Hockey Night in West Michigan

Tonight is the peak of a very rough weak. It's cold and flu season, plus the snowy West Michigan weather has lead to a boatload of cancellations this week. Plus, I've seen key players going down to injury and struggling back from the injured reserve list this week. In short, it's the time of the season when teams have to clear all the distractions, play through the injuries and focus on the task at hand: winning games. Some good ones on the schedule this afternoon and tonight.

Forest Hills Northern/Eastern vs. Rockford (6 p.m. @ Patterson) - Both teams hit a rough patch about three weeks ago and then began to turn it around last weekend with non-conference wins. Then both teams had cancellations this week due to snow. So tonight's game is each team's one chance this week to see if they can keep in the "W" column and earn two points in OK-1 league play. Last time they played, 9 goals got scored. This could be another offensive explosion.

Forest Hills Central vs. Hudsonville (8 p.m. @ Georgetown) - An important game in the cluster atop the OK-2 standings. Hudsonville (5-1, 10 points) is a point ahead of Forest Hills Central (4-1-1, 9 points) at the top of the Tier 2 standings. The winner tonight not only gets a step ahead of the loser, but also moves a bit further ahead of Reeths-Puffer and Kenowa Hills. Forest Hills Central has been pretty hot of late, and can put up a lot of points on the board. H'ville has been consistently good all season, and they, too, can light it up. This one should also feature lots of offense.

Saturday's Other Games
Kentwood vs. Flint Powers (1 p.m. @ Flint)
Big Rapids vs. GRCC (2 p.m. @ Ferris State)
Bay Area Reps vs. Saginaw Nouvell (3 p.m. @ Kaliseum)
Mona Shores vs. UD Jesuit (4 p.m. @ Lakeshore)
South Christian vs. West Ottawa (5:30 p.m. @ the Edge)
Mattawan vs. Portage Northern (6 p.m. @ Wings Annex)
Forest Hills N/E vs. Rockford (6 p.m. @ Patterson)
Northview vs. Ottawa Union (5 p.m. @ Griffs)
Grandville vs. Rochester United (7 p.m. @ Onyx)
Kenowa Hills vs. Midland (7 p.m. @ Midland)
Manistee vs. Wayland (7:30 p.m. @ West Shore)
Grand Haven vs. Muskegon Catholic Central (8 p.m. @ Lakeshore)
Jenison vs. East Grand Rapids (8 p.m. @ Patterson)
Portage Central vs. Kalamazoo Eagles (8 p.m. @ Wings Annex)
Lowell-Caledonia vs. Avondale (TBD @ Annex)
Kalamazoo Blades vs. United (TBD @ Annex)