Photo submitted to Daily Mining Gazette Team CC poses together after defeating Lansing 9-0 in the final game of the Split Season Tournament. Team CC also beat Lansing 8-0 and Marquette 7-0.

JACKSON — The defending national champion Team Copper Country 18U Tier II hockey team entered this past weekend’s Split Season Tournament looking to qualify for the state tournament after the high school season ends in March. They did just that with a sweep of the weekend, including an 8-0 blanking of Lansing, a 7-0 shutout of Marquette and a 9-3 win over Lansing in the final game.

Head coach Micah Stipech loved the effort his team gave throughout the weekend.

“Our team motto is pace and possession,” said Stipech. “Those concepts are the focus of everything we do, and it is a major reason for our success.”

After a successful 2016-17 season, Team CC found that teams were ready with new strategies to combat them this season. After adjusting, Team CC has thrived, going 26-1-2 through the fall, counting to build off of last year.

“This year’s team picked up where we left off last year,” said Stipech. “Our forwards hunt pucks, torment the opposition, and then don’t give it back. Our defense has improved their gaps and sticks. They have learned to support each other and 2-on-1 forecheckers. The result is a weekend like last where they make it look easy.

Stipech has been impressed with his defense. With a core made up of juniors, he has seen a lot of growth throughout the season. One he has been really impressed with is Calumet’s Josh Vandenburg.

“After an early injury, he has really started to pick up what we are doing,” said Stipech. “He is a steady defender and also developed a knack for catching opponents with vicious hip checks.”

Another Calumet player has also caught the eye of his coaching staff throughout the fall is goaltender Nick Voelker.

“His attitude and commitment have been remarkable,” said Stipech. “He refuses to make excuses. He is a captain on the football team and you can see why. Nice had the best numbers in the conference last season, and I think he was underrated in the success of the Copper Kings.”

While Team CC has been made up of players from Houghton, Hancock, Calumet and Jeffers over the years, this season’s roster featured a few “imports” from Kingsford and Marquette. Stipech and his staff were pleased with the efforts of all three skaters: Daunte Fortner, Nick Murvich and Max Curtis of Kingsford and Joe Phillips of Marquette.

“Last weekend was an example of the value of players from outside Houghton County,” said Stipech. “Without them, we would have been left with only nine skaters because of a large number of football players we have on our roster.”

Fortner and Phillips both added speed and quick-release shots to the lineup all fall. Murvich converted to defense and played hard, especially in his own end. Curtis added size and strength to the blue line corps.

Stipech is also quick to admit his team’s success is bolstered by the efforts of his staff, which includes Jeff Mikesch, Ryan Deforge and Rod Paavola.

“Their commitment to helping kids improve is incredible,” said Stipech. “Each coach has different strengths. They sacrifice a great deal to help the team.”

With the fall season complete, Team CC players who also play football will spend this week preparing for playoff games for their respective schools while the others will have a week of rest before gearing up for the high school hockey season to begin. Team CC will hit the ice again the weekend after the MHSAA State Finals in March and look to earn a state title against a field of 12 teams, which will be the next step in defense of their national title.

The 2018 national championships will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in April.