The Morning After

Trying to put a little context on what happened yesterday and over the past week, which has been a great one for high school hockey in West Michigan. Some things we've learned.

Three straight losses, including two in conference play, have put a question mark on Forest Hills Northern/Eastern's season. Every coach I talk to says the same thing about them: "They're one of the most talented teams in the area, but...." The "but" is penalties. FHN/E took them in bunches in a loss to Kenowa Hills, and spent considerable time in the box against both East Grand Rapids and East Kentwood. They'd better stay out of the sin bin if they want to have a chance against their next opponent: undefeated Livonia Stevenson, ranked #1 in D-1.

The last team that FHN/E beat was Rockford, and the Rams had been reeling until last night. The Rams won 6-0 over West Catholic to snap the losing streak and end their scoring drought. This is the one team in West Michigan I just can't figure out. They are fast and skilled, and look like a team that can score 4-5 goals a game, but they've struggled to put the puck in the net all season. Maybe last night's performance will open the floodgates for them in the coming weeks.

For Portage Nothern, the floodgates are already opened. The Huskies have been on a tear since losing the Portage Classic back in early December, winning 8 straight and moving to 5-1 in SWMHSHL league play. Netminder (and current Blog poster boy) Barry Toornman has been a wall in the nets and PN is getting offensive contributions from a number of players, including Nicco Braganini and Robby Fender.

I'm biased because I coached a bunch of the kids who play for East Grand Rapids, but how could you not feel for them earlier this year when they started the season 0-11 under new coach Joe Day. Feel for them no more. The Pioneers have won 4 of their last 5, including league wins over Grandville and an upset over FHN/E. They're getting balanced scoring and solid goaltending from Ian McDonald, one of the nicest kids ever to don the pads. "I don't want to play that team again," says one opposing OK-1 coach who, like it not, has another league game with EGR in a few weeks.

When it comes to nice kids who play goalie, you have to include Zac "Fuzzy" Smith in the conversation. He helped backstop the Kenowa Hills Knights to another win last night, shutting down a furious effort to tie it by Reeths-Puffer in the final two minutes. And while he's not known as a puckhandler, Smith is getting good at picking his spots to play the puck. In Kenowa's last two wins, he has two assists -- both on the game-winning goals.

In the "life ain't fair" department: GRCC's two-time all-state goalie Adam Janecyk played what may have been the worst game of his high school career on Friday night, giving up 7 goals, and he got the win. Last night, he played one of his best games ever, a 34-save gem against highly ranked Wyandotte in the East-West Invitational championship, and he lost. Winston Churchill said it best: "Fair is for children."

Portage Central had a rare 0-0 tie last night, which moved their season record to 5-7-1. Don't be fooled by the wins and losses: PC has played great competition, taking on teams ranked in the Top 10 of their respective divisions, including Cranbrook, Brother Rice, OLSM, Grosse Pointe North and both TC teams. They're still atop the SWMHSHL standings and come playoff time promise to be tough and tested.

The Sailors up in Mona Shores are also getting battle-tested, though they seem to show a Jekyll-Hyde personality at times. After getting mercied by GPN in the Stan Konrad, they came back to mercy Grandville. This weekend, they were consistent, with great performances in a split against highly rated OLSM and Brother Rice. They're a point behind EK in the OK-1 standings, but have played two fewer games. Mark Feb. 22 on your calendar -- that's when the Sailors and Falcons play again.

It's a long season and teams always have to battle through things, but you have to give it up to Hudsonville, which got two wins this week despite a major bout with the flu bug. H'ville had players and coaches missing from its games against Lowell-Caledonia and Christian, and had a few more who were a bit queasy on the bench.

I'm sure the season has been especially long for East Kentwood's senior captain and all-state candidate Tyler Copeland, who broke his leg in the third game of the season. He's been to every practice and every game on crutches, I'm told, and that's precisely why he's a captain. There may be a happy ending here: Copeland was reportedly back on the ice at practice this week and may be ready to play within another week or so. And he'll come back to a team that is 5 out of its last 6, with their only loss coming in OT against Mona Shores.

Finally, I'm learning that the WMHSH Blog really does know how to pick 'em. While I don't predict winners and losers, I do pick games to watch. And a quick review of the games I've picked shows that about 10 of them have gone to overtime. You always have to love seeing extra hockey for your admission fee.

You comments, as always, are welcome.