All 10 teams in the South Central High School Hockey League finished their regular seasons Saturday at Wings West in Kalamazoo, ending the first season for the new league. Each team played a crossover game against the adjacent team that finished in the same spot in the divisional standings.
The championship game saw Central division champ Jackson Lumen Christi take home the top prize with a 2-0 victory over South division champ Mattawan. In the third place game, the Kalamazoo Eagles defeated Okemos 6-3.
The additional consolation games saw Portage Central edge Capital City 3-2, the Mid-Michigan Marauders defeating Portage Northern 3-2, and the Eastside Stars over Kalamazoo United 6-3. The end-of-season awards for the South Division were also presented at the conclusion of the night with the recipients listed at the bottom of this article.
Championship: Lumen Christi 2, Mattawan 0
Both goals in the game came from Owen Campbell in the first period. The Titans controlled the opportunities in the first two periods, despite the Wildcats getting a five-on-three powerplay and a major powerplay opportunity after a second period fracas.
Mattawan had a few more powerplay tries in the third period and applied more pressure, but LC goalkeeper Gavin Warner stood firm. Warner unofficially had 18 saves for his fifth shutout this season. Wildcat keeper Brendan Pellerito stopped 26 shots.
Lumen Christi finishes the regular season at 22-3 and opens regional play Tuesday against East Grand Rapids from the Southside Ice Arena. On the other side of the bracket, Mattawan (17-8) has a bye into next Saturday’s regional semifinal versus Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
Listen back to the championship broadcast here.
Kalamazoo Eagles 6, Okemos 3
Both teams scored once in the first period with the Eagle tally by Parchment’s Jimmy Lindstrom and the Chief tally from Kurt Sohlden on a four-on-four. Okemos went ahead midway through the second via Colten Roach.
Gull Lake’s Trent Stoner tied the game with 6:01 left in the third, but a goal by Max Contreras with 1:34 left put the Chiefs back ahead 3-2 at the second break.
Powerplays helped spark the Eagles in the third period, starting with a goal by Harper Creek’s Adam Ratliff to tie the game. Lindstrom struck again with 6:12 remaining on a powerplay to put the Eagles ahead. Stoner scored his second with 2:18 to go and Alex Johnson added an empty netter.
Unofficially, Cody Rhodes had 31 stops in victory for the Eagles. Brody Ostrander turned away 31 as well in defeat.
The Eagles finish at 18-7 and prepare for their first ever MHSAA postseason game on Monday at the Summit in Dimondale. They meet Capital City at 5 p.m. ET in a game that will be aired live via JoeInsider. Okemos (20-4) awaits the winner of Hartland and Fenton-Linden in a regional semifinal next Saturday.
Listen back to the Eagles/Okemos broadcast here.
Portage Central 3, Capital City 2
PC had first period goals from Ryan Jaros and Jaden Sorenson and a second period strike by Jaros. The Capitals had a first period score by Brendan Melling and a second period tally from Gage Bowerman.
The Mustangs wrap at 11-13 overall and play their regional semifinal at 8:30 p.m. Thursday from the Patterson Ice Arena against either Forest Hills Northern-Eastern or Portage Northern. The Capitals (15-9-1) host the Kalamazoo Eagles Monday in a game to be heard live via JoeInsider.com.
Mid-Michigan 3, Portage Northern 2
The Marauders finish at 12-13 and have a bye into next Saturday’s regional semifinal against either Jackson United or the Eastside Stars. The Huskies (5-17-1) play Forest Hills Northern-Eastern in the first round regional Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Game statistics were unavailable.
Eastside Stars 6, Kalamazoo United 3
The Stars (7-16) face Jackson United at 7:30 p.m. Monday in a first round regional game. On the other side of the bracket, K-United (6-18-1) drew a bye into next Saturday’s semifinal against the Eagles/Capital City winner. You can listen to that semifinal live via JoeInsider.com. Game statistics were unavailable.
Below are the South Division awards for the 2019-20 season:
1st-Team
G- Brendan Pellerito (Mattawan)
D- Conner Greger (Kalamazoo Eagles/Pennfield)
D- Justin Hayward (Portage Central)
F- Blake Sorge (Portage Northern)
F- Hunter Maschke (Portage Central)
F- Cam Agnew (Mattawan)
2nd-Team
G- Parker Remelius (Kalamazoo United/Loy Norrix)
D- Joe Petersen (Mattawan)
D- Will Anderson (Portage Central)
F- Alex Johnson (Kalamazoo Eagles/Plainwell)
F- Trent Stoner (Kalamazoo Eagles/Gull Lake)
F- Jason Moreau (Mattawan)
Honorable Mention
G- Huston Born (Kalamazoo Eagles/Plainwell)
D- Nolan McCarthy (Portage Northern)
D- Tyler Wressel (Kalamazoo Eagles/Paw Paw)
F- Carson Byers (Mattawan)
F- James Onderlinde (Kalamazoo Eagles/Gull Lake)
F- Jimmy Lindstrom (Kalamazoo Eagles/Parchment)
Art Massias Cup – Mattawan
Jim Groestsema Adult Contribution Award – Todd Hufford (Portage Central)
Grant Smith Memorial Trophy – Jonathan Slack (Portage Northern)
Doc Ed Edwards Referee-in-Chief Scholarship – Liam Baal (Mattawan)
Matthew VanderSalm Memorial Scholarship – Will Anderson (Portage Central)
Wings West Unsung Hero – Aiden McKeeby (Mattawan)
Jimmy Arnold Courage Award – Bryan Gracey (Portage Central)
Rookie of the Year – James Onderlinde (Kalamazoo Eagles/Gull Lake)
Players Choice – Parker Remelius (Kalamazoo United/Loy Norrix)
MVP – Cam Agnew (Mattawan)
Coach of the Year – Mike May (Mattawan)