This Week In High School Sports: 1/18/22

By Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

January 18, 2022

This week's edition highlights a strong start for the Midland Dow girls basketball team, awards Game Balls to high achievers in wrestling, basketball and hockey; and celebrates retiring coaches who are among the winningest in Michigan's girls basketball and baseball history. MI Student Aid

The 5-minute program each week includes feature stories from around the state from the MHSAA’s Second Half or network affiliates, along with "Be The Referee," a 60-second look at the fine art of officiating.

"This Week in High School Sports" is powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Listen to this week's show by Clicking Here.

Previous editions

Jan. 11: Battle of the Fans X "Challenge Round," officiating on the islands Listen
Jan. 4: Onsted boys basketball, Oxford Strong Listen
Dec. 15:
Winter championship calendar, KLAA/MIHL Memorial Showcase Listen
Dec. 8:
2021 Bush Award honorees, remembering Tom Rashid Listen
Dec. 1: 11-Player Football Finals review Listen
Nov. 23: Volleyball, LP Girls Swimming & Diving, 8-Player Football Finals review Listen
Nov. 16:
Lower Peninsula Cross Country continued, weekend preview Listen
Nov. 9: Lower Peninsula Cross Country, Boys Soccer Finals review Listen
Nov. 2: Title IX at 50 celebration, Fall championship broadcasts Listen
Oct. 27: Upper Peninsula Cross Country Finals review, soccer/volleyball playoff update Listen
Oct. 20: Lower Peninsula Girls Golf & Boys Tennis Finals review Listen
Oct. 13: Middle school/junior high cross country Regionals, football playoff selection Listen
Oct. 6: Upper Peninsula girls tennis champions, football broadcast update Listen
Sept. 29: Girls swimming & diving "Meet of Champions," Schoolcraft's star kicker  Listen
Sept. 22:
Spartan Invitational "elite" races, John U. Bacon's "Let Them Lead"  Listen
Sept. 15:
Volleyball powers face off, Tiger Teusink's tennis legacy Listen
Sept. 8:
Fall sports rules changes, Adrian Lenawee Christian inspiration – Listen
Sept. 1: 
Boys soccer seeding process, Beaver Island athletics – Listen
Aug. 25:
 Return of Fall sports, “enhanced strength-of-schedule” football playoff format – Listen

Story in Photos: 2026 Ice Hockey Semifinals

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 6, 2026

PLYMOUTH – The 2025-26 ice hockey season will conclude Saturday with all three reigning champions in position to repeat at Plymouth's USA Hockey Arena – but not without facing one more major challenge.

Division 2 will start Saturday’s MHSAA Finals at 11 a.m. with Flint Powers Catholic (26-5) seeking a second-straight title and facing Livonia Stevenson (20-9-1) for the second-straight season. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (25-4) will play for a repeat in Division 3, but must get past top-seeded Houghton (24-6-1) at 3 p.m. The Division 1 Final will once again feature Detroit Catholic Central (28-1-1), this time playing for a seventh-straight title, against first-time finalist Northville (23-8), with the puck dropping at 7 p.m. to finish the day.

Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured plenty of action from the Semifinals – Division 1 and 2 photos below are by Lilanie Karunanayake and Division 3 photos are by John Castine.

Detroit Catholic Central’s Matthew Naida (12) and Dominic Testani (20) monitor the action on the ice during their team’s 8-0 win over Rockford (21-9-1) on Friday.

Detroit Catholic Central’s Matthew Naida (12) and Dominic Testani (20) monitor the action on the ice during their team’s 8-0 win over Rockford (21-9-1) on Friday.

Rockford goalie Nolan Willams moves to protect his net as DCC’s Costa Karadimas approaches. Karadimas had a goal and an assist.

Rockford goalie Nolan Willams moves to protect his net as DCC’s Costa Karadimas approaches. Karadimas had a goal and an assist.

Northville's Tommy Marinoff sends a loose puck during Utica Eisenhower's net during his team's 3-2 double-overtime Division 1 Semifinal win Friday. Marinoff scored during the second period.

Northville's Tommy Marinoff sends a loose puck during Utica Eisenhower's net during his team's 3-2 double-overtime Division 1 Semifinal win Friday. Marinoff scored during the second period.

Eisenhower (24-7) closes in on a loose puck in front of Northville's net. 

Eisenhower (24-7) closes in on a loose puck in front of Northville's net. The Eagles scored twice during the third period to send the game to overtime. 

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Emmett Pilch (15) leads a rush during his team’s 7-2 win over University Liggett (25-6) in Division 3 on Friday. He assisted on the Eaglets’ go-ahead goal during the second period.

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Emmett Pilch (15) leads a rush during his team’s 7-2 win over University Liggett (25-6) in Division 3 on Friday. He assisted on the Eaglets’ go-ahead goal during the second period.

The puck rests in the back of the Knights’ net as Charlie Roberts (3) scores one of his two goals. He also had an assist.

The puck rests in the back of the Knights’ net as Charlie Roberts (3) scores one of his two goals. He also had an assist.

Houghton goalie Cooper Flachs makes one of 16 saves during his team’s shutout of Traverse Bay Reps (16-13-1) on Friday.

Houghton goalie Cooper Flachs makes one of 16 saves during his team’s shutout of Traverse Bay Reps (16-13-1) on Friday.

Livonia Stevenson’s Caden Mason scores with 4:12 left in the first period to tie his team’s Division 2 Semifinal with Caledonia (21-6-1) at 1-1 on Thursday. Bennett Eckerman and Nic Agar assisted on the goal, and Stevenson went on to win 3-2.

Livonia Stevenson’s Caden Mason scores with 4:12 left in the first period to tie his team’s Division 2 Semifinal with Caledonia (21-6-1) at 1-1 on Thursday. Bennett Eckerman and Nic Agar assisted on the goal, and Stevenson went on to win 3-2.

Spartans goalie Drew Allen (34) turns away a Caledonia shot to preserve the 1-1 score during the opening period. He made 24 saves. 

Spartans goalie Drew Allen (34) turns away a Caledonia shot to preserve the 1-1 score during the opening period. He made 24 saves. 

Flint Powers Catholic players and fans celebrate their first goal during a 3-0 Division 2 Semifinal win over Detroit U-D Jesuit (13-16) on Thursday. 

Flint Powers Catholic players and fans celebrate their first goal during a 3-0 Division 2 Semifinal win over Detroit U-D Jesuit (13-16) on Thursday.

Carter Gogate’s shot goes just wide of the Powers net and Chargers goalie Hunter Clark, who had 13 saves in the shutout.

Carter Gogate’s shot goes just wide of the Powers net and Chargers goalie Hunter Clark, who had 13 saves in the shutout.

TOP PHOTO Houghton’s Connor Arko (19) and Jack Sayen (11) celebrate a goal during their Division 3 Semifinal win Friday at USA Hockey Arena. (Photos by Lilanie Karunanayake and John Castine.)