MIHL Updates Heading Into March, Schedule, Dispersal Draft Review, What’s Ahead

Here’s a couple of important game updates as we head into a new calendar month, as well as what’s been happening around the league.  

Big news in the MIHL South as the Muskegon Voyagers (13-8-0) win again at Lakeshore Sports Centre against the Waterford Sharks (14-4-1) by a score of 5-3.  

It’s five different goal scorers in Owen Drake, Andrew Taylor, Dylan Smith, Riley Pitchure and Luke McCarthy who helped open up the game in the third period.  

The home team has won every game in the series so far, and Muskegon (3-0-0) has officially thrown a wrench in the Sharks hope for top billing throughout an upcoming postseason run. 

Here’s why. 

KINGS TAKE PACE IN MIHL STANDINGS 

— With the Kalkaska Kings (14-3-1) latest 6-3 victory over the Alpena 45ers (5-14-1) they now pace the MIHL’s best record. It was a 3-0 start for the Kings, and they led the game wire-to-wire. Vincent Dean, Gavin Duffing, Sean Schirripa, Cameron Hofstetter, Brock Taylor and Cam Fisher all found the back of the net for Kalkaska. Ben Henry recorded a pair of goals and an assist while Max Vautour had a goal and a couple of helpers for the 45ers.  

— A staggering 25 penalties were listed from the beginning of the second period until festivities were closed for the evening. Fighting, unsportsmanlike infractions and abuse of officials included. Here’s the league box score: http://stats-ro.api.digitalshift.ca/gamesheet/8jBllm  

SAINTS ALSO TOP 45ERS TO BEGIN THE WEEKEND 

— The St. Ignace Saints (10-8-0) routed the Alpena 45ers 9-4 on Saturday. It was another quick start that Alpena allowed as they were down 4-0 at the end of the first period. Caleb Wood has been a solid addition for the Saints as he ended up with a monster five-point night on three goals and two assists. Tyler Christensen, Mickey Vanantwerp and Caleb McKerchie all found the twine twice, respectively. Mike Romano ended the game with three assists for St. Ignace.  

— Ben Henry registered a goal and an assist while Brett Ciupka, Brad Gosselin and Jack Vautour all ended up with a goal for the 45ers.  Al Karsten and Alex Struble split goaltending duties in both games over the weekend.        

THE REMAINING LOOK AT THE REGULAR SEASON 

— With operations suspended within the Detroit Warhawks (to go with the Cheboygan Wendigo earlier in the year) the league will operate with six teams spanning both divisions (now at three per) for the rest of the season.  

—  It’s still the Alpena 45ers, Kalkaska Kings and St. Ignace Saints in the MIHL North. The Michigan Shadow, Waterford Sharks and Muskegon Voyagers represent the MIHL South.  

— From what I understand, the game plan is now for every team to reach the 25-game threshold for the rest of the regular season. That does mean there will be extra matchup in the MIHL South between the trio of Shadow, Sharks and Voyagers (to make up for the void left from the Warhawks departure). That is excellent news for the Kings in particular as they should have leverage for home ice advantage throughout the playoffs, should they hold serve.  

Here’s the official look at what’s ahead: 

Week 19: Saturday, March 7 & Sunday, March 8   

Saturday: Waterford Sharks at Alpena 45ers (7:00, Northern Lights Arena); Muskegon Voyagers at Kalkaska Kings (7:00, The Kaliseum) St. Ignace Saints at Michigan Shadow (7:30, Big Boy Arena)  

Sunday: Waterford Sharks at Kalkaska Kings (1:00, The Kaliseum); Muskegon Voyagers at Alpena 45ers (1:00, Northern Lights Arena); St. Ignace Saints at Michigan Shadow (1:00, Big Boy Arena) 

Week 20: Saturday, March 14 & Sunday, March 15   

Saturday: Alpena 45ers at Kalkaska Kings (7:00, The Kaliseum); Michigan Shadow at Waterford Sharks (8:00, Lakeland Arena) 

Sunday: Kalkaska Kings at St. Ignace Saints (1:00, Little Bear Arena)   

Week 21: Friday March 20-Sunday, March 22 (Original Final Weekend of the Regular Season) 

