The Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League (MIHL) Selection Committee is proud to announce the 42 teams that have been selected to participate in the 2015 MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase.  The dates for the 2015 MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase are Thursday, February 12th, Friday, February 13th and Saturday, February 14th.   The MIHL, the City of Trenton and Trenton Public Schools will co-host the Showcase at the Kennedy Ice Arena in Trenton, Michigan.

Three teams (Hancock, St Francis (Toledo) and Forest Hills Central) will be making their first appearance at the MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase and four teams (Grandville, Grosse Ile, Riverview and Grand Rapids Forest Hills North) will be returning to the Showcase after an absence of a few years.  This fits right in with the original goal of the Selection Committee according to Scott Lock, “We knew when we started the Showcase that the teams involved would change every year – new teams would be added, 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.”

Grosse Ile High School is one of the returning teams and Head Coach Jason Durbin is eagerly looking forward to it, “The MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase means a lot to our team as we were not in it last year. I have stressed the importance of getting into the Showcase to our team each year I have been with Grosse Ile. I always say if you get a chance to get in, take full advantage of it since it’s not always a guarantee that you’ll be in it the next year. I have witnessed firsthand the number of scouts who show up for this weekend of games and it’s impressive. Our players are very excited to be back in the Showcase.”

The Keweenaw Peninsula is going to be well represented this year as Hancock High School will join Calumet and Houghton schools for their first trip downstate to the Showcase.  Dan Rouleau, Head Coach of Hancock, put it all in perspective, “I grew up playing hockey with Trenton Schools Superintendent Rod Wakeham and he kept telling me that it would be great if Hancock participated in the Showcase. Initially, it was a distance issue that kept us away, but when the Showcase grew to be such a premiere event for high school hockey we felt we couldn't pass it up.  So, this year we applied and fortunately we were accepted. Our seniors have wanted to come down since they were freshmen.  And to be able to watch so many great high school hockey programs play over the course of three days, kind of makes it a hockey heaven for me.”

“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 along with adding to the strong competition and good sportsmanship which are the hallmarks of the Showcase,” explained Todd Johnson, Chairman of the Selection Committee.

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 the surrounding areas.  The Showcase is just not held in Trenton, it is held with the entire Trenton community.  The 2001 Showcase attracted only a few scouts from junior teams – there were over 86 scouts in attendance at the 2014 Showcase.  Every USHL and NAHL team was represented as were several Division III college hockey teams.  Many of the leading Division I college hockey programs in the area had one or two representatives in attendance and there were eight NHL teams with scouts in the house.

Several changes over the years have enhanced the fan experience: free off-site parking made parking less of a challenge experience 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.

The game schedule will be completed in January 2015 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.

MIHL President Andy Weidenbach summed it up, “If we look at where we 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.”