OAA Hockey media night: League champions prepare to defend as OAA competition ramps up

OAKLAND COUNTY — The jerseys over the button-up shirts and tie is certainly a one-night kind of fashion trend, and it was back in style Nov. 7 as nine Oakland Activities Association teams gathered at Rochester Adams High School for the fourth annual OAA hockey media day.

Coaches and players exchanged pleasantries and caught up to discuss where their respective teams stood before the season. But no matter how many talents graduated for any team, the OAA is still shaping up to be in for another strong season.

Check out the OAA teams below and how they stack up against their league counterparts.

 

Clarkston 
League: Oakland Activities Association Red
Last season’s record: 22-6-1

It’s one of those seasons where it’s a brutal ending, but you can’t help but feel like Clarkston is going to be back at the top this season.

After capturing the OAA Red title, Clarkston fought its way through the Division 1 bracket to reach the state semifinals, falling to Brighton in a 4-3 overtime loss.

On the positive side, Clarkston returns a loaded veteran roster headlined by senior forward Ron Wade (17 goals and 26 assists), a first team all-State selection; senior forward Kyle Lynch (12 goals and 19 assists), a second team all-State selection; senior forward George Walker (5 goals and 10 assists); senior forward Frank Stanek (5 goals and 10 assists);  and senior defenseman Trey Damian (3 goals and 12 assists).

Junior forward Gavin Anderson (13 goals and 9 assists) and junior goalie Brady Damian (11-3-1/1.78 GAA), a first team all-State selection, are also key returners for the Wolves.

With talent at all points of the ice back on the squad, Clarkston should once again be a threat in the playoffs. 

 

Rochester Hills Stoney Creek
League: Oakland Activities Association Red
Last season’s record: 17-9

Fresh off a trip to the state quarterfinals in 2022, it was a tough pill to swallow for the Cougars when they were quickly bounced in the first round of the playoffs last year.

Although Stoney Creek graduated its top three skaters in points, the senior group is ready to leave their own mark on the program.

“We’ve had so much success in the past with our sophomore year winning the regional title,” senior Dylan Smith said. “We had a lot of guys like Brandon Hilton, an all-State guy. It was just a lot to fill in the shoes because there were some big roles, but it’s a big stage for us.”

Smith, senior forward Christian Gojcaj (7 goals and 17 assists), and senior Alex Jackson (2 goals and 14 assists) lead the leadership group.

The Cougars will also have some stability in net as it returns senior Owen Smith as well.

 

M1 Griffins (Co-op of Berkley, Royal Oak, and Ferndale)
League: Oakland Activities Association Red
Last season’s record: 17-9

The Griffins significantly improved on its 10-win season in 2022, posting 17 wins last year. but the team unfortunately ran into the buzzsaw that is Detroit Catholic Central in the playoffs.

“Our team has been in the regional finals the last three years, so they know what it feels like and what it feels like to lose,” head coach Alex Gregorich said. “I think that’s going to be a driving force.”

Senior captain Charlie Price (20 goals and 25 assists), a second team all-State selection, will lead the squad while Zach Steiner (14 goals and 17 assists), senior Jack Thornton, and junior goalkeeper Todd Butler are key returners.

Thornton said the Griffins plan to build off their on-ice chemistry.

“Overall, our biggest improvement was working on our communication skills and our systems because that allowed for us to cash in on turnovers and make our transitions more successful, getting more shots on net,” Thornton said.

 

Birmingham Unified (Co-op of Seaholm and Groves)
League: Oakland Activities Association Red
Last season’s record: 14-12-1

Birmingham will have to figure some things out at the forward spot, but there’s a lot to like about its defensive side of the puck coming into this season.

“We’re younger coming in,” head coach Zack Warson said. “We lost a lot at forward, but we’re bringing back a lot at defense and goaltender with two goaltenders coming back, which is great. What we’re trying to do is just build within.”

Warson and company return standout players in senior defenseman Nathan Walsh (7 goals and 12 assists), an all-State honorable mention; senior captain defenseman Spencer Werner (3 goals and 10 assists); senior forward Chase Hamlin (4 goals and 8 assists); and two senior goalies in Isaac Hosfield (8-4, 2.62 GAA) and Abby Hargrave-Thomas (5-5-1, 3.32 GAA).

It’s not the most senior-dominant group, but it’s the right kind of seniors you want on your squad, and they’re getting the young guys prepared for the season opener.

“We’re just trying to build the idea that in practice we’re treating it like a game no matter the time of day or whatever practice it is,” Werner said. “Every practice has to be a ton of energy.”

 

Lake Orion 
League: Oakland Activities Association Red
Last season’s record: 5-19-1

The record doesn’t indicate it, but Lake Orion could have easily been floating around .500 if it figured out how to win the close ones.

