2021 regional preview & predictions
The MHSAA boys hockey state playoffs start on Monday, and there are county teams in many different locations.
It has been a surprising season already, but the playoffs are often a different animal altogether.
The top teams got spread out much more than usual though, so we could see a lot of the usual suspects in the second week of the playoffs. Let’s take a look at the brackets:
Division 1
Region 5
Host: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Teams: Brighton, Grand Blanc, Howell, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Oxford-Avondale United, Walled Lake Central-Waterford United
Walled Lake Central-Waterford United are a bit better than they have been in recent years, and they can certainly score goals. Oxford-Avondale was a surprising OAA White champ, and it also lit the lamp at a high rate. But really, in this region everyone can score. Howell and St. Mary’s both have mediocre records but have played very good competition and have beaten some very good teams. Neither is an easy out. Brighton has played a few too many ties to win the tough KLAA, but the Bulldogs have not lost in their last six games and are always a state title contender.
PICK: Brighton has to be the favorite.
Region 6
Host: Lake Orion
Teams: Lake Orion, Macomb Dakota, L’Anse Creuse Unified, Port Huron, Rochester United, Utica Ford Unified
This group is wide open. Lake Orion is the favorite on paper after winning OAA Red. But Rochester United played them tough in a 6-4 loss early in the season. United seems to be getting better as the season goes on and is riding a sevengame winning streak. L’Anse Creuse
Unified won MAC Red and can’t be taken lightly. Port Huron was forced to pull out of their first-round game.
PICK: Lake Orion – but it won’t be easy for the Dragons.
Region 7
Host: Detroit Catholic Central Teams: Birmingham Unified, Detroit Catholic Central, Farmington United, M-1 United, St. Clair Shores Unified, Troy United
Troy United is better than their record. Birmingham Unified and M-1 United are solid OAA Red teams. But this region is all about the hosts. Detroit Catholic Central is the defending champions in Division 1 and look to be in good form after winning both the MIHL North and the CHSL Tournament.
PICK: Detroit Catholic Central. Division 2
Region 12
Host: Hartland
Teams: Clarkston, Fenton-Linden, Hartland, Walled Lake Northern, Lakeland
Division 2 is without a doubt the toughest division of the three this year. That starts with two-time defending state champion Hartland, which has had another strong season. Lakeland drew the second seed after winning the Lakes Valley Conference. Clarkston has suffered
through a year of close losses and is better than its record.
PICK: Hartland – the champs are still the favorite until someone beats them.
Region 14
Host: Birmingham Brother Rice Teams: Birmingham Brother Rice, Bloomfield Hills, Chippewa Valley, Utica Eisenhower, West Bloomfield
Bloomfield Hills was a co-champ of the OAA White with OxfordAvondale. West Bloomfield is 6-6. Brother Rice has another strong team and has won four of their last five. The playoffs are where competing in the MIHL North really pays off. No league is tougher in the entire state, and the Warriors will reap the benefits. Chippewa and Eisenhower both struggled this year.
PICK: Brother Rice is the clear favorite.
Region 15
Host: Novi
Teams: Allen Park Cabrini, Canton, Livonia Stevenson, Novi, South Lyon Unified
Novi is resurgent this year, winning its division in the KLAA while posting an impressive 9-2-1 record. The Wildcats’ main challenger in this bracket will be Livonia Stevenson. Stevenson won an earlier meeting, but Novi was on its third game in four days. The Wildcats have been playing some very good hockey lately, even picking up a win over Hartland. South Lyon Unified can score and are sneaky good after finishing second in the Lakes Valley. Canton is also good enough to throw a monkey wrench into things, but this probably comes down to Stevenson and Novi. A StevensonNovi final has the potential to be the best game of the regional rounds.
PICK: Livonia Stevenson…eventually.
Division 3
Region 21
Host: Bloomfield
Teams: Cranbrook, Detroit Country Day, Milford, Notre Dame-Brandon, Stoney Creek, Walled Lake Western
Both opening-round games should be entertaining with Milford facing Stoney Creek and Walled Lake Western taking on Notre Dame-Brandon. But this region should come down to Cranbrook and Country Day again. Country Day, winners of the last two state titles, has had the upper hand lately, but this year’s Cranbrook team is a defensive juggernaut and will also have home ice.
PICK: Cranbrook
Region 22
Hills
Cranbrook-Kingswood
Host: Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett
Teams: Detroit U-D Jesuit, Foley United, Grosse Pointe North, Grosse Pointe South, Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, Warren De La Salle
Foley United had its best year in quite a while, going 7-4. De La Salle and U-D Jesuit fought for the MIHL South title all year, with U-D Jesuit eventually winning it. Liggett was very good early, but the Knights struggled down the stretch. Still, if they are healthy they won’t be an easy out. Neither Grosse Pointe North or Grosse Pointe South are likely to make the final.
PICK: U-D Jesuit.