Petey's Picks

After a three-year hiatus, I'm getting back into the coaching circles with Michigan Hockey Advancement (MHA), looking to develop and prepare the next wave of high school hockey prospects in preparation for their respective winter seasons. Also, the 2026 North American Hockey League (NAHL) Draft was last week, and I've got a full breakdown of the numbers as it relates to Michigan amateur ho...

Earlier this year, USA Hockey announced the launch of its 32-team Development League set to begin in '27-28. I take a look at what it could mean for Michigan youth hockey specifically, and the trickle down effect it may have on our AAA teams as well as high school hockey. Plus, we recap action from the 2026 CCM NIt and highlight standouts from Team Michigan's three squads. Want more from t...

They're representing the best that Michigan high school hockey has to offer, but what prospects were left off Team Michigan selections for the 2026 CCM NIT? I share some names that stood out to me from tryouts. Also, West-Michigan Varsity won the Tier-2 USA Hockey National Championship. Plus, a bunch of alumni are packing their bags for junior hockey next season. Want more from the pod? Check...

Detroit Catholic Central, Flint Powers and Houghton were crowned your three state champions of the '25-26 Michigan high school hockey season. I share my thoughts on the tournament, as well as a look at All-State honors, Dream Team predictions and more. Plus, Team Michigan tryouts are THIS WEEK and I've got an important message for everyone trying to make the final roster.

One of our own, Walled Lake Northern's Connor Hellebuyck shines on the game's biggest stage, helping Team USA win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics. How his story can inspire the masses in Michigan, and, Regional Final Wednesday is this week! I'll break down all 24 matchups going down in the span of just five hours. Regional Final Wednesday: https://peteyspicks.com/previewing-regional-f...

It's playoff time! And you can't have playoffs without brackets, and you can't have brackets without PICKS! Upsets are coming, runaway favorites, repeat champions?! All that, and more as I go through all three Michigan high school hockey playoff divisions with picks for each game and predictions for your Final Four. BRACKETOLOGY: https://peteyspicks.com/bracketology-winners-favorites-a...

I revisit my two-division, tiered playoff proposal, how it would work and what it would look like within our current Michigan high school hockey season. Plus, I reveal my final Top-25 rankings of the season with a deep dive into each team's resume, big wins, tough losses and top performers. Top-25 Rankings: https://peteyspicks.com/teams/

The Michigan high school athletics association (MHSAA) announced on Tuesday that student-athletes at member schools can now benefit from what they call “PBAs” personal branding activities, or more commonly known as NIL, name-image-likeness. But what does that mean for hockey players specifically? Plus, I've got 10 things I LOVE about high school hockey, we update the Top-25 Rankings and I make...

I share my raw, unfiltered scouting notes from last weekend's North-South Showcase in Traverse City. Top-25 Rankings are also updated with plenty of teams on the move in a big way, including Forest Hills Central returning to the rankings scene. And we wrap things up talking about teams I haven't talked about yet this season with a 12-game slate of picks that you can get involved in! Make y...

Quickly becoming my favorite event of the Michigan high school hockey calendar, the Rick Deneweth Memorial, North-South Showcase gets underway Thursday. Action includes 12 Top-25 matchups over the course of three days, all under one roof. We break down all the teams and matchups taking place at Centre Ice Arena.

Heading into holiday break, we completely tear down and rebuild the Top-25 Rankings with some volatile movement among top teams. Cranbrook hockey up 11 spots?! Houghton hockey falls out of the Top 20?? That, and much more as I go team-by-team breaking down each of their resumes and bodies of work thus far this season. Plus, we'll do a little role playing with what I believe to be the best pote...

From cross-town rivalries to Top-5 matchups, Thanksgiving Weekend does not disappoint! It's the perfect time to start our weekly Games of the Week segment where I take on the public, making picks and predictions for some of the biggest games on the schedule. I also update my Top-25 Rankings and talk about other current affairs in Michigan high school hockey. Games of the Week: https://peteyspi...

We release the fifth annual Top 100 Names to Know returning to Michigan high school hockey for the upcoming '25-26 season. A list of 76 seniors, 23 juniors and one sophomore make up the 2025 Top 100, with 64 of them being forwards, 21 defensemen and 15 goalies representing 60 different high school hockey programs across the state of Michigan. Top 100 Names to Know: https://peteyspicks.com/2025...