Suffering nine losses by one goal, learning how to fight back and close out the games when the opportunity presents itself has been the point of focus for the Dragons.

“(It’s been about) overcoming adversity and not living and dying with every goal,” head coach Nick Badder said. 

“We just got to try to be even keel. We score a couple goals or get scored against, no big deal because we’ll get it back. We’re working on it. I don’t think we’re there yet, but I’m very curious to see how we do in our scrimmage on Saturday.”

The Dragons return an experienced core in senior Carter Kneiding (6 goals and 10 assists), junior Braden Graham (7 goals and 12 assists), and senior Austin Mains (2 goals and 5 assists).

According to Lake Orion players, sophomore goalkeeper Jagger Kimber is going to be a “beauty” in net.

 

Rochester United (Co-op with Rochester and Rochester Adams)
League: Oakland Activities Association Red
Last season’s record: 5-20-1

It was a tough year for Rochester United, holding 10 fewer wins than a season prior, but there’s plenty of optimism that head coach Tucker Penning and company will get this thing back on track.

Rochester United graduated a ton – there’s no denying that – but junior TJ Maguet (4 goals and 7 assists) and a slew of newcomers will bring a different look.

Senior Greyson Hizer and sophomore Nolan Hizer, Greyson’s younger brother, will look to make an impact in their first season.

“I got this kid next to me (Nolan Hizer) that made me want to play, but also the boys in the locker room that made me want to play and those crosstown rival games and the student section,” Hizer said.

Rochester United will compete in the OAA White this season as opposed to the OAA Red.

 

Farmington United (Co-op of North Farmington and Farmington)
League: Oakland Activities Association White
Last season’s record: 14-13

Farmington Hills Ice Arena was rocking last year, and the team took notice.

“Freshman year, I think I went to a couple games and there were maybe 20 students there,” senior Curtis Kent said.

“Sophomore year it grew exponentially – I mean there was a lot more. This last year at certain home games, we had the whole stands packed and they were being rowdy. They are rowdy and they love to get into the games, and that helps us get a lot more excited and have a lot more energy because of that.”

The electric environment turned into Farmington’s highest win total since the 2019-2020 season, and Kent (13 goals and 23 assists); junior Brady Brink (20 goals and 35 assists), an all-State honorable mention; and senior goalie Michael Beals (13-11-1) will look to keep it going.

Beals, who started all 25 games for Farmington last season, said the guys have been going hard in training.

“I’m seeing a lot in practice,” Beals said. “Guys are working hard and they’re excited for the season, so there’s a lot of that.”

 

North Oakland (Co-op of Auburn Hills Avondale, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Oxford, Ortonville Brandon and Auburn Hills Oakland Christian)
League: Oakland Activities Association White
Last season’s record: 14-12-1

North Oakland finished off last season on a heater, tallying a 7-2-1 record.

Graduating all-State honorable mention Matthew Wagner, who scored 41 of the team’s 98 goals in the regular season, is an impossible void to fill, but it will be up to senior Peter White (15 goals and 21 assists), junior Lucas Ethier (4 goals and 17 assists), junior Aidan London (7 goals and 7 assists), and senior Logan Young (1 goal and 11 assists), to contribute.

Sophomore Brendan Everhard (1 goal and 10 assists) will also look to improve on his freshman campaign.

 

Bloomfield Hills
League: Oakland Activities Association White
Last season’s record: 13-13

Going from four wins to 13, there’s no other word to describe that kind of season other than successful.

Returning three of its top four skaters in points in senior Preston Lumberg (20 goals and 25 assists), senior Jordan Newman (15 goals and 18 assists), and senior Dominik Dostal (14 goals and 18 assists), Bloomfield Hills will have no problem putting the puck in the back of the net.

The key for the Black Hawks will be finding consistency on the defensive side of the puck, where it allowed four or more goals in 11 of its 24 regular season matchups.

 

Troy United (Co-op of Troy and Troy Athens)
League: Oakland Activities Association White
Last season’s record: 6-19-1

When the offense was on, the defense would be lackluster, and vice versa for Troy United last season.

Head coach Josh Brown said it’s all about getting both ends of the ice on the same page this year.

“I think our goals for and goals against are going to be a lot better than the last couple years,” Brown said. “We got a lot more scoring threats, so it’s going to add to our scoring column. I think our defense will step up a little bit in the goals against.”

Troy United brings back a talented core in junior Joey Clark (18 goals and 19 assists), senior Michael Li (11 goals and 20 assists), senior Keegan Nolan (12 goals and 14 assists), senior Quinn Corbett (8 goals and 9 assists), and senior Caleb Dominguez (7 goals and 8 assists).