Friday: Waterford Sharks at Michigan Shadow (8:00, Big Boy Arena) 

Saturday: Muskegon Voyagers at Waterford Sharks (6:30, Lakeland Arena); Kalkaska Kings at St. Ignace Saints (7:00, Little Bear Arena)  

Sunday: Alpena 45ers at St. Ignace Saints (1:00, Little Bear Arena) 

Week 22: Saturday, March 27-Sunday, March 29 (Make Ups Scheduled) 

Friday: Waterford Sharks at Michigan Shadow (8:00, Big Boy Arena); Alpena 45ers at St. Ignace Saints (8:00, Little Bear Arena) 

Saturday: St. Ignace Saints at Kalkaska Kings (7:00, The Kaliseum); Michigan Shadow at Muskegon Voyagers (7:30, Lakeshore Sports Centre) 

Sunday: Alpena 45ers at Kalkaska Kings (1:00, The Kaliseum) 

REMAINING SHARKS HOME BROADCASTS, WHAT TO WATCH FOR 

— It looks like the remaining schedule for Waterford is split between four road games and just two tilts at Lakeland Arena. So, I’ll carry a couple more of the originally scheduled home calls on Saturday, March 14 (Michigan Shadow, 8 PM EST) and Saturday, March 21 (Muskegon Voyagers, 6:30 p.m. EST).   

— After this upcoming road trip concludes every other game from March 14 (and until the close of the regular season) will be carried by Go Live Sports Cast in contingent with their home ice contract obligations for the Shadow. So, four of the final six games will be on the air and carry paramount implications toward the standings!        

                                                                                WARHAWKS DISPERSAL DRAFT SELECTIONS 

— Forward Austin Hickner and defensemen Tommy Morgan and Jake Fry were claimed by the Alpena 45ers.  

— Scoring forward Paul Lockner and defenseman Isaiah Hyatt were selected by the Michigan Shadow.  

— Former Warhawks assistant captain Dante Sufferdini is now a member of the Muskegon Voyagers. This entry was posted by commissioner Scott Brand via the MIHL Facebook page on February 18.   

A REALITY OF WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN IN A PERFECT WORLD  

—  The Kalkaska Kings, St. Ignace Saints and Waterford Sharks did not claim anyone on the Warhawks roster. With certain players that have moved so frequently between the Warhawks (and likely lack of availability to them) there is going to be some serious talent left on the board.  

— It’s no surprise that Nick Allen wasn’t selected. He has an extensive resume across various leagues with all-star nods. He would have been a game changer. In the tilt I covered earlier this year against the Sharks, Allen scored a pair of goals and carried a rocket of a shot. Goaltenders Nate Austin and Michael Schwanke could have easily been taken as well and thrown into a better defensive situation in the process.                                       

MY FINAL PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS HEADING INTO APRIL (What I Think Will Take Place) 

— I’m going to go out on a limb (and I have no precursor knowledge base here) and say with the six-team operation in place until the end of the regular season that we will see top seeds of the MIHL North and South receive a bye.  

— That means the potential matchup of the remaining seeds (2)-(3) are going to be spicy in the MIHL South. With the Waterford Sharks (19 GP, 14-4-1, 29 PTS), Michigan Shadow (19 GP, 14-5-0, 28 PTS) and Muskegon Voyagers (21 GP, 13-8-0, 26 PTS) currently separated by just three points; nothing is set in stone. I can’t in good faith tell you who is going to land a bye at this point. But there will be an outstanding opponent that has their playoff journey end sooner than expected.  

— The Sharks (3-0-1) and Shadow still face each other three more times with this latest schedule adjustment. The Shadow (5-1-0) have also picked up another game against the Voyagers. A marked additional seventh tilt to reach the 25-game threshold.    

— The MIHL North is not a minefield and can already be predicted. The Kings are going to receive a bye in the first round (they will likely challenge for the best record in the league and carry home ice advantage throughout) while the (2) St. Ignace Saints will host the (3) Alpena 45ers in the conference semifinals. We will see if that is the format the committee ultimately agrees upon. I think this makes the most sense if they want all teams to be involved in upcoming postseason play.