tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13649393751123267182024-03-19T06:46:46.439-04:00West Michigan High School HockeyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger463125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-29885379136367795332008-11-03T21:13:00.008-05:002008-11-03T22:59:49.418-05:00A New Blog for the 2008-09 SeasonTryouts are mostly done and scrimmages start soon. It's a new season, and we're kicking off a new Blog at a new web address: http://thewmhsh.blogspot.com/Without getting into the minutia, we needed to change the address and wanted to do a Web address that wouldn't give you carpal tunnel every time you needed to type it in. So we made it simple. Bookmark it. Write it down. Pass it on.The new Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-87097674718653669502008-10-27T17:22:00.006-04:002008-10-27T17:33:15.447-04:00First Day of TryoutsIt's here.Tryouts started today, with some kids hitting the ice at 5:45 a.m. Guess I could have done the Dickie V thing and had a big "midnight madness" blog, but to my knowledge, no one was on the ice at 12:01 a.m. today.The next few days will be a tough time for players and coaches alike. Some players will have their best performances and some will not. Coaches will see things and miss thingsUnknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-68237804343637445402008-10-23T19:21:00.003-04:002008-10-23T19:33:27.771-04:00Big North Conference PredictionsOkay, let's just put it on the table: The Blog didn't do a very good job covering the BNC last year. And that's a shame. Because the teams from Traverse City West, Traverse City Central, Petoskey, and Cadillac clearly are from the west side of the state. They are West Michigan teams -- and very good ones at that. And despite its location smack dab in the middle of the state, Gaylord is Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-91333995728730838422008-10-21T12:59:00.003-04:002008-10-21T13:11:49.436-04:00OK Tier 3 PredictionsThere will be lots of new faces skating in OK Tier 3 this season, with the addition of Grand Haven and three City League programs: Christian High, Ottawa-Union, and Creston-Central. Those four newbies will join West Ottawa, Northview, Wayland and South Christian to round out the 8-team conference, which should be very competitive in 2008-09. West Ottawa returns a lot of talent from the team Unknownnoreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-57512290942488699232008-10-20T11:10:00.002-04:002008-10-20T11:11:49.279-04:00State playoff schedule postedWe haven't even done tryouts yet, but the MHSAA is all over it. The playoff schedule, including pre-regional assignments are posted here.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-56038727583117180442008-10-19T16:58:00.003-04:002008-11-02T11:51:42.590-05:00OK Tier 2 PredictionsLast year's OK Tier 2 race was down to the wire, with Forest Hills Central wrapping it up in the last game of the season. Reeths-Puffer, Kenowa Hills and Hudsonville all battled down the stretch and will be looking to reload in 2008-09. Jenison should be improved under a new coach. The returning teams also have challenges from the tier's newest entrants. The combination of of Grandville Unknownnoreply@blogger.com108tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-55458881270149036002008-10-16T23:04:00.002-04:002008-10-16T23:09:12.947-04:00OK Tier 1 PredictionsTime for you to give your input on how things will shake out in the OK's Tier 1 this season. East Kentwood, East Grand Rapids and Rockford will all have senior laden teams, while Forest Hills N/E, Forest Hills Central and OK newcomer GR Catholic Central will be in rebuilding mode after graduating hugely successful senior classes last season. Oh yeah, there's that team from Mona Shores, which Unknownnoreply@blogger.com104tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-85776816217200284922008-10-14T20:06:00.002-04:002008-10-14T20:18:27.300-04:00SWMHSHL PredictionsFrom what I've seen this summer and fall, it looks like the Southwest Michigan High School Hockey League is going to be uber-competitive this season. Perennial powers PC and PN will be strong, and I've seen some talented kids in the fall league from Mattawan. Plus, the Blades looked pretty darn good at the Lakeshore Shootout in August. Both United and the Eagles (last year's surprising team) Unknownnoreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-54755668758973322172008-10-14T19:43:00.003-04:002008-10-14T19:53:31.210-04:00...and now, a word