2025 MDHL Regular Season Wrap-Up

2025 MDHL Regular Season Wrap-Up

After two and a half months of hockey, MDHL regular season play has wrapped up and this weekend’s playoffs will determine who wins the championship. As we look forward to the remaining five games, here’s a quick breakdown of each team’s performance up to this point.

Green (1st Place – 10W, 2L)

Once again, West Michigan-based Green finds themselves in 1st place heading into the playoffs with a record of 10-2 and a league-leading scoring differential of +25 (70 goals for, 45 goals against). They’re a deep team full of two-sport MHSAA athletes, and when they have a full roster they are very difficult to beat.

Green gets production from almost everyone, with nine players having 10 points or more. Byron Center’s Luke Goheen leads the team in scoring with 23 points (10G, 13A), followed by Mona Shore’s Eli Habetler and Fruitport’s Hayden Taylor, with 16 and 15 points, respectively. West Catholic’s Landon Smith (8G, 6A) is a solid two-way player, Big Rapids’s Brody Ososki (6G, 6A) can put up points, and Lowell’s Harmon Esch (4G, 8A) plays a physical, hard-nosed game. On defense, Grandville’s Lewis Gardine (5G, 9A) and Reeths-Puffer’s Connor Anderson are each averaging 1 point or more per game. In goal, Grandville’s Ayden Karas has been a standout, leading the league in GAA (2.75) and tied for 2nd in save percentage (91%).

With a balanced scoring attack, three solid goalies, and a quarterfinal bye, Green is going to be very tough to beat in the playoffs. They’re 4-1 in their last five games and will be rested and ready for their Saturday evening semifinal game against the winner of the Orange vs. Black quarterfinal game.

 

Blue (2nd Place – 7W, 4L, 1T)

In a repeat from last season, Blue finds itself in 2nd place and looking up to Green. They’re second in scoring differential at +9 (69 goals for, 60 against), proving they can both score and give up goals in bunches.

Up front, Blue is led by Riverview Gabriel Richard’s Connor Forster and Northville’s Ethan Egelski. Both players are tied for the league lead in points with 27. Egelski leads the league with 14 goals and Forster leads the league with 15 assists. They are both dynamic skaters who play 200 foot games and have extremely high compete levels. Utica Eisenhower’s Nate Shilkey (17 points) and Detroit Catholic Central’s Jack Dorgan (16 points) and Jackson Leiter (10 points) round out those with more than 10 points apiece. Blue is young but talented on defense, with five of six skaters in their junior year or younger. Mattawan’s Ben Edington continues to improve game after game, and Detroit Catholic Central’s Leiter and Myles Schlack are two of the best two-way defenseman in the league. The skilled Howell duo of Daniel Avery and Nolan Stevens has been solid all season as well.

To have a shot at winning the championship, Blue will need to clean up their defensive zone play, support their goaltenders (who have been left out to dry too many times), and generate more secondary scoring from players like Livonia Stevenson’s Brendan Sise and Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Jack German. Blue awaits the winner of the Red and White quarterfinal.

 

Red (3rd Place – 6W, 3L, 1T, 2OTL)

Red just missed out on a 2nd place finish where they tied Blue with 15 total points but had one less win to go along with two OT losses. With 54 goals for and 58 goals against, they’re 4th in the league in goal differential at -4.

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Emmett Pilch (10G, 3A), Lakeland’s Austin Scanlon (5G, 8A), and Detroit Catholic Central’s Eian Szerlip (3G, 10A) are all tied for the team lead in scoring with 13 points apiece. With three very different playing styles, each player has found their own way to contribute on the score sheet. On defense, Red is led by Brighton’s Luke Weaver and Hartland’s Eli Sturos. Weaver plays a simple, heavy game, and Sturos is one of the better puck movers and decision makers in the league. In goal, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s John Ward II and Brighton’s Daniel Hutcheson have both been extremely solid. Ward II is 3rd in the league in GAA (3.27) and tied for 2nd in save percentage (91%), while Hutcheson is 5th in GAA (3.54) and 1st in save % (92%).

While they have a very winnable game against White in the quarterfinals, they’re going to have to find a way to get pucks past Howell goaltender Chase Rayburn, who can easily steal a game on his own.

 

Orange (4th Place – 4W, 7L, 1T)

Second to only Green in fewest goals against (47 vs. 45), Orange is going to have to find a way to score more goals if they want to make it to Sunday’s championship game. They’re dead last in the league in goals for with only 44, and only three players have 10 or more points.

Those three players are Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Thaddeus Raynish (6G, 6A), Howell defenseman Chad Pietila (4G, 7A), and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Charlie Roberts (4G, 7A). Sitting 4th in scoring with 9 points (3G, 6A) is Detroit Catholic Central’s Timmy Burke, who plays a responsible game and has found ways to contribute at both ends of the ice. On defense, Pietila, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Diezel Cariera, and Detroit Catholic Central’s Sean Goff have impressed, and are all skilled with the puck. In net, Cranbrook’s Blake Tice and Detroit Catholic Central’s Nicholas Kogut are each tied for 5th in the league in save percentage (89%), with teammate Ryder Owen (East Grand Rapids) close behind at 87%.

With three solid goaltenders, no one should sleep on Orange in the playoffs, especially if they get secondary scoring from Howell’s Bryce Pietila, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Matthew Mourad, and Cranbrook’s Reston Cicco. While they’re 1-4 in their last five games, they’re 1-1 this season against their opponent in the quarterfinals, Black.

 

Black (5th Place – 3W, 6L, 1T, 2OTL)

Plagued by a short bench throughout the season, Black has given up a league-high 70 goals against and is last in goal differential at -14.

In a bright spot, scoring has been balanced, with eight players having more than 10 points each. Interestingly, three defenseman are in the top four in scoring, led by Livonia Stevenson’s Colin Stroble (5G, 13A) in the top spot, with Detroit Catholic Central’s Ryan Dye in 2nd (2G, 11A) and Kingston Karabelski in 4th (2G, 10A). At forward, Detroit Catholic Central’s Costa Karadimas (5G, 7A), Brighton’s Connor Duffany (6G, 5A), Lakeland’s Nathan Dell (6G, 5A), and Howell’s Luke Storm (5G, 5A) are each averaging 1 point per game or better.

To keep their season alive, Black will need to defend better in front of their three goalies (Utica Eisenhower’s Connor Holmes, Midland’s Andrew Partipilo, and Salem’s Griffin Marshall) and maintain production from their scoring leaders.

 

White (6th Place – 4W, 8L)

White is limping into the playoffs, going 1-4 in their last five games. That being said, their one win in that stretch – and best game of their season – came against top-seeded Green. With 50 goals for and 63 against, they sit 5th in goal differential at -13.

Up front, White has relied heavily on the production of their top line, consisting of Forest Hills Northern’s Justin Halverson (9G, 14A), Utica Eisenhower’s Bode Farr (8G, 10A), and Detroit Catholic Central’s Matthew Naida (10G, 7A). Accounting for over 50% of the team’s total goal count, the trio are the only White players with more than 10 points during the regular season. On defense, Detroit Catholic Central junior Sam Masek leads the way. He has grown a lot since last season – both physically and mentally – and is one of the best shutdown defenseman in the league. White also boasts one of the top goalies in the league in Howell’s Chase Rayburn. With great positioning and timely saves, he finds himself 2nd in the league in GAA (3.26) and tied for 2nd in save percentage (91%).

For success in the playoffs, the top line will need to keep producing, they’ll need more secondary scoring from players like Howell’s Bryce Eskola and Northville’s Lucas Goerke, and Rayburn may need to steal a game (or two).