AD Inducted to National Hall of Fame
May 7, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Winter gets hectic so quickly that we’re forced to save some intriguing items that come our way for a sunnier day – and that day is today.
Following are news, notes and a few key links collected over the last few months, including the national Hall of Fame induction of a longtime Michigan athletic director, local recognition for another and statewide acclaim for a group of students putting their video production equipment to good use benefiting all.
Ann Arbor AD Honored Nationally
Former Ann Arbor Huron athletic director Jane Bennett was among five inducted into the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame in December.
Bennett served 26 years as a teacher, coach, athletic director and assistant principal in Michigan before spending the last decade as a principal at two schools in Montana. She served as athletic director at Huron for 15 years through 2002-03. The NIAAA reported that during her final decade in that position, participation in athletics doubled.
Bennett, who received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan, began her career at Huron in 1977 as varsity softball coach and became a math teacher and the co-director of athletics a year later. She coached the softball team 14 seasons before moving into the full-time athletic director position. Bennett was co-founder of the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association and served as MHSSCA president from 1982-87.
Among other achievements at Huron, Bennett was a leader in a successful campaign to gain voter approval of a $60 million bond package, which included $20 million to improve and expand athletic facilities. She also developed curriculum for an annual varsity captains/head coaches leadership training program and composed handbooks/guidebooks for coaches, athletes and parents.
Bennett also was a valuable contributor to the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and the NIAAA. She was president of the MIAAA in 1993-94 and a state conference speaker on several occasions. Bennett also served in various NIAAA leadership positions including on the committee that developed the Leadership Training Institute in 1996.
Bennett was named MIAAA Athletic Director of the Year in 1998 and received its State Award of Merit in 1997. She received the MHSAA’s Women in Sports Leadership Award in 1995 and was inducted into the MHSSCA Hall of Fame in 1995. Prior to her selection to the NIAAA Hall of Fame, Bennett was honored with the NIAAA Distinguished Service Award in 1998 and the NIAAA Thomas E. Frederick Award of Excellence in 2000. In 2005, she was inducted into the National Council of Secondary School Athletic Directors Hall of Fame, having served as its president in 2003 and been selected as its Athletic Director of the Year in 1998.
PSL's Ward: 'Pillar' of Detroit Athletics
Alvin Ward, the executive director of athletics for the Detroit Public School League and a member of the MHSAA Representative Council, received a 2014 Pillar in the Community Award in April from the Coast II Coast All-Stars, a Detroit-based pro basketball team that plays in the American Basketball Association.
Ward has served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal as well for Detroit Public Schools, and directs programs with a combined 500 coaches and 4,500 athletes.
Linked up
- This winter, the MHSAA Representative Council adopted a number of football practice rules changes aimed at improving player acclimatization at the start of fall and reducing head trauma and injuries. The Adrian Daily Telegram’s Doug Donnelly got responses from a number of coaches from that area of the state; click to find out why they feel these changes are important.
- Port Huron Times Herald writer Paul Costanzo let people know about our Student Advisory Council through the experience of Marlette’s Connor Thomas, one of our juniors and a great contributor this school year.
Power of Awareness
The Kimberly Anne Gillary Foundation works to educate Michigan schools on sudden cardiac arrest and train personnel in CPR and the use of an AED (automated external defibrillator). The video below teaches us again about the importance of awareness.
Saginaw Heritage was awarded $5,000 in April as the winner of the Gillary Foundation’s High School AED Contest. Students were asked to create a 3-minute video emphasizing the importance of Michigan high schools being adequately prepared to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest or related event on school property.
Randy and Sue Gillary created the foundation after their 15-year-old daughter Kimberly – an athlete at Troy Athens – died after suffering sudden cardiac arrest in 2000. The contest judges were Kimberly’s sisters Emily Kucinich, Jennifer Gregroy and Katie Gillary.
As of April 1, the Gillary Foundation had raised $1.2 million and donated 650 AEDs to schools – with three lives having been saved with donated AEDs. For more, click www.kimberlysgift.org.
Preview: Top-Ranked Earn Top Seeds as Title Chase Enters Final Rounds
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 6, 2025
We know the favorites for this weekend’s MHSAA Ice Hockey Finals at Plymouth’s USA Hockey Arena – the final four teams in each division are seeded, and the three top-seeded teams also happen to be the three that were ranked No. 1 in their respective divisions at the end of the regular season.
Judging by their achievements this winter, that top-ranked trio be tough to stop. But there are nine more contenders eager for the opportunity.
