Houghton defenseman Connor Raffaelli fires a shot during the championship game of the John MacInnes Holiday Hockey Classic on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Over the weekend, the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association announced their All-State Dream Team, with players from across all three divisions. Three players were picked from Division 1, three more from Division 2, and just one from Division 3.

From Division 1 Detroit Catholic Central, forward Brooks Rogowski and defenseman Joe Curtin were both selected. Brighton forward Cameron Duffany was also picked. All three Division 2 players came from Byron Center in forwards Cade Pratt and Jackson Froysland, along with goaltender Brady Swanson.

The lone Division 3 player was Houghton defenseman Connor Raffaelli.

The senior, who played forward before converting to defense as a junior, was fourth on the Gremlins in scoring in the regular season with nine goals, 20 assists and 29 points in 25 games. He had only two points, both assists, in the Gremlins’ 4-2 win in the Region 17 championship game over Hancock. The co-captain then racked up four more assists in a quarterfinal win over Sault Ste. Marie, to finish his season with nine goals and 35 points in 29 games.

Gremlins coach Micah Stipech, who had been an assistant previously under head coach Corey Markham before taking over this season, loved how effective Raffaelli was at what he referred to as the “hardest play in hockey”.

“Man, we’re going to miss him, on puck possession, the first pass,” Stipech said. “One of his greatest skills is the play I call the hardest play in hockey, and that’s a defenseman going back to retrieve a puck. He’s excellent at it, of making a read, scanning the ice, giving some misdirection with his toe caps, and making a play.”

Raffaelli’s ability to be poised with the puck, even under pressure, helped the Gremlins’ offense rev up quickly.

“For us to maintain possession, those plays are so huge, especially in high school hockey where there’s a lot of dump-ins,” Stipech said. “Those are some of the things he did well.”

Once he turned up the ice with the puck in possession, that was when he became dangerous.

“Offensively, he pushed the pace, and was part of our offense,” said Stipech. “I don’t remember what his goals and assists were at, but he might be close to being on our board at the (Dee Stadium) for a season.”

After spending much of his junior season adjusting to becoming an effective defensive player, Raffaelli was part of Team Michigan. The experience paid off for both him and for Stipech, who helped coach the juniors. The opportunity to travel together to the team functions and to games gave both a chance to discuss Raffaelli’s role as a leader this season.

“It started right away last year,” Stipech said. “Then we had an opportunity to be on Team Michigan together, and made some trips downstate, which were really formative as far as how we were going to do things this season. I think it was huge for me, as a first-year head coach, to have someone like him that was bought-in, and that then led his team accordingly.”

By the time tryouts came around this season, Stipech already felt comfortable knowing that Rafffaelli had the pulse of the locker room.

“I always say the most important meeting is the meeting after the meeting, when the coach leaves the room,” said Stipech. “What is that meeting like? Connor, he echoed what the coaches wanted. He communicated really well. He had the respect of his teammates. He wasn’t a screamer. He was respected.

“He did so many things well. He had a high character, and regard for his teammates. He wasn’t critical of them. He actually would defend them.”

Raffaelli started the season quickly, racking up two goals and two assists in an 11-1 win over Escanaba on Nov. 17. His next four-plus point game was an 8-0 over Grandville on Jan. 19, where he scored three goals and five points.

He had 11 games this season where he had at least two points, including one three-point night against Jeffers on Jan. 27, where he had a goal and two assists.