Hounds U-18 Mid-Season Update

The West Michigan Hounds U-18 Team is showing some new faces as they enter the second half of the season. The hounds added Forward Chris Howard from Petoskey, MI. Mitch Rogowski from Pinkney, Mi. and Goaltender Nikita Chubukin from Siberia, Russia. These hounds complete the twenty man roster and will add a great deal of skill to the team as they enter a very clutch second half of the year. These transactions add skilled forwards up front, and an outstanding one two punch in the net with Nick Light and Nikita Chubukin leaving no question of solid goaltending any night.

The hounds have the opportunity make a significant impact in both the North American Prospects Hockey League, as well as the Northern Lakes Hockey League. In both leagues the hounds are in a close point battle with the opportunity to make a run at both league championship series.

In the North American Prospects Hockey League the hounds are in a three way tie with Jan Jose Jr. Sharks, and St. Louis Selects for 9^th place. In the NAPHL the top eight teams make the championship showcase.   The hounds are 4 points away from taking over the 8^th position from the Detroit Falcons. Going into the final regular season showcase in Troy, MI, the hounds can earn the points needed to make the top eight in the league. Hopefully they can use the momentum gained from an outstanding weekend in Dallas, and make a run for the championships.

Hounds NAPHL Point Leaders:

Kyle Ware – 8 Goals  / 5 Assists in 13 in games

Trevor Benaglio – 3 Goals / 6 Assists in 18 games

Sean Gruenhagen – 6 Goals / 2 Assists in 18 games

Chris Jacobson – 4 Goals / 4 Assists in 18 games

In the Northern Lakes Hockey League the hounds currently sit in 4^th place. The hounds have two regular season series left, with home series with Shattuck St. Mary’s (January 7 & 8), and at Marquette Electricians (January 21 &22). These are two very critical series that give the hounds the ability to jump into second place. This regular season determines the seeding for the NLHL Championships hosted by the Hounds February 24 thru the 26^th at Wings West in Kalamazoo, Mi.

Hounds NLHL Point Leaders:

Hayden Miedema – 5 Goals / 11 Assists in 16 games

Sean Gruenhagen – 9 Goals / 6 Assists in 18 games

                The Hounds are gearing up for an exciting second half of the season. Please come out and support them as they fight their way into playoff position.

GO HOUNDS!