Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League Prep Showcase in Trenton features state's best

It's going to be a high school boys hockey extravaganza like no other.

For the 19th year, the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League Prep Showcase, partnering with the city of Trenton and the Trenton Public Schools district, has scheduled a total of 42 high school games featuring teams from Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio during three-day period from Thursday, Jan. 31, through Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Kennedy Recreation Center.

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“The main goal of the MIHL is to promote quality high school hockey, strong competition and sportsmanship," MIHL president and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook coach Andy Weidenbach said. "The Showcase complements that mission. The first 18 Showcases were tremendous successes and we are very optimistic about this year’s event. High school hockey in Michigan has experienced tremendous growth; accordingly, the Showcase has expanded from 12 to 42 teams so that we can continue our mission of providing exposure of the best in high school hockey.”

A majority of the top 10 teams, according to the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association rankings, will be participating, including six from Division 1, seven from Division 2 and nine from Division 3.

Defending state champions Brighton (Division 1) and Hartland (Division 2) will return, along with five state finalists and nine semifinalists who played in the 2018 Showcase.

Teams from the Upper Peninsula will be making the trek along with out-state teams Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame Academy and Cleveland (Ohio) St. Ignatius.

Meanwhile, several teams will be returning to the Showcase after an absence for a few years, including defending Division 3 state champion Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day. 

"Detroit Country Day is really excited and honored to be back in the Showcase," coach Frank Novock said. "Having been involved in many facets, including playing, recruiting and now coaching in the MIHL Showcase, I have seen first-hand the tremendous opportunity these teams are presented. From the junior, college and NHL scouts that attend this awesome event, it gives these high school teams a chance to really show how good Michigan high school hockey continues to be and improve their on-ice product. I also can't fail to mention the amount of professionalism, organization and hard work that so many people put into this event to make it such a first-class stage to play on."

The MIHL Showcase also gives players exposure to Junior A and college scouts over the three-day period, which includes six games Thursday and 18 each on three different rinks Friday and Saturday at the Kennedy Rec Center.

At last year’s Showcase, scouts representing every U.S. Hockey League and North American Hockey League team were on hand, as well as several NCAA Division III teams. Many of the leading NCAA Division I programs had one or two representatives in attendance and there were six NHL teams represented. 

More than 100 volunteers will help stage the three-day Showcase.

“Eighteen years ago, the MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase was a very modest event and we are very proud of how it has developed," Weidenbach said. "The MIHL met its goals as a league and as a co-sponsor of the event. All teams, players and coaches of high school hockey in Michigan have benefited. The Showcase is one of the results of our stated league mission."

Here is the schedule for the Showcase:

Thursday, Jan. 31 (at McInerney Arena): Allen Park vs. Howell, 6 p.m.; Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Salem, 8 p.m.; (at Practice Rink): Utica Eisenhower vs. Grosse Pointe Woods University-Liggett, 5:40 p.m.; Grosse Pointe North vs. Wyandotte, 7:40 p.m. (at Teifer Rink): Port Huron Northern vs. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 5:20 p.m.; Saline vs. Macomb Dakota, 7:20 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 1 (at McInerney Arena): Flint Powers vs. Alpena, 9:30 a.m.; Grosse Pointe South vs. Brighton, 11:30 a.m.; Plymouth vs. University of Detroit-Jesuit, 1:30 p.m.; Cranbrook vs. Houghton, 4 p.m.; Novi Detroit Catholic Central vs. St. Ignatius, 6 p.m.; Trenton vs. Hartland, 8 p.m.; (at Practice Rink): Livonia Churchill vs. Traverse City Bay Reps, 10:10 a.m.; Hancock vs. Grand Rapids Christian, 12:10 p.m.; Porth Huron Northern vs. Wyandotte, 2:10 p.m.; Midland Dow vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 4:40 p.m.; University-Liggett vs. Traverse City West, 6:40 p.m.; Riverview Gabriel Richard vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern-Eastern, 8:40 p.m.; (at Teifer Rink): Howell vs. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 9:50 a.m.; Warren DeLaSalle vs. Country Day, 11:50 a.m.; Orchard Lake St. Mary's vs. Notre Dame Academy, 1:50 p.m. Livonia Stevenson vs. Calumet, 4:20 p.m.; Birmingham Brother Rice vs. Saginaw Heritage, 6:20 p.m. East Grand Rapids vs. Allen Park, 8:20 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 2 (at McInerney Arena): DeLaSalle vs. Houghton, 8:40 a.m.; Alpena vs. Grand Rapids CC, 10:40 a.m.; U-D Jesuit vs. St. Ignatius, 12:40 p.m.; Cranbrook vs. Brighton, 3:10 p.m.; Salem vs. Grosse Pointe South, 5:10 p.m.; Stevenson vs. Trenton, 7:10 p.m.; (at Practice Rink): Churchill vs. Hancock, 8 a.m.; Grosse Pointe North vs. Traverse City West, 10 a.m.; Grand Rapids Christian vs. Flint Powers, noon; Bay Reps vs. Eisenhower, 2:30 p.m.; Forest Hills Northern-Eastern vs. Dow, 4:30 p.m.; Dakota vs. East Grand Rapids, 6:30 p.m.; (at Teifer Rink): Hartland vs. Calumet, 8:20 a.m.; Detroit CC vs. Notre Dame Academy, 10:20 a.m.; Brother Rice vs. Country Day, 12:20 p.m. St. Mary's vs. Heritage, 2:50 p.m.; Plymouth vs. Forest Hills Central, 4:50 p.m.; Woodhaven vs. Saline, 6:50 p.m.

Tickets are available for $6 (per day) or $10 (three-day pass). Seniors and students tickets are $5 (per day) or $8 (three-day pass). Active duty military personnel and their families will receive free admission with uniform or military I.D. On-site parking is $3 or $8 (unlimited). Free shuttle service is also available.

For more information, go to http://mihl.pointstreaksites.com/view/mihl/prep-showcase or call Pat Ronayne at 248-225-1264. You can also email PJRonayne@comcast.net.

Contact Brad Emons at bemons@hometownlife.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BradEmons1.