2018 MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase Wrap-up

In the words of the coaches, players and fans of high school hockey the 2018 MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase was a tremendous success.  According to MIHL president Andy Weidenbach it doesn’t happen by accident, “Everyone involved including the City of Trenton and its hockey community, the Staff at the Kennedy Recreation Center, the volunteers and everyone from the MIHL are vital parts of the success of the Showcase”.

The competition amongst the 42 teams was intense and evenly matched – 14 games were determined by one goal and 10 were decided by shoot outs.  “Every year our goal is to attract the best high school teams and the best high school players in the area to compete at the Showcase.  The competitive matchups that occur benefit everyone – the teams, the players, the fans and the scouts,” explained Scott Lock, Director of the Scheduling Committee.

Several teams won both of their games in the Showcase establishing themselves as teams to be reckoned with in the MHSAA state tournament: De La Salle, Brighton, Utica Eisenhower, Hartland, Houghton and East Grand Rapids to name a few.  And of course some of the top rated schools didn’t get two wins because they played other top rated teams. 

The David Mannino Scholarship given annually at the MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase was presented to Brendan Olepa, from a fine young goaltender with a 4.0 GPA at Plymouth High School.  Brendan will be attending Grand Valley State University in the fall of 2018.

Individual performances by some of the players stood out: Edison Symons (Saginaw Heritage) tallied one goal and seven assists, Austin Albrecht, Grosse Point North, had three goals and three assists and nine players registered five points. Only three goalies were in the nets for two wins: Daniel Miscavish, (De La Salle), Harrison Fleming (Brighton) and Salvatore Carabelli  (Utica Eisenhower). 

Dave Mitchell, Head Coach at Livonia Stevenson, summed it all up, "The MIHL showcase continues to be the Super Bowl of Michigan HS Hockey Showcases.  It’s just an amazing event that has been at the forefront of the growth of Michigan High School Hockey.  It's a first class operation that we at Livonia Stevenson are honored and humbled to be a part of.  For 2 1/2 days, you see the best Michigan High School hockey has to offer.  The match ups are outstanding, the atmosphere is electric and the quality of hockey is top notch.  From a coaching, scouting and team perspective, I can honestly say it is one of the top events not only in Michigan, but in the country.  A true must see for any High School Hockey fan, scout or anyone who enjoys seeing the best of High School athletics."

MIHL President, Andy Weidenbach concluded, “It was a great weekend for high school hockey.  The games were highly competitive which was good for the teams, the fans and the scouting community. The MIHL would like to thank the Trenton hockey community (over 100 volunteers), who joined with us to make the 2018 MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase a positive experience for everyone involved.”