In Division 1, Detroit Catholic Central has won 18 championships and will face a field of three teams all seeking to claim their first title.
In Division 2, Flint Powers Catholic is seeking its second in three seasons, but is up against a group that has combined to win eight titles and finish runner-up five times.
And in Division 3, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s will play for a first championship since 2008. But Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood is back after winning its 19th last year, and Painesdale Jeffers is seeking its first and Alpena its first in more than three decades.
Division 1 – Friday Semifinals
#1 Detroit Catholic Central (26-2) vs. #4 Sparta (17-11), 5 p.m.
#2 Howell (23-3-2) vs. #3 Salem (16-12), 7:30 p.m.
Division 2 – Thursday Semifinals
#1 Flint Powers Catholic (23-4) vs. #4 Grandville (23-6), 5 p.m.
#2 Livonia Stevenson (17-8-2) vs. #3 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (16-10-2), 7:30 p.m.
Division 3 – Friday Semifinals
#1 Orchard Lake St. Mary's (21-5-2) vs. #4 Alpena (19-9), 11 a.m.
#2 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood (18-8-1) vs. #3 Painesdale Jeffers (24-4), 1:30 p.m.
Saturday – Finals
Division 1 – 7 p.m.
Division 2 – 11 a.m.
Division 3 – 3 p.m.
All Semifinals and Finals will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv and viewable with subscription. For information on tickets and more, go to the Ice Hockey page – and see below for a glance at all 12 contenders, listed by seed.
Division 1
#1 DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 26-2, No. 1
Coach: Brandon Kaleniecki, 10th season (243-32-2)
League finish: First in Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League White, first in Catholic High School League Bishop
Championship history: Eighteen MHSAA titles (most recent 2024), five runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 2-1 (OT) over No. 2 Hartland in Regional Final, 4-1 over No. 4 No. 4 Clarkston, 4-1 over No. 5 Brighton, 4-1 over Division 2 No. 4 Livonia Stevenson, 4-3 over Division 2 No. 2 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 3-2 (OT) over Division 3 No. 5 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 5-2 over Division 3 No. 1 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
Players to watch: Justin Bloink, sr. D (13 goals, 18 assists), Resse Hemme, sr. F (13 goals, 18 assists), Tyler O’Brien, sr. F (14 goals, 15 assists), Joe Bedells, sr. G (1.76 goals-against average).
Outlook: The Shamrocks have won five straight Division 1 championships and have had only a handful of close calls this season, with their losses to Division 3 No. 4 Warren De La Salle Collegiate 5-4 in overtime on Feb. 12 and 6-3 to Lake Forest Academy of Illinois on Jan. 25. Total six players have at least 20 points this season, with senior defenseman Sam Wolak (7 goals/18 assists) and senior forwards Peter Sanin (9/14) and Nino Suhy (11/11) also in that mix and junior forwards Jack Dorgan (10 goals) and Gabe Thompson (11) also among lead scorers.
#2 HOWELL
Record/rank: 23-3-2, No. 3
Coach: Keith Robertson, first season (23-3-2)
League finish: Second in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Championship history: Division 1 runners-up 2010 and 2009.
Best wins: 2-1 (Quarterfinal) and 3-2 over No. 4 Clarkston, 2-1 over No. 5 Brighton, 3-2 over No. 8 Northville, 3-2 over No. 9 Novi, 3-2 (OT) over No. 7 Lakes United, 4-2 over Division 2 No. 1 Flint Powers Catholic, 3-2 over Division 2 No. 4 Livonia Stevenson, 3-1 over Division 2 No. 5 Grandville, 8-0 over Division 2 No. 6 Byron Center, 4-2 over Division 3 No. 2 Houghton, 2-1 over Division 3 No. 5 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood.
Players to watch: Ben Huotari, sr. F (15 goals, 10 assists); Chad Pietila, jr. D (16 goals, 19 assists); Rory Sturos, sr. F (15 goals, 27 assists); Henry Lansky, sr. G (1.38 goals-against average, six shutouts).
Outlook: Howell last reached the Semifinals in 2020, but could not play because COVID-19 resulted in the end of that tournament before that round began. So the Highlanders instead will play in their first Semifinal since 2010, and they’ve made this run in their first season under Robertson, who served last season as an assistant after previously assisting Livonia Stevenson for a decade. Pietila made the all-state first team last season, and Huotari made second team. Juniors forwards Bryce Eskola (10 goals, 13 assists) and Marco Wolf (10/20) also are among leading scorers. Howell’s only losses were to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice both in shootouts, and Semifinal opponent Salem on Nov. 20.
