Chippewa Valley United hockey firing on all cylinders

MACOMB COUNTY — The 2022 hockey season didn’t play out in the favor of the teams representing Macomb Dakota High School and Chippewa Valley High School, but there was a distinct difference for both. Dakota struggled with an 8-15 season, and Chippewa Valley didn’t even have a team to put on the ice.

The schools may be rivals on the gridiron, but in their first year as a united hockey team, they’ve become a family.

“It’s been a really, really good experience,” Chippewa Valley United coach Jim Andonoff said. “The way we designed the jerseys, we have a logo with both schools. Obviously, each player has loyalties to each school, but we come together as a school.”

The athletic directors from the respective schools met and came to the decision to combine the teams to form Chippewa Valley United. Fast forward to winter 2023, and Chippewa Valley United sits in first place of the Macomb Area Conference Red division.

Opening the season 3-3, Chippewa Valley United has gone 14-3 in their last 16 games, including a seven-game winning streak as of Feb. 15.

Chippewa Valley United is young on paper, and the growing pains showed early — and still show at times — but senior forward Anthony Paperi said there was one game that brought the team together.

“Stoney Creek. It was our first game when he (Evan Johnston) joined the team, and we were down 5-1, and then we came back and made it 5-4, and then they went up 7-4,” Paperi said. “With 6 minutes left, we came back and scored three to take it to overtime, and then we won it in overtime. That’s when we kind of knew we had a good team.”

A win over Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (15-7-1),  currently in first place in the Oakland Activities Association White, would bring any team together, but the seniors leaders have been efficient in that department as well.

Led by senior forwards Paperi and Johnston, Chippewa Valley United’s offensive attack has worn down opponents, averaging over four goals per game this season. Johnston (20) and Paperi (17) lead the team in goals this season while Paperi (18), Johnston (10), senior Shane Stone (16) and sophomore Kevin Dolney (10) each have 10-plus assists on the season.

Johnston, along with Paperi and Stone, has stepped into a mentor role for the younger skaters.

“It’s been cool to help them get better and see them progress throughout the year,” Johnston said.

Sophomore forward Christian Pieknik has tallied nine goals and seven assists while senior forward Kaden Jackson has added nine goals and six assists on the year.

Pieknik is one of six Chippewa Valley High School players on the team alongside senior defenseman Devyn Guptil, sophomore defenseman Luke Butina, sophomore forward Aiden Hardy, sophomore forward Ethan Stabnick and sophomore forward Stefan Milenkov.

Andonoff said the team’s aggressiveness on defense has been its biggest asset on the offensive end.

“Our game plan is to create havoc for the opposing defenseman in the offensive zone so that we can create more scoring opportunities for us,” Andonoff said.

One player that has caused havoc for Chippewa Valley United this season has been junior forward Karson Schriner.

Tallying eight goals and nine assists and being the team leader in penalty minutes this season, Schriner’s aggressive-yet-gritty play has played a key factor in their success.

“Karson plays with a little chip on his shoulder, but honestly some of the penalties are just the way the game is changing,” Andonoff said. “He just plays intensely. If they have the puck and he wants it, he’s going to use his body to get it.”

While the junior and senior class have made their presence felt this season, it’s been Chippewa Valley United’s sophomore class that has significantly progressed.

Dolney, Pieknik and Butina have provided efficient contributions in their respective roles, and sophomore defensemen Austin Bartsch and Andrew Johnston have progressed with each game.

Sophomore Zack Wiggington has represented the young core in the net, earning a 5-0 record and a 2.40 goals against average this season.

Andonoff said the confidence of the sophomores has grown each game.

“They go through their ups and downs, and that’s just part of being younger,” Andonoff said. “I think we’ve seen the progression and seen the younger guys play out of their minds; they’re playing really, really well.”

Senior goalkeeper Joshua Sosnowski has been the primary keeper for Chippewa Valley United, holding an 11-4 record with a .912 save percentage.

Behind their impressive offense and their young — yet effective defense — Chippewa Valley United’s transformation this season will be one to keep an eye on during the state tournament.

“The big thing for us is we want to win our region, and we want to get down there and win a state title,” Andonoff said.