Powerful Voice for High School Sports
December 19, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Paul Carey was home from the U.S. Army only a few months and just shy of 25 years old when Beal City embarked on its first trip deep into the MHSAA boys basketball tournament.
On the call for local radio station WCEN from gyms at Saginaw Arthur Hill and Lansing Sexton, Carey served as the voice of the previously “laughable” Aggies as they reached the Class D Semifinals before falling just six points short of playing for the title.
“All of Beal City emptied out. They’d never had anything before,” Carey recalled during his annual Thanksgiving weekend visit to the MHSAA Football Finals at Ford Field. “When I got home, within the next two weeks I got a letter from every citizen of Beal City thanking me for broadcasting their games. That’s the kind of appreciation that meant so much.”
During 42 years on the airwaves, Carey was best known as a voice of the Detroit Tigers bounding out of transistor radios all over Michigan, thanks to WJR’s powerful signal.
But for the state’s high school sports community, his legacy is similarly memorable as the voice of the longtime football and basketball scoreboard show and a voter for various all-state teams and wire polls over the decades.
Now 86 and retired since 1991, Carey remains a regular during the first day of the Football Finals, taking in games he broadcast for the MHSAA during the late 1970s and that continue to hold his eye as they have for more than a half-century.
“It was a passion of mine. High school sports always has been,” Carey said. “I think because my dad was a high school coach, and teacher initially, and my brother was a high school coach and teacher, I just grew up in families that appreciated coaching and athletics. I was not a great athlete, but it kept my hand in following sports that way.”
Now, the scores
Carey partnered with Ernie Harwell for Tigers radio broadcasts from 1973-91, including during the march to the 1984 World Series championship. He was named Michigan Sportscaster of the Year six times and to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
But Carey’s early career included sitting on top of a car, plugged into a phone pole, for a Sacred Heart football game at old Fancher Field just a few blocks from his family’s Mount Pleasant home. Among many more accolades are a Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan High School Coaches Association and a place in the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame.
In fact, the start of his weekly announcing of statewide football and basketball scores preceded his baseball career by 16 years and ended two months after he announced his final professional out.
The Michigan High School Scoreboard show was a staple of WJR’s late Friday nights from 1957-91. Carey would read every score he could collect from a variety of sources, often organized by league and with state rankings and context mixed in.
His idea came from something similar read by Len Colby for Kalamazoo’s WKZO. Carey’s brother Terry was coaching at Niles during the second half of the 1950s, and he and other coaches would get together to listen to the Friday night scores from the southwestern part of the state.
Carey, who left WKNX in Saginaw for WJR in 1956, explained to then-sports director Bob Reynolds that the station’s strong signal could provide for a truly statewide scoreboard experience.
Carey then connected with Edgar Hayes of the former Detroit Times, who gave the OK for Carey to call the paper on Friday nights to get scores from the Detroit metro area. For the rest, Carey relied on wire services – there were three at the time – who relied on newspapers from all over Michigan to call in scores over the course of an evening.
Before every Friday during high school football season – and later Tuesdays and Fridays during boys basketball season – Carey typed up lists of games based on schedules in the newspaper, with spaces to add scores. More than a few times, Carey raced down a back ramp at Tiger Stadium after a Friday night game, back to the WJR studio, with 15 minutes to prep for the show’s 11:30 p.m. start.
“If the Flint Journal, the Grand Rapids Press, the Traverse City paper didn’t call in scores to the AP, then I was out of luck too. And that happened all the time,” Carey said. “I would call back occasionally, say, ‘Did you get anything more?’ It was a rat race.”
The show originally was set for 10 minutes and then extended to 15. American Airlines sponsored a record show that followed, and Carey’s scoreboard show had a sponsor only once in 35 years. Finishing up on time was expected, even with more than 200 scores to read.
But Carey said he always went 20 minutes, sometimes 25.
“Because I wasn’t done. I just kept right on going,” Carey said. “Jay Roberts did the all-night show most of the time, and he was patient with me. He didn’t say too much on the air about ‘that guy ahead of me took all of my time.’”
Carey continued the “rat race” until his final scoreboard show, Dec. 20, 1991. He retired from WJR at the end of that calendar year. And it's important to note: Carey was never paid a dime extra for doing the program. .
“I think Paul is really just a sports fan, and that came across to the listener on his broadcasts,” MHSAA historian Ron Pesch said. “Paul would gather as much as possible off the wire. He'd interject if scores were missing from sections of the state. Press polls from the Free Press, News, AP and UPI were big, so he could point out close calls and upsets.
“He provided immediacy, or the closest thing to it in the days before cable TV and the Internet, and because of his scoreboard show, you could get the results before the morning paper. For listeners, he brought life to something as simple as game scores.”
First team all the way
Carey, who resides in Rochester, also served as the engineer on Tigers broadcasts for 16 years, through 1990. He broadcast Pistons games on the radio for six seasons and did the first broadcast of a Central Michigan University football game, in 1949.
Harry Atkins, covering Detroit’s teams while with The Associated Press for 29 years including the last 21 as its sports editor for Detroit, took note of his colleague's hard work – and especially that Carey was one of few broadcasters who was a journalist in addition to a voice.
That made Carey's other major role in high school sports a natural fit.
Atkins split The Associated Press all-state selection panels for football and basketball into 11 regions, and Carey represented the Detroit area for a number of years. He also was a longtime voter in those sports' weekly polls.
“Paul is just that kind of guy. He thought it was important and he made time in his busy schedule to do it,” Atkins said “And it had an impact on the other 10 voters on the All-State panels, too.
“Some of them were from small out-state newspapers or radio or TV stations. Yet every one of them knew who Paul Carey was. And when he spoke, of course, with what often is called "The Voice of God," those voters paid attention.”
And he still does, as well.
At the end of each fall, Carey still puts together a compilation of the three high school all-state football teams – Associated Press, Detroit Free Press and Detroit News – and files them with years of research and results.
“It’s important to me. Nobody sees it but me, but I get a certain kick,” Carey said. “Once in a while I’ll see a kid playing at Central, Western or (Michigan) State or Michigan, and they’ll say he came from Clawson. I’ll go into my all-state collections, say that would’ve been 2009 he played, and I find a name.”
In addition to the Football Finals on WJR, Carey was part of the Baseball Finals broadcasts into the early 1990s, continuing to contribute even after his retirement from his fulltime gig.
He spent high school games over the years sitting next to legends like the Free Press’ Hal Schram and remembers when current Free Press longtime scribe Mick McCabe was just a rookie. One of Carey's final broadcasts was a 1992 Baseball Final with his nephew Mike Carey, who continues to broadcast MHSAA championship games to this day.
“I am eternally grateful to Paul Carey. His contribution to high school sports in Michigan has been great and significant,” Atkins said.
“We are lucky to have him.”
PHOTO: Paul Carey (left) and nephew Mike Carey broadcast the MHSAA 1992 Class D Baseball Final between Hillman and Athens for PASS.
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.)