The list of high school hockey players from the state of Michigan who are continuing their hockey careers after high school is growing.  It is no longer rare for a high school team to have a player on the roster move on to the next level, be that junior hockey, collegiate and, in some cases, eventually to a level of professional hockey.  This year, Cranbrook has a rarity as three of its players have committed to play hockey at NCAA Division I schools.  “I don’t know if that has ever occurred before, but it is a good sign for high school hockey.  It shows that the talent and skill level is improving at this level and that playing high school can be a path to the next level’” commented Cranbrook Head Coach, Andy Weidenbach.

Senior, captain, Christopher Brown will play for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Junior League (USHL) prior to fulfilling his committed to Boston College of the Hockey east conference.  It is a team with which he is familiar, his brother Patrick, who graduated from Cranbrook, is currently the captain of the BC team and his father, played there as well.

Sam Miletec, a junior at Cranbrook, is committed to the University of Michigan for the 2016 season.  Sam was also selected by the Green Bay Gamblers in the fifth round of the USHL Futures Draft last May.

Austin Alger, also a junior at Cranbrook, has committed to play at Miami University in 2016. Austin’s brother, Alex, committed to Miami last year and is currently playing junior hockey in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) for the Odessa Jackalopes.  Austin was drafted by the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the USHL. 

Last August both Sam and Austin participated with the United States Under-17 Select Team at the Five Nations Cup tournament in Slovakia.  The U. S. went undefeated to win the event with both players making an impact: Sam had two goals and four assists and Austin added one goal and four assists in the five game tournament.  Growing up they faced each other in the AAA leagues and there some battles.  “We enjoyed the competition, but I like playing with Sam better than against him and he feels the same way about me,” explained Alger.

“All three of them are very talented high school hockey players.  They have a tremendous work ethic, focus and determination.  What other high school players struggle to do comes naturally to these three,” explained Weidenbach.  “A sign of a good player is that he makes everyone he plays with better and that is exactly what those three do,” he added.  

Weidenbach started the season with all three of these players on the same line.  How did it go? “It was very interesting.  They meshed very well and had some great success.  At times they can dominate a game,” said Weidenbach.

The three may be reuniting heading into the MHSAA State Tournament, “Austin’s been banged up a bit, but we’re hoping he will be ready to go for the state tournament,’ added Weidenbach.