#3 SALEM
Record/rank: 16-12, No. 6
Coach: Jake Sealy, third season (41-40-2)
League finish: Tied for second in KLAA East
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 7-4 (Quarterfinal) and 4-1 over No. 5 Brighton, 10-4 over No. 9 Novi, 4-2 over No. 3 Howell, 2-1 over Division 2 No. 3 Trenton, 7-4 over Division 2 No. 5 Grandville, 4-3 over Division 3 No. 5 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood.
Players to watch: Dominic Chaput, sr. F (34 goals, 35 assists); Nolan Kaminski, sr. F (35 goals, 32 assists); Cameron Eichner, sr. D (6 goals, 30 assists); Karsen Patel, sr. F (19 goals, 43 assists).
Outlook: Salem won its sixth Regional title over the last 11 seasons and has broken through for its first trip to the Semifinals. The Rocks have won nine of their last 11 games, and the most recent Brighton victory to reach this weekend avenged a loss to the Bulldogs in Salem’s regular-season finale. Chaput made the all-state second team last season and is part of a powerful top line with Kaminski and Patel. Sophomore Andrew Weidenbach provides a scoring boost as well centering the second line, with eight goals and 14 assists this season.
#4 SPARTA
Record/rank: 17-11, unranked
Coach: Kevin Bormes, second season
League finish: First in River Cities Alliance
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 5-2 (Quarterfinal) and 2-0 over Richland Gull Lake, 2-1 (2OT) over Muskegon Mona Shores in Regional Final, 2-1 over Midland Dow, 4-3 (OT) over Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 6-4 over Division 3 No. 8 Alpena.
Players to watch: Tanner Guerra, sr. F (14 goals, 13 assists); Trevor Serba, jr. F (17 goals, 11 assists); Caden Gleason, sr. F (28 goals, 19 assists); Trevor Vance, sr. G (2.40 goals-against average).
Outlook: Sparta is making its first trip to the Semifinals with seven wins over its last 10 games and two of the losses during that time coming in overtime. Among all their defeats this season, seven were one-goal games. Seniors dominate the top two defensive pairings and forward lines with 12 total on the roster. Gleason and Vance both made the all-state second team last season, when Sparta finished 23-4 in its first under Bormes. Junior Carson Riley (12 goals/10 assists) centers the top line.
Division 2
#1 FLINT POWERS CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 23-4, No. 1
Coach: Travis Perry, 19th season (384-117-20)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League
Championship history: Division 3 champion 2023, seven runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 5-4 (OT) over No. 7 Marquette in Quarterfinal, 5-1 over No. 6 Byron Center, 4-1 (Regional Final) and 8-2 over No. 10 White Lake Lakeland, 4-3 (OT) over Division 1 No. 4 Clarkston, 4-3 over Division 3 No. 1 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 4-3 over Division 3 No. 2 Houghton, 2-1 over Division 3 No. 7 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 5-1 over Division 3 No. 8 Alpena, 5-2 over Division 3 No. 3 East Grand Rapids.
Players to watch: Ayden Cook, jr. F (37 goals, 33 assists); Andrew Parmentier, sr. F (12 goals, 36 assists); Owen Perry, fr. F (25 goals, 37 assists); Andrew Burney, sr. F (22 goals, 20 assists).
Outlook: The Chargers came back from a 4-1 deficit in their Quarterfinal to get past Marquette and continue their pursuit of a second championship in three seasons. Their only losses were to the top three-ranked teams in Division 1 – Detroit Catholic Central, Hartland and Howell – and Sault Ste. Marie in overtime. Powers is scoring an average of 5.6 goals per game, with junior forward Parker Bendall (10 goals/32 assists) and senior forward Landon Miller (11/12) also in double digits. Meanwhile, junior Hunter Clark is giving up only 2.2 goals per game in goal. Cook made the all-state second team last season, and Parmentier earned an honorable mention.
#2 LIVONIA STEVENSON
Record/rank: 17-8-2, No. 4
Coach: David Mitchell, 17th season (318-117-22)
League finish: Second in KLAA East
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2013, two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 6-3 over No. 3 Trenton, 6-5 over No. 8 Mattawan, 7-2 over Division 1 No. 8 Northville, 7-3 over Division 1 No. 6 Salem, 8-4 over Division 1 No. 9 Novi, 4-2 over Division 1 No. 5 Brighton, 6-5 (OT) over Division 1 No. 10 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 3-1 over Division 3 No. 2 Houghton.
