Boys High School Hockey Players of the Week: Dec. 19-25 (presented by Lawrence Tech Hockey)

The Michigan High School Hockey Coaches’ Association and Lawrence Tech Hockey have teamed up to create new players of the week and players of the month awards, and they have formed a selection committee to help with the process.

Each week, the committee members will take the top nominated players by their respective coaches and high school programs and rank the individual performances. From there, players will be selected from their respective divisions as ‘players of the week.’

MiHockey’s Michael Caples and Stefan Kubus are two of the committee members.

Announced Wednesday, here are the latest Lawrence Tech Hockey High School Players of the Week (for games played from Dec. 12-18). Winners per region are in bold, honorable mentions are in italics.

 

North Region: Gabe Coppo, Freshman Forward, Calumet

Honorable Mention: Alex Nordstrom (So. Forward, Hancock), Joe Phillips (Jr. Forward, Marquette)

Coppo broke out for a huge game against rival Houghton (No. 9 in D3). The freshman forward would score two goals and two assists to ignite Calumet to a huge 7-1 victory.

 

South Region: Charles Goetzke, Senior Goaltender, Ann Arbor Pioneer

Honorable Mention: Michael Milne (Sr. Forward, Chelsea), Jake Crespi (Sr. Forward, Brighton)

Goetzke stood on his head stopping 48 shots to lead the Pioneers to a 3-2 win over Brownstown Woodhaven.

 

Central Region: Conor Witherspoon, Senior Forward, Flint Powers Catholic Central

Honorable Mention: Sheldon Sturos (Sr. Forward, Howell), Austin Barlass (Jr. Forward, Port Huron Northern)

Conor Witherspoon scored a goal and an assist for Flint Powers in a big game against U of D-Jesuit (No. 6 in D1). Witherspoon’s effort would help lead Flint Powers to a 4-0 victory over U of D. Flint Powers is currently 9-0 on the season and is ranked No. 1 in Division 3.

 

West Region: Trevor Stephenson, Junior Goaltender, East Kentwood

Honorable Mention: Mike Malewitz (Jr. Forward, East Grand Rapids), Charlie Brewer (Jr. Forward, GR Forest Hills Central)

Trevor Stephenson was the difference maker for East Kentwood in their game against Grandville. The junior netminder would stop 34 shots to lead EK to a 3-1 win over the perennial state contender.

 

Metro East Region: Garrett Bollenbacher, Junior Defenseman, Grosse Pointe South

Honorable Mention: Chad Ritchie (Sr. Forward, Utica Eisenhower), Jaron Pangborn (Sr. Forward, University of Liggett)

Bollenbacher had a huge week for the Blue Devils scoring a goal and adding two assists in a 7-1 win over Gabriel Richard. The junior defenseman would add an assist and a stellar defensive effort in GP South’s 2-1 in over Brother Rice (No. 1 in D2).

 

Metro West Region: John Doyle, Senior Forward, Livonia Churchill

Honorable Mention: Zachary Gallaher (Sr. Defenseman, Plymouth), Brenden Lipon (Sr. Forward, Hartland)

Doyle was a force for Livonia Churchill as they took on Brighton (No. 1 in D1). The senior forward would score all three goals for the Chargers in a hotly contested game. Churchill would lose 4-3 to Brighton in the final minutes. This is the second time this season Doyle has been named Player of the Week.

 

Metro North Region: Grant Ybarra, Senior Defenseman, Royal Oak

Honorable Mention: Blake Tosto (Sr. Forward, Brother Rice), Jake VanDenBerg (Jr. Goaltender, L’Anse Creuse Unified)

Grant Ybarra played a big role in Royal Oak’s 6-5 victory over Birmingham Unified. The senior blueliner would score two goals and an assist to be the difference maker in the tight game between two equal opponents.

 

Metro South Region: Mike Faremouth, Senior Defenseman, Brownstown Woodhaven

Honorable Mention: Drew Welsch (Jr. Forward, Trenton), Josh Donigian (So. Defenseman, Allen Park)

Faremouth had a monster week for Brownstown Woodhaven. He would score a hat trick and add an assist in Brownstown Woodhaven’s 8-3 win over Dearborn Unified. The senior defenseman would add an assist in BW’s 3-2 loss to Ann Arbor Pioneer.