MIHL Announces Teams for the 2020 MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase

The Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League (MIHL) Selection Committee is proud to announce the 42 teams that have been selected to participate in the 2020 MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase which will be held Thursday, February 6th, Friday, February 7th and Saturday, February 8th.  The MIHL, the City of Trenton and Trenton Public Schools will host the Showcase at the Kennedy Ice Arena in Trenton, Michigan.

Several teams are making a return to the Showcase after an absence of a few years, including Novi, TC Central, Rochester United, Grandville and Lake Orion. This fits right in with the original goal of the Selection Committee according to Chairman Chad Clements,  “From the start, we knew that there would be turnover in the teams: new teams would be added and some teams would not be selected every year but may return in later years.  It is the best way to keep the high level of competition year in and year out.”

Novi Head Coach Mark Vellucci put it succinctly about returning this year, “We are excited to be back in the premier Michigan High School Hockey Showcase and looking forward to competing with the top teams from around the state.”

 “The selection process is getting more challenging every year as the level of play in Michigan high school hockey advances.  In order to attract the scouting community, which is essential to meeting one of the objectives, we need quality teams and high skill level players participating in the Showcase. These new teams provide that element by adding to the strong competition and good sportsmanship that are the hallmarks of the Showcase,” explained Chad Clements.

Ann Arbor Skyline Head Coach Jake Stripp commented on the team’s first appearance in the MIHL Showcase, “We applied because as a program we are trying to continue the progress we have made the last 5 years and want to play the best competition in the state. Competing in the MIHL Showcase gives us that opportunity.  Each year our strength of schedule has gotten better and competing in the MIHL showcase will definitely help our program in the playoffs.”

Change is nothing new to the MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase.  What started out as a two day, two-rink, 12 team event in Troy has grown into a three day, three rink, 42 team showcase of the finest talent in high school hockey from Michigan and surrounding areas.  The Showcase is engrained in Trenton, the entire Trenton hockey community is involved. While the 2001 Showcase attracted only a few scouts from junior teams – the attraction and importance of the event to the scouting community has grown as over 80 scouts in attendance at the 2019 Showcase.  Most USHL and NAHL teams were represented as were several Division III college hockey teams.  Scouts representing many of the leading Division I college hockey programs in the area were in attendance and there were several scouts representing NHL teams.

 Changes over the years have enhanced the fan experience: free off-site parking made parking less of a challenge and alleviated the congestion in the lots at the rink and online live updates to the scores of each game provides instant results to outstate fans. In 2012, the MIHL Scholarship, which is awarded annually during the MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase, was renamed “The David Mannino Scholarship” to honor the 2011 U of D Jesuit graduate.

Scheduling will be completed in January, 2020 to insure competitive matchups consistent with the mission of the MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase – that is, to have the best teams and the most skilled players showcase their abilities and talents in a two game competitive atmosphere.

Recently appointed MIHL President Brandon Kaleniecki summed it up, “If you look at where Andy Weidenbach, Scott Lock and Todd Johnson started and where we are today, the MIHL is very proud of what it has accomplished.  All teams, players and coaches of high school hockey in Michigan have benefitted.  When it was formed, the mission of the MIHL was to promote quality hockey, strong competition and good sportsmanship.  The Showcase is one of the results of that mission.  The MIHL would like to thank all of the schools, coaches, players and supporters who have joined with us to make the MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase what it is today.”

For additional information contact:

Patrick J. Ronayne

MIHL, Marketing

248 225 1264

PJRonayne@comcast.net

2020 MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase

Participating Teams

For a copy of the Press Release CLICK HERE