from our BloggerWanted to update everyone and let you know we're getting ready for the upcoming season. We're going to have a new web address that will be easier to type and we should have lots more news and updates on the site each day. I'm still looking for bloggers to post on the teams around West Michigan. Could really use the help because things have been tremendously busy these days with another Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-68637794053632820992008-10-14T16:29:00.000-04:002008-10-14T20:37:57.609-04:00WMHSH grads playing college hockeyGot an update from a hockey mom who I'd vote for as VP: Patty Alexander, whose son Eric played for East Kentwood and will soon be suiting up as a Ferris State Bulldog. Patty writes: "Just a couple updates for you on West Michigan Alums. First of all, Ben Dykstra is playing for the Davenport University D2 ACHA team and is having quite a season. Ben decided to play for Davenport making it four Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-86493327096782816432008-10-13T20:47:00.000-04:002008-10-14T20:53:42.047-04:00Janny represents his WM rootsGRCC grad and three-time all-stater Adam Janecyk shot me a quick note with this picture attached. It's his team photo for the Sioux City Musketeers, and if you look closely you can see he's wearing a Hockey Night in West Michigan t-shirt he earned as one of last year's Players of the Week. He wrote: "I have to represent my roots!" Way to go, Janny.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-72729702049692816272008-10-11T10:03:00.002-04:002008-10-11T10:20:35.495-04:00Traverse City UpdateThere's tons of high school hockey news coming out of Traverse City these days, including new coaches and new co-ops that will compete in the 2008-09 season.The Bay Area Reps have a new coach, Scott Gardiner, after long time coach Rex Luxton stepped down a few weeks ago. Scott is the former coach of the Traverse City Enforcers and Traverse City North Stars. His son, Derek Gardiner, plays forUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-4958984934297632612008-10-09T15:20:00.002-04:002008-10-09T16:19:20.262-04:00FHC coach on boardWhere does the time go? Robin Feenie was named the coach of Forest Hills Central about a month ago, but the Blogger failed to Blog it. Apologies. Robin is a great hockey guy, as evidenced by the play and leadership of his son, Morgan, who was one of FHC's senior leaders last season. He's also got an impressive hockey resume of his own: Played his youth hockey in Canada, then four years of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-61835455229923822532008-10-08T21:47:00.000-04:002008-10-08T21:47:49.835-04:00Announcement to CoachesThe Blog is looking for information from West Michigan high school coaches about their teams. If you are a head coach or assistant coach for one of the 36 teams listed on the right, please contact me at brian.h.edwards@gmail.com as soon as possible. (And if you're not a coach, but have contact with them, please put them in touch with the Blog ASAP!) Thanks, The Blogger.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-37415440218001639592008-10-08T21:41:00.003-04:002008-10-08T21:47:19.346-04:00Bloggers WantedThe WMHSH Blog is looking for parents, students or fans to blog about their favorite teams this season. The pay scale sucks, but you can probably get a Hockey Night in West Michigan t-shirt, and you'll earn the adulation (or, in a few cases, the loathing) of 25,000+ visitors to the Blog. If you're of legal age and the right mindset, there might even be a few malt beverages in the deal, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-85278484757536562072008-10-04T21:52:00.000-04:002008-10-08T21:59:29.652-04:00Manistee nets new coachThe Manistee Chippewas hockey squad -- a five team co-op -- has a new hockey coach. Fifty-eight year old Fountain resident John Raatz…will take over for former coach Jeff Patulski, who left the position after his purchase of Muskegon’s IHL hockey team, the Fury. The Chippewa hockey team includes students from Manistee, Ludington, Mason County Central, Hart and Shelby high schools.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-9716567591308994172008-09-15T11:08:00.003-04:002008-09-15T11:17:06.475-04:00Fuzzy tending for the OwlsKenowa grad and two-time honorable mention all-stater Zac "Fuzzy" Smith will be minding the nets for the Grand Rapids Junior A Owls this fall. The Owls, who are coached by longtime travel coach Greg Geldart, kicked off their season this weekend with a pair of games at Queen City.