Commissioner Brand Assesses Update on 25-26 Season and Beyond, Thank You to Fans

MIHL Family & Friends,

First and foremost, on behalf of the MIHL, thank you for your continued support as we approach the end of the 2025–26 regular season. We truly appreciate the commitment from our players, officials, fans, corporate partners, and everyone who has supported us—even through a few “hiccups” along the way.

On behalf of the MIHL Board of Directors, congratulations to our first-year member, the Kalkaska Kings, on capturing both the Regular Season Championship and the North Division title. Cam, Suzie, and their staff have done an outstanding job building a strong team. 

We also want to recognize St. Ignace Saints for their tremendous work both on and off the ice. They have fielded a competitive team while building a strong connection with their community, something that will serve as a blueprint for long-term success.  

While the Alpena 45ers faced challenges in the win column this season, their attendance has surged, including multiple crowds exceeding 800 fans. Congratulations to Myles and his marketing team on that growth. 

In the South Division, the championship is still to be decided. The Waterford Sharks have remained a consistent on-ice presence, while the expansion Michigan Shadow have made a strong push, setting up a winner-take-all matchup this Friday night. We also cannot overlook the perennial powerhouse Muskegon Voyagers. While currently sitting in an unfamiliar third-place position, they still hold a winning record—and history shows they are a dangerous playoff team. We anticipate an exciting postseason. 

Many of you have asked about next season, and we appreciate the interest. We currently have several initiatives underway, including expansion opportunities. We are excited to being adding Findlay Force and Motor City Muskies to our league for 2026-27. As we grow, our focus remains on providing a safe environment for our participants while maintaining a sustainable business model for our teams. 

A key part of that sustainability is controlled growth. Our league footprint will remain within a 250-mile radius of the center of the state. This ensures our players—many of whom work full-time jobs and support families—can continue to participate at a high level while balancing their responsibilities. With that in mind, we anticipate announcing a ninth team soon. While we have received interest from seven more potential expansion teams, we are looking to cap membership at 10 teams for the 2026–27 season, with additional expansion considered for 2027–28. We are hoping to have our 2026-27 team line-up finalized by Mid-April.  

We have also implemented new requirements for incoming teams, including a minimum of 15 committed players and stronger financial standards for ownership groups. These steps will help ensure stability across the league and allow our office to provide improved services. 

Looking ahead, we plan to establish committees to guide continued growth and introduce several new initiatives. These include mandatory real-time scoring, improved communication standards and enhanced expectations for team social media presence. We are also exploring partnerships with national hockey organizations to assist in elevating and strengthening our league as well as exploring league vendor opportunities. 

Player safety and protection will remain at the forefront. We will be implementing stricter enforcement measures, including increased fines and suspensions for actions that do not respect opponents, officials, or the integrity of the game. Players involved in repeated altercations, abuse of officials, or non-hockey-related plays will face significant consequences. Additionally, team ownership will be held more accountable for the conduct of players and staff. 

We understand that, like in hockey, we won’t always be perfect—we’ll make a bad pass, trip over the blue line, and miss open nets. That comes with growth. While some may focus on those moments, we remain committed to building a strong, sustainable league. 

In the meantime, we hope you’ve enjoyed the season so far. Enjoy the final regular season games, and we look forward to seeing you in the playoffs. 

Thank you again for your continued support of the MIHL. 

Scott Brand 

MIHL Commissioner  

refnchief@gmail.com