the Winnipeg Jets to the best record in hockey through 62 games.
Hellebuyck’s journey to NHL stardom began at Walled Lake Northern (nicknamed the Knights) before he was selected in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft by the Jets. He spent a season in junior hockey with the Odessa Jackalopes, then played two standout years at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (the River Hawks). There, he backstopped the team to its first-ever Frozen Four appearance in 2013, was twice named Hockey East Tournament MVP, and became the inaugural winner of the Mike Richter Award, recognizing the top goaltender in college hockey.
After his sophomore year at UMass-Lowell, Hellebuyck turned pro, beginning his career in the AHL with the St. John’s IceCaps and Manitoba Moose. By the middle of the 2015 season, he'd earned a call-up to the Jets – and he hasn’t looked back, cementing his place as their franchise goaltender.
Previous "Flashback 100" Features
Feb. 27: Zeerip's Mat Stats Remain Rarely-Challenged Chart Toppers - Read
Feb. 21: Before TV Stardom, Kerwin Excelled as All-State Skier - Read
Feb. 14: Detroit Central Star Voted into Pro Football Hall of Fame - Read
Feb. 6: Multi-Sport Star Look Becomes Super Bowl Officiating Legend - Read
Jan. 31: Johnson Family Put Magical Stamp on Michigan High School Hoops - Read
Jan. 24: Future Hall of Famers Face Off First in MHSAA Class A Final - Read
Jan. 17: First-Ever WNBA Draft Pick Rocked at Salem, Won Titles at Tennessee - Read
Jan. 10: Despite Launching Before 3-Point Line, Smith Still Tops Scoring List - Read
Jan. 3: Edison's Jackson Earns Place Among State's All-Time Elite - Read
Dec. 20: Future Olympian Piper Leads Grosse Pointe North to Historic Heights - Read
Dec. 13: The Other Mr. Forsythe in Michigan School Sports - Read
Dec. 6: Coleman's Legendary Heroics Carry Harrison Through Repeat - Read
Nov. 29: Harbaugh Brothers' Football Roots Planted in Part at Pioneer - Read
Nov. 22: 8-Player Football Finals Right at Home at Superior Dome - Read
Nov. 15: Leland Career Helps Set Stage for Glass' International Stardom - Read
Nov. 8: Future Baseball Pro Led Escanaba's Legendary Football Title Run - Read
Nov. 1: Michigan High School Baseball Trio Provide World Series Voices - Read
Oct. 25: Before Leading Free World, Ford Starred for Champion GR South - Read
Oct. 18: Mercy Links Legend Becomes World Golf Hall of Famer - Read
Oct. 11: Fisher Races to Finals Stardom on Way to U.S. Olympic First - Read
Oct. 4: Lalas Leaves High School Legacies on Ice & Pitch - Read
Sept. 27: Tamer's History-Making Run Starts in Dexter, Continues to Paris - Read
Sept. 20: Todd Martin’s Road to Greatness Starts at East Lansing - Read
Sept. 13: James Earl Jones, Dickson High Hoops to Hollywood Legend - Read
Sept. 6: Pioneers' Unstoppable Streak Stretches 9 Seasons - Read
Aug. 30: Detroit dePorres Rushes to 1995 Class CC Football Championship - Read
(Photos courtesy of Walled Lake Northern and the NHL.)