Players to watch: Owen Hall, sr. F (24 goals, 30 assists); Colin Stroble, jr. D (11 goals, 26 assists); Christian Lang, sr. F (13 goals, 26 assists); Connor Buchanan, sr. F (19 goals, 23 assists).
Outlook: A frequent Regional champion over the last decade, Stevenson will play in its first Semifinal since its most recent runner-up season of 2015-16. The Spartans opened this winter 10-1-1, hit a rough patch but have won four of their last five games. They also have tied with Howell and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and played most of the ranked teams in Division 1. Hall made the all-state first team last season, and Stroble made the second team. Junior Dawson Wallis (9 goals/19 assists) joins Stroble for the top defense pairing in front of senior goalie Lucas Rorabacher (2.89 goals-against average).
#3 BLOOMFIELD HILLS BROTHER RICE
Record/rank: 16-10-2, No. 2
Coach: Kenny Chaput, ninth season (152-74-12)
League finish: Second in MIHL White
Championship history: Seven MHSAA titles (most recent 2023), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 4-2 over No. 3 Trenton in Quarterfinal, 3-2 (OT) over Division 1 No. 4 Clarkston, 4-2 over Division 1 No. 6 Salem, 3-2 (SO) over Division 1 No. 3 Howell, 5-1 over Division 3 No. 2 Houghton, 4-1 over Division 3 No. 5 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood.
Players to watch: Roman Villaire, sr. F (17 goals, 26 assists); Cameron George, sr. D (3 goals, 18 assists), Zac Staelgraeve, jr. F (15 goals, 15 assists); Logan Jardine, jr. F (14 goals, 11 assists).
Outlook: After a rough start, Brother Rice is 13-4-1 since its final game of December and while playing a schedule also loaded with several of the state’s best. The Warriors are seeking their fourth championship under Chaput and third over the last five seasons. Villaire made the all-state first team last season, and George earned an honorable mention. Senior forward Lanny Eickhorst (11 goals/15 assists) and sophomore forward Isaiah House (13/13) also have reached double-digit goals, and junior Mark Besedin (2.30 goals-against average) and senior Jude Manly (2.00) have split time in net.
#4 GRANDVILLE
Record/rank: 23-6, No. 5
Coach: Joel Breazeale, 14th season (230-146-12)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Fischer
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2015.
Best wins: 2-1 (Regional Final) and 2-1 (OT) over No. 6 Byron Center, 1-0 over No. 8 Mattawan in Regional Semifinal, 6-3 over Division 1 No. 8 Northville, 2-1 over Division 1 No. 10 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 6-4 over Division 3 No. 6 Painesdale Jeffers.
Players to watch: Landon Smith, jr. F (23 goals, 24 assists); Lewis Gardine, soph. D (15 goals, 10 assists); Mason Schroeder, sr. F (16 goals, 18 assists); Owen Barrett, sr. F (11 goals, 22 assists).
Outlook: Grandville last reached the Semifinals in 2022 and rebounded from last year’s 10-16-1 finish with seven straight wins to start this season and 10 over 12 games heading into this weekend. The Bulldogs have given up just one goal with three shutouts during the playoffs, with junior Ayden Karas holding down a 1.93 goals-against average for the season. Senior forward Bennett Eisma (13 goals/26 assists) and junior forward Luke Deboer (10/18) are among other leading scorers. Smith made the all-state second team last season.
Division 3
#1 ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S
Record/rank: 21-5-2, No. 1
Coach: Brian Klanow, 26th season (402-214-39)
League finish: First in MIHL Gold
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2008), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 5-1 over No. 3 East Grand Rapids in Quarterfinal, 5-3, 3-2 and 5-3 over No. 4 Warren De La Salle Collegiate; 4-3 over No. 2 Houghton, 3-1 and 3-2 (OT) over Division 2 No. 2 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 2-0 and 6-4 over Division 2 No. 7 Marquette, 3-2 (OT) over Division 2 No. 3 Trenton, 2-1 (SO) over Division 1 No. 3 Howell, 4-2 over Division 1 No. 2 Hartland.
Players to watch: Charlie Roberts, jr. F (19 goals, 16 assists); Jack Squire, sr. D (11 goals, 16 assists); Adam Zielinski, sr. F (13 goals, 18 assists); Thad Raynish, soph. F (25 goals, 15 assists).