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-4073101733011649182008-09-15T11:01:00.002-04:002008-09-15T11:07:20.137-04:00Max Grover = USHL CaptainFormer East Kentwood Falcon Max Grover has been named captain of the Sioux Falls Stampede. That's according to an email I got this morning from Max's younger brother, 2008 all-state d-man Ben Grover. The coach of the Stampede calls Max: "Tough minded, excellent penalty killer...handles rushes extremely well. You will love him as a dedicated teammate (and good guy). Will be there when the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-52160398416844750422008-09-08T20:48:00.003-04:002008-09-08T21:06:58.294-04:00Northview seeking JV goalieNorthview's junior varsity team is looking for a goalie -- or two -- as well as a few skaters. The team plays in the WMJVHL (it's actually classified as a Midget A team, if I'm not mistaken), so player needs to be in 8th to 11th grade and does not necessarily have to attend Northview high school. The team practices at Griff's (Sun, Mon, Wed) and they're willing to go 1/2-price for goalies. IfUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-92180318176698649422008-09-08T20:10:00.003-04:002008-09-08T21:09:52.464-04:00WM players selected for Motor City CupThe Michigan Development Hockey League (MDHL), which includes teams from around the state including Team West Michigan, is entering 2 teams (green & white) in each age bracket of the Motor City Cup this weekend in Detroit. Team West Michigan players competing for the Midget Minor Green Team are Lance Fredrickson (MCC), Mike Hickson (BR) and Matt Ragains (PC). Those on the Midget Minor WhiteUnknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-3273469989913746512008-09-03T15:40:00.004-04:002008-09-03T16:45:23.205-04:00Grandville's Grypma to Soo ThunderbirdsLooks like there will be some serious West Michigan rivalry up in the Soo this winter, as another local player has signed with an NOJHL team up north. Andy Grypma from Grandville high school has just signed with the Soo Thunderbirds Jr A hockey team in the NOJHL. Andy lead the Bulldogs in scoring for the last two years and earned first team all conference and second team all state honors Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-45936938783268539252008-08-30T14:00:00.009-04:002008-09-03T16:44:54.876-04:00GRCC's Boman to Sioux Eagles of NOJHLJust got off the phone with GRCC Coach Alan Kranzo, who tells me the 2008 graduate Kevin Boman -- the Cougars all-time leading scorer -- has signed to play with the new Saulte St. Marie Eagles of the NOJHL. The move adds more West Michigan flavor to the team, which already includes BR's Nick Goodfellow, Cadillac goalie Micky Mamborg and Grandville d-man Tom Lorenz. He'll also potentially be Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-62051043132641902942008-08-21T12:07:00.004-04:002008-08-30T14:37:06.766-04:00Former EGR player succumbs to cancerHad two emails in my inbox about Reid Vangelderen, an East Grand Rapids grad and former high school hockey player who passed away this week from cancer. Vangelderen won the MHSAA's 2004 Perseverance Award for his battle against the disease while he was in high school. The cancer had gone into remission but recently returned, and this was one battle he couldn't win. Reid was a member of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-22435132964337790292008-08-21T10:35:00.002-04:002008-08-21T12:06:27.183-04:00Team West Michigan SelectedCoach Jeff Wressell has chosen the 2008 Team West Michigan, which will represent the area in fall hockey over in Detroit. About 110 players tried out for the teams, and the final selections represent 12 different schools. "That is amazing," Wressell wrote. Anyway, here are the final selections (in no particular order): Defense-1. Ryan Mylenek2. Brett Bergy3. Brendan Giffel4. Chris Sandmeyer5.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364939375112326718.post-61889788446944526132008-08-05T00:33:00.001-04:002008-08-05T00:35:49.068-04:00Koenigsknecht to play at Lawrence TechHot off the email from Lawrence Tech's hockey program: "Recently graduated GRCC defenseman Mark Koenigsknecht will suit up for Head Coach Kevin Gee and the Lawrence Technological University Blue Devils in Southfield, MI this fall. The Blue Devils compete in the North Division of the ACHA. Koenigsknecht will major in Civil Engineering and will return home when the Blue Devils take on west side Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0