Houghton's Connor Arko (19) celebrates after his second goal of the day during a 4-0 victory over Bay Reps Carter Denoyer in the MHSAA Division 3 semifinals Friday at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth. (A.M. Arrick/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Several area high school hockey players were honored with the announcement of the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association All-State teams. The Houghton Gremlins and Calumet Copper Kings both had three players named to the First Team as part of a group of 10 Upper Peninsula players.

For Houghton, captain Connor Arko, alternate captain Noah Maillette and sophomore defenseman Wesley Mattila were all named.

Arko, a senior, led the Gremlins with 21 goals and 33 assists for 54 points in 26 games. He followed that up with six goals and 11 points in five playoff games while helping lead the Gremlins to their first state championship since 1982.

Maillette, a senior, paced the Gremlins in the regular season with 27 goals in 27 games. He added 16 assists for 43 points. In the postseason, he had one goal and nine assists for 10 points in five games.

Mattila, in his first season in Orange and Black, had just two goals and 15 points in 27 games, but he led the Gremlins in average time on ice all season long. He did not score a point in the playoffs, but was still a key piece of the Gremlins’ title.

For the Copper Kings, co-captains Nathan Londo and Erik Loukus were honored, along with senior defenseman Drake Niemela.

Londo, a senior, only played in 19 regular season games, but finished with 23 goals and 40 points, which led Calumet. He had three assists in two playoff games as well.

Loukus, also a senior, had 12 goals and 39 points in 27 games this season. Five of those goals came on the power play. In the playoffs, he had one goal and three points in two games.

Niemela blossomed in his final year with the Copper Kings. He had three goals and 22 points in 27 regular season games. He followed that up with one goal in two playoff games.

Escanaba forward Graham Johnson and defenseman Nolan Bink also made the First Team, alongside Marquette forward Brody Sheldond and goaltender Parker Nevenhoven.

Two U.P. players were named to the All-Freshman Team, Houghton defenseman Jake Mattson and Escanaba forward Henry Sholten.

Mattson had no goals and seven assists in 27 games. In the playoffs, he exploded for his first career goal in the state championship game, and added three assists in five games.

Hancock alternate captain Kirby Storm, Jeffers co-captain Brogan Turner, and Houghton alternate captain Jack Sayen were named to the Second Team. Also named from the U.P. were Marquette defenseman Jacob Spagnuolo and Escanaba goaltender Cully Hayes.

Storm, a senior forward, finished with 19 goals and 37 points in 27 games during the regular season. He had five game-winning goals.

Turner, a senior forward, led the Jets with 35 goals and 60 points in 25 regular season games. He had six shorthanded goals, seven power play goals, and four game-winners. He had two goals in the Jets’ lone playoff game.

Sayen, a senior forward, had 13 goals and 30 points in 27 games. Six of those 31 came on the power play. In the playoffs, he had six goals and 10 points in five games, including four in the championship game against Orchard Lake-St. Mary’s.

Jeffers sophomore forward Max Nordstrom, alternate captain Blake Heltunen, and co-captain Kasen Helminen were all given honorable mention. Calumet senior defenseman Dylan Crouch and junior goaltender Beau Jukuri, were also honored along with Hancock junior defenseman Tyler Axford.

Escanaba forward Ben Sands and defenseman Owen Labonte, and Marquette defenseman Brody LeMire were the other U.P. players honored.

Houghton’s Jacob Mattson carries the puck during the Division 3 championship game which the Gremlins won 5-2 over Orchard Lake-St. Marys Saturday at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth. (A.M. Arrick/For the Gazette)