Hockey Summit hopes to ‘make game better’

First year meeting draws 20 coaches, five officials and backs Zero Tolerance policy

Along with the tremendous increase of high school hockey teams across the state come some growing pains. 

To help identify and resolve some issues that have come up, 20 high school coaches and five officials representing eight league and four official’s associations attended the inaugural High School Hockey Summit on May 6 at Cranbrook-Kingswood.

Organized by Cranes coach Andy Weidenbach, the Summit’s goal was to bring coaches and officials together and help make high school hockey more enjoyable and entertaining for players, coaches, officials, parents and school administrators.

“This is going to be a good thing,” said Weidenbach.  “We’ve got eight leagues committed to it right now and hopefully it will continue to grow and maybe in time the state will implement it also.”

Summit attendees spent the day in breakout group discussions to identify the most prevalent problems associated with high school hockey.

The Officials group identified two issues: the lack of professionalism, control and discipline exhibited by many of the coaches and the lack of discipline and respect that the players had for the officials, other players and the game in general.

The Coaches group identified three issues: more consistency in defining and calling penalties from period to period, game to game and league to league. The coaches also wanted the officiating to be consistent regardless of the score and/or time remaining in the game.

The coaches would like more input into the selection of officials for MHSAA sponsored tournament games.  The coaches also recommended that the MHSAA form an Officials Evaluation Committee made up of one official, one coach, one Athletic Director and one MHSAA official.  This committee would evaluate the officials working the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals for each division during the MHSAA tournament.
Livonia official Jim Gagleard spurred a discussion of the Western Lakes Athletic Association’s Zero Tolerance policy. 

The policy in part spells out specific penalties for infractions after the whistle, swearing and verbal abuse to officials, coaches or opposing players.  An additional point of emphasis was placed on calling rules regarding taunting and unsportsmanlike conduct, instigators, stick infractions and calling penalties regardless of the score and or time remaining in the game.

Gagleard and Dan DiCristofaro of the Northeast Hockey Referees Association along with WLAA coaches Pete Mazzoni (Livonia Churchill) and Mike Humitz (Livonia Stevenson) reported on the positive effects the policy had on league play last year.

“They said that after implementing the policy the quality and the speed of their games dramatically improved,” said Weidenbach. “And penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct and roughing after the whistle decreased substantially.”

In addition to discussion the need for continuing education and training for high school coaches and officials, the group made a recommendation to have the coaches in attendance take the Zero Tolerance guidelines back to their respective leagues for approval and implementation.

“The WLAA had great success with it and we didn’t want to reinvent the wheel,” said Weidenbach. “So we can do it at our respective individual league levels.”

The group also recommended that the Michigan High School Coaches Association (MHSHCA) work with the MHSAA to get the Coaches Association to provide more input to the Officials Selection Committee.  Also, the MHSHCA should lobby the MHSAA to establish an Evaluation Committee for all MHSAA tournament games.

Michigan players picked for USA Hockey Select 16 and 17 Camps

The following 1990-born players were selected to attend the USA Hockey Select 16 Camp in Rochester, New York, June 23-30. Additional "At-Large" players may still be added.

Player, City, Pos
Joshua Bemis, Clarkston, D
Brock Carlston, Muskegon, D
Austin Handley, Clarkston, D
Ian Ruel, Ann Arbor, D
Steven West, Milford, D
Travis White, Sterling Heights, D
Luke Witkowski, Holland, D
Ryan Baratono, Livonia, F
Robert Cznarnik, Washington, F
Andrew Fitzstephens, Schoolcraft, F
Justin Florek, Marquette, F
Kyle Jean, Sault Ste. Marie, F
A.J. Jenks, Wolverine Lake, F
Michael Merrifield, Beverly Hills, F
Kellen Michalak, Caro, F
Dajon Mingo, Canton, F
Ryan Rashid, Farmington Hills, F
Barry Sanderson, Dearborn, F
Shawn Szydlowski, St. Clair Shores, F
Dan Vandercook, Farmington Hills, F
Michael Voran, Livonia, F               
David Wohlberg, South Lyon, F
Nick Dries, Lake Orion, G
Matthew Martigan, Flat Rock, G
Joseph Rogers, Marysville, G

The following 1989-born players were selected to attend the USA Hockey Select 17 Camp in St. Cloud, Minnesota on July 7-14. Additional “At-Large” players may still be added.
Select 17 Camp players from Michigan

Player, Pos, Hometown
Eric Artman, D, East Lansing
Chad Billins, D, Marysville
Adam Chavez, D, Northville
Justin Jackowski, D, Muskegon
Anthony Leone, D, Dearborn Heights
Gregory Schell, D, Bay City
Grant Blakey, F, Canton
Anthony Hayes, F, Canton
Anthony Maiani, F, Shelby Twp
Benjamin Miller, F, Oakland Twp
Trevor Nil, F, Novi
Aaron Palushaj, F, Northville
Anthony Schooley, F, Romulus
Steven Shafer, F, Rochester Hills
Mark Silverman, F, Ann Arbor
Thor Skalski, F, Brighton
Nicholas Taurence, F, Trenton
Corey Tropp, F, G.P. Woods
Andrew Yarber, F, Livonia
Joshua Robinson, G, Frankenmuth
Jeremy Smith, G, Brownstown