Among high school sports, hockey has the longest season.
Teams around the state started workouts on Oct. 31 and the season two weeks later, which means they’ve been playing for 3 1/2 months.
All that work was aimed at this week, the first of two weeks of the state tournament.
Brighton, which got to the Division 1 championship game last season, begins its quest to return to USA Hockey Arena tonight, when the Bulldogs take on Jackson at Grand Oaks Ice Arