Hockey Night in West Michigan

What a superexcellent night to kick things off on HNIWM, with some key league games, some great rivalry games and a jam-packed schedule, starting at 4 p.m. (The Blog loves those late afternoon games).

Forest Hills Northern/Eastern vs. Forest Hills Central (8 p.m. @ Patterson) - Even if you don't have a kid or a friend who plays on either Forest Hills team, this will be the game to be at tonight. The first meeting between these two rivals was a great high school hockey affair. It was the first week of regular season games...Patterson was packed with some 1,500 fans...and when the Rangers got on the board first, the FHC students were ready to blow the roof off the place. The teams battled for two periods before FHN/E eventually took control and won the game 5-2. Let's hope tonight's rematch proves even more exciting. Because the two teams are in different tiers of the OK Conference, the game doesn't mean anything from a league perspective, but it certainly does mean everything in terms of school pride and bragging rights.

Saturday's Games
Portage Northern vs. Reeths-Puffer (4 p.m. @ Lakeshore)
Big Rapids vs. Grandville (4 p.m. @ Southside)
GR Catholic Central vs. GR Christian (5 p.m. @ Griffs)
Kalamazoo Eagles vs. Mattawan (5 p.m. @ Annex)
South Christian vs. Warren United (6 p.m. @ Allen Park)
Wayland vs. West Ottawa (5:40 p.m. @ the Edge)
Kentwood vs. East Grand Rapids (6 p.m. @ Patterson)
Jension vs. Saginaw Nouvel (6:45 @ Saginaw)
West Catholic vs. Northview (7 p.m. @ Griffs)
Kalamazoo Blades vs. Portage Central (7 p.m. @ Annex)
Lowell/Caledonia s. Manistee (7 p.m. @ West Shore)
Mona Shores vs. Rockford (8 p.m. @ Walker)
Traverse City West vs. TBD (Marquette Tourney)