The Hancock hockey team celebrates a goal in a scrimmage against Calumet during the Scramble at the Dee Stadium in Houghton. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Local high school hockey teams got their first test of “real ice time” Friday at Dee Stadium. Varsity teams from Houghton, Hancock, Jeffers and Calumet all scrimmaged each other for one 20-minute period. The preseason hockey scramble gave teams a chance to put some formality on the end of the second week of practice. All coaches agreed it was a good day of competition and a good way to see where they stood with less than a week to go before opening night.

HOUGHTON

The Houghton Gremlins have a new coach in Micah Stipech. However Stipech is no stranger to Houghton hockey. Not only did he play hockey as a Gremlin in early 90s, he also was the assistant coach for the past seven years. He has some big shoes to fill as the leader now stepping in for Corey Markham, who retired this past April after an impressive 25 years of coaching the Gremlins.

The Houghton squad finished this past season 26-2 and made a run to the state semifinals before falling to East Grand Rapids.

Stipech said he is up for the challenge to keep the winning tradition going, and he liked what he saw on Friday as his squad opened the scramble against the Jets.

“I was happy,” he said. “I knew it was going to be messy, but the focus for us was the big picture and the structure of how we want to play. The big picture stuff is starting to come together, and that was very positive. The details will come later.”

Specifically, he liked the way his front lines attacked and defense put the pressure on.

“Our forecheck has traditionally been a strength of ours, and that looked good,” he said. “We were competitive, and there was a good effort, and I was happy with that.”

The Gremlins lost four seniors to graduation including top scorers Gaborik Carlson and Camden Markham. Markham, in fact, was named Michigan’s Mr. Hockey for last season.

“Our seniors last year accounted for the majority of our scoring. They were a special group of great talent,” noted Stipech. “We know we have to replace that, and we have been working on that as a team. I have players that are ready to step up and fill those roles.”

He noted that strong play of Michael Maillett and Connor Raffaelli among his senior leaders.

“Michael is our biggest weapon on offense. He has a motor and has a great work ethic,” said Stipech.

Behind him on defense is Raffaelli.

“Conner has gotten noticeably faster and stronger in the offseason,” said Stipech. “He has great vision and awareness on the ice.”

As well, the coach likes what he has seen from winger Jace DeForge.

“He has gotten faster and stronger in the off season,” Stipech noted.

“Connor Arko and Noah Kreipke will also be key elements in our defense this season.”

The Gremlins open the season on Friday at home with Escanaba and again on Saturday at the Dee against Hartland.

HANCOCK

New Hancock hockey coach Pete Rouleau had an interesting take on the scramble as he and his squad are still in tryout mode. Hancock co-ops with Lake Linden-Hubbell, and the Lakes were still playing football as of last week. Around 10 Lakes football players are also hockey players.

“It (the scramble) gave me a chance to better access my ‘bubble’ players. Overall it went well, and (it was) good to see the kids working hard,” said Rouleau, who took over at the end of the Bulldogs’ 2022-23 season.

The Bulldogs were 15-12 last year. They lost around six seniors and have eight on the roster so far. He and his coaches will be wrapping up tryouts on Wednesday of this week and have the roster hopefully set by Friday as they open up their season against Alpena at the Houghton County Arena.

“I am excited,” he said. “I have a great group of coaches and kids. It should be a good season. “

CALUMET

The Copper Kings are coming off a rare losing season of a year ago when they were 8-16-2. However, if Friday’s scramble are any indication of things to come, the Copper Kings should have a better 2023-24 year.

“I thought our effort and intensity were really good tonight,” said coach Dan Giachino, who is in his ninth year at the helm. “We are going to have to work hard, but this was a good start.”

The Copper Kings lost 10 seniors, and are underclassmen-heavy.

“We are young and inexperienced with four freshmen and seven sophomores,” added Giachino. “Some of that inexperience came out on defense tonight as we made some big mistakes that led to too many scoring opportunities. However, if we can eliminate those now, that will go a long way once the season start.”

Specifically, Gianchino liked how his goaltenders, senior Hunter Tuoriniemi, and freshman Beau Jukuri handled the net in the scrimmage.

As well, he noted the strong offensive push from the line of Luca Matous, Nathan Londo and Liam Pomroy.

The Copper Kings open their season on the Friday after Thanksgiving against Hancock in the Copper Island Classic.

JEFFERS

The Jets also have a new coach this year in Aaron Helminen. He was an assistant coach last year, and a volunteer the year before that, under the leadership of head coach Pat Nettell. Like the other coaches, Helminen welcomed the chance to see some “real” game action by way of the scramble.

“I thought it went well,” he said. “It was a chance for the kids to get some game time on the ice, and it gave us a chance to see where we stack up against other teams.”

The Jets were 12-13-1 a year ago and lost seven players to graduation. They co-op with L’Anse and Baraga.

“We are junior-heavy this season with just three seniors now,” Helminen added. “However they bring a lot of experience to the ice. Our strength will be in our top two lines.”

Those lines include seniors Kailob Bianco, and Cage Osterman, as well as junior Benton Rajala.

“They played together last year and did well,” said their coach. “Our goaltenders are young and our defense is young. So that is what our focus is this week before we open the season.”

The Jets will open their season on Friday in L’Anse at Meadowbrook Arena against Cheboygan.