The only place you'll find preseason rankings for the upcoming Michigan high school hockey season is on the Petey's Picks Podcast. I run through my preseason Top 25 with analysis and predictions for all 25 teams — plus, a few more — and pick over/unders on win totals for the upcoming season. Preseason Top-25 Rankings: https://peteyspicks.com/2025-26-preseason-top-25-rankings/ 0:00 Intro1:2...

We conclude previews of all 13 conferences, leagues and associations from across the state of Michigan in preparation for the 2025-26 high school hockey season. We've saved the best for last, as I break down the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) and the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League (MIHL). Also, some bonus talk about standout Independent teams to watch this season as wel...

We continue previews of all 13 conferences, leagues and associations from across the state of Michigan in preparation for the 2025-26 high school hockey season. On this episode, we break down the Metro League and the OK Conference. Metro League Preview: https://peteyspicks.com/2025-26-metro-league-preview/ OK Conference Preview: https://peteyspicks.com/2025-26-ok-conference-preview/

We continue previews of all 13 conferences, leagues and associations from across the state of Michigan in preparation for the 2025-26 high school hockey season. This week, we look at the Big North Conference (BNC), the Great Lakes Conference (GLC) and the Saginaw Valley League (SVL). Big North Preview: https://peteyspicks.com/2025-26-big-north-conference-preview/ Great Lakes Preview: https://petey...

We continue previews of all 13 conferences, leagues and associations from across the state of Michigan in preparation for the 2025-26 high school hockey season. This week, we dive into the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Macomb Activities Conference (MAC) and Oakland Activities Association (OAA). SEC Preview: https://peteyspicks.com/2025-26-southeastern-conference-preview/ MAC Preview: https://pete...

We begin previews of all 13 conferences, leagues and associations from across the state of Michigan in preparation for the 2025-26 high school hockey season. I share my thoughts, players to watch and bold predictions for the Mid-Michigan Hockey Conference (MMHC), South Central Hockey League (SCHL) and Lakes Valley Conference (LVC).Mid-Michigan Conference Preview: https://peteyspicks.com/2025-26-mi...

Plenty of Michigan hockey prospects in action last weekend at the 2025 AAA Kick-off Classic. Fox Motors, Compuware and Belle Tire all represented, while Michigan Hockey Advancement (MHA) sent six teams of its own, and several split-season high school hockey teams participated as well. I offer up some thoughts and what I saw at the first showcase of the '25-26 season. More on the website: https...

The first episode of Season 3 comes in hot! I share my thoughts following Michigan Developmental Hockey League (MDHL) tryouts and the Michigan Hockey Advancement (MHA) Showcase. I saw more than 300 Michigan high school hockey prospects in action in just over a week. My biggest takeaways and what needs to change to make fall hockey great again. Visit https://peteyspicks.com/ for the latest news, bl...

We recap some of the biggest takeaways and performances from the 2025 MHSAA Frozen Four. I present my fix for a playoff system that's been broken for forever, with a tiered format that provides great competition, an even playing field and simple enough for the MHSAA to implement. Plus, my All-Freshman and All-Sophomore Teams have been released, we'll talk about some of my favorite players...

We take a look at all 12 teams still remaining in the MHSAA Hockey state playoffs, and review their resumes from this season. Who's their standout players, what's their big wins and achievements throughout the season and much more. Plus, I share my thoughts on a few hot-button topics in youth hockey right now including refs in the playoffs and Little Caesars 43-0 win over Belle Tire.

The 2025 Michigan high school hockey state playoffs get underway this week. I've got complete bracketology and picks for all three divisions. Find out which matchups were the toughest to predict, underdogs I like the most, teams I'm most confident in and of course, who I think will win it all. Favorites, Underdogs, Longshots: https://peteyspicks.com/how-72-different-teams-could-make-a-case...

Regional playoff brackets for Michigan high school hockey were finalized this week by the MHSAA. We take a look at all 24 regions, and I offer up instant reactions to the matchups. I've also got Vegas odds for teams to win Regionals and beyond.