Players of the Week

An expanded list of players of the week today, given the quantity -- and incredible quality -- of games played. Lots of examples of players overcoming adversity to lead their teams to victory. All of these winners were nominated by coaches except one, which the WMHSH Blogger took the liberty of naming himself. The honorable mentions are ones I've heard about from you in comments or emails. As always, I encourage you to highlight the players you think were MVPs last week in the comments section.

Ian McDonald, East Grand Rapids - The senior goaltender had one of his best games this season, backstopping the Pioneers to the upset of the week: a 3-2 win over highly rated Forest Hills Northern/Eastern in OK Conference Tier One play.

Derek Moore, Forward/Grand Haven - The senior put on a gritty performance in a 3-2 OT win versus Manistee last week. After breaking a blade on his skates, he strapped on an old pair and then had a hand in all three of the Bucs' goals (2 goals, 1 assist). He got the game winner in OT while Grand Haven was shorthanded.

Ben Grover, East Kentwood - The senior co-captain anchored two OK Conference wins, helping the Falcons hang on to a 3-2 win against Rockford and being the difference-maker in a 5-4 OT win over FHNE. In the Forest Hills game, Grover had a hat trick, including one with 5 seconds left in regulation to tie it and the game-winner in overtime.

David Coppock, Forward/Mona Shores -- The sophomore forward helped the Sailors snap back from a lopsided mercying by GPN last weekend. On Wednesday, he had a hat trick against Grandville in an OK-1 league game, and then scored the all-important first goal in 4-1 win over highly touted OLSM. Coppock also had the first goal in a 3-2 OT loss against highly ranked Birmingham Brother Rice.

Brogan Vandevelde, Goalie/Portage Central -- The sophomore goaltender for the Mustangs had 30 saves in a 0-0 overtime tie against defending state champions Orchard Lake St. Mary's, boosting his save percentage to .910 for the season.

John Kersaan, Hudsonville -- The junior forward had 7 points in two solid non-conference wins for the Eagles. On Wednesday, he had two assists in a 4-0 win over Lowell-Caledonia and then, on Saturday, he had four goals and an assist in a 6-2 win over GR Christian.

Randy Beck, Ayden Lawrence, Josh Pogodzkinski, Forwards/Wayland -- It's always something when a line clicks and that's what happened this weekend for seniors Beck and Lawrence along with sophomore Pododzinski. The trio accounted for 16 points and the line had 9 of Wayland's 10 goals.


Kevin Boman, Forward/Grand Rapids Catholic Central -- While he didn't score the most goals for the Cougars in the East-West Invitational this past weekend and wasn't named to the All Invitational team, Boman was the Cougar's most dominant player in the WMHSH Blogger's view. He played both ends of the ice, scored GRCC's only goal (shortanded) against Wyandotte in a 2-1 OT loss and his Friday night game-winner with 5 seconds left and three SMCC players draped all over him will go down in Catholic Central hockey lore.

Honorable Mentions: Muskegon Catholic Central's Kyle Kampenga nets two in an OT win over Mattawan...Kenowa Hills goalie Zac "Fuzzy" Smith was a wall in a 2-1 conference win over Reeths-Puffer and also got an assist on the game-winner...Rockford senior Tyler Glass gets a hat trick against West Catholic to help the Rams break out of a slump ...give it up for the entire Portage Northern offense, which scored 20 goals in two conference wins...the Lowell-Caledonia line of Jordan Steger, Jon Kuzava and Bo Adams had 10 points in a 4-1 conference win over South Christian...and finally, he doesn't hail from West Michigan, but let's give an honorable mention to Dallas Covasos whose story this weekend reminded the WMHSH Blogger and many others what high school hockey is all about. Feel free to post your comments, thoughts and insults (but remember, only insult the WMHSH Blogger...not the players or coaches.)