Outlook: This will be St. Mary’s first trip to the Semifinals since 2012, with its most recent runner-up finish in 2011. They’ve won eight of their last nine games, and their losses have come to Division 1 top-ranked DCC, Division 2 top-ranked Powers, twice to Cranbrook and most recently to Sault Ste. Marie. Senior forward Julian Johnston adds another seven goals and a team-high 27 assists centering the top line, and total 11 players have double-digit assists. Seniors Will Keane (2.23 GAA) and Mason Shea (1.97) have split time in goal with plenty of success.
#2 BLOOMFIELD HILLS CRANBROOK KINGSWOOD
Record/rank: 18-8-1, No. 5
Coach: John LaFontaine, sixth season (81-61-10)
League finish: Second in MIHL Blue
Championship history: 19 MHSAA titles (most recent 2021), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 1-0 (Regional Final) and 3-0 over No. 4 Warren De La Salle Collegiate, 6-2 and 4-3 over No.1 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 6-2 over Division 1 No. 8 Northville, 2-0 over Division 2 No. 7 Marquette.
Players to watch: Nick Timko, sr. F (19 goals, 20 assists); Efe Oztorun, jr. F (14 goals, 12 assists); Hank Callison, sr. F (11 goals, 10 assists); Caleb Goldstein, sr. F (6 goals, 10 assists).
Outlook: Cranbrook rose from the fourth seed last season to win its first championship since 2021, and Timko made the all-state second team after helping lead that effort. The Cranes have won 11 of their last 13 games, and in addition to defeating St. Mary’s twice took Detroit Catholic Central to overtime in their first of two meetings. All but one loss this season came to opponents ranked among the top 10 in Divisions 1 or 2. Junior defenseman Noah Puyot and junior forward Will Nottle both also have tallied 10 assists this season.
#3 PAINESDALE JEFFERS
Record/rank: 24-4, No. 6
Coach: Aaron Helminen, second season (38-14-1)
League finish: Tied for first in Great Lakes Hockey Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 5-1 (Regional Final) and 5-1 over No. 2 Houghton, 4-1 (Regional Semifinal) and 6-2 over No. 10 Calumet, 3-2 and 4-2 over No. 9 Escanaba, 6-5 (OT) over Division 2 No. 7 Marquette.
Players to watch: Brit Heinonen, sr. LW (46 goals, 28 assists), Benton Rajala, sr. C (32 goals, 32 assists), Brogan Turner, jr. LW (32 goals, 26 assists), Cody Turner, sr. C (17 goals, 27 assists).
Outlook: Usually a cooperative with players from a handful of schools, the Jets are 18 strong and all from their school – and have played that strength and depth to a 10-win improvement from last season and first Regional title and Semifinals trip since 1977. Jeffers has scored five or more goals in 18 games and averages nearly six per game. Freshman right wing Max Nordstrom (8 goals, 23 assists), freshman defenseman Blake Heltunen (1/22), senior defenseman Griffin Heinonen (6/14) and junior right wing Easton Therrian (9/19) are among others dishing out plenty of assists. Junior goalie Kasen Helminen has given up only 1.76 goals per game.
#4 ALPENA
Record/rank: 19-9, No. 8
Coach: Ben Henry, fourth season (74-36)
League finish: First in Big North Conference
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 1993), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 5-2 over Petoskey in Quarterfinal, 5-4 over No. 10 Calumet, 4-3 (OT) over No. 6 Painesdale Jeffers, 4-2 over Division 2 No. 9 Caledonia.
Players to watch: Garrett Hamp, sr. F (26 goals, 18 assists); Clark Weir, jr. F (17 goals, 8 assists); Gavin Winterstein, jr. F (20 goals, 25 assists); Trevor Worth, soph. F (9 goals, 14 assists).
Outlook: Alpena last made the Semifinals in 2007, but has won Regional titles all four seasons under Henry and will make this trip coming off what had to be one of its most satisfying wins of the season – although the Wildcats had won the Big North Conference, they were swept by runner-up Petoskey during the regular season but defeated the Northmen in their third meeting to advance. All of the other in-state losses were to teams ranked in Divisions 1 or 2 or playing in Plymouth this weekend. Sophomore defenseman Ethan Walker (4 goals/15 assists) and senior forward Lucas Weir (5/11) are among other top offensive contributors for a team that will graduate only five players.
PHOTOS (Top) Orchard Lake St. Mary's and Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice face off during their Pink in the Rink game Feb. 8. (Middle) Painesdale Jeffers celebrates during its Quarterfinal win over Sault Ste. Marie. (St. Mary's/Brother Rice photo by Hockey Weekly Action Photos. Jeffers photo by RR Photo.)