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High School Hockey Weekly: Hartland’s Measuring-Stick Week (Week of Nov. 9)

Hartland faces Canton and Detroit Catholic Central in the same week, while Houghton and Marquette get their Upper Peninsula seasons rolling.

Shaun
2–3 minutes

The second week of the 2026-27 MHSAA boys ice hockey season brings the first meeting between two of the state’s preseason favorites, plus the openers for a pair of Upper Peninsula contenders. Here is where things stand. For last week’s outlook, see High School Hockey Weekly (Week of Nov. 2).

Rankings

The Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association had not published its first 2026-27 poll as of Tuesday morning, and no new statewide ranking has appeared since Petey’s Picks’ Preseason Top-25 on Oct. 30, which we covered last week. Rankings return here once an in-season poll is released.

Storylines

Hartland starts clean. The preseason No. 3 Eagles opened Saturday with a 6-0 home shutout of the South Lyon/South Lyon East co-op, according to both the school’s schedule page and MaxPreps. That sets up a demanding stretch: Canton at home Wednesday, a trip to top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central on Saturday, and then a Nov. 20-21 Upper Peninsula swing to Marquette and Escanaba.

Talent concentrated at the top. Petey’s Picks released its “Top 100 Names to Know” list of returning high school players on Nov. 5, drawing from 67 programs. Catholic Central placed two players in the top four, and Hartland placed two in the top 10, a sign of why Saturday’s meeting is drawing early attention. Rochester United, Canton, Stoney Creek, Marquette, Trenton, and Brighton also have players in the top 10.

Opening-weekend scoring. Saturday’s slate produced some high-scoring finishes. L’Anse Creuse North edged Anchor Bay 7-6, Grosse Ile beat Saline 10-2, and Troy held off Rockford 5-4. Our Saturday Scoreboard has the full list of confirmed results.

The road to Plymouth is set. The MHSAA calendar lists Regionals for Feb. 15-24, Quarterfinals on Feb. 27, Semifinals on March 4-5, and the Finals on March 6, 2027, all ending at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth.

Games to watch

  • Wednesday, Nov. 11: Canton at Hartland, 7:30 p.m. Canton was singled out for its offense in the preseason, and it is the first test of the Eagles’ week.
  • Friday, Nov. 13: Hancock vs. Houghton, 7 p.m. The defending Division 3 champions begin their title defense against their Copper Country neighbor.
  • Friday, Nov. 13: Marquette at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 7 p.m. Preseason No. 9 Marquette, 1-0 according to MaxPreps, makes the long trip downstate to face a Catholic High School League program.
  • Friday, Nov. 13: Forest Hills Central vs. Troy, 6 p.m. Both teams won on opening Saturday, and one will leave with its first loss.
  • Saturday, Nov. 14: Hartland at Detroit Catholic Central, 7:30 p.m. This is the week’s headliner: preseason No. 3 visits No. 1 in a rematch of the only game the Shamrocks lost to a Michigan team last season.

The Mitten Hockey High School Scoreboard will track notable results after game nights. Schedules can change, so check with the schools before heading to the rink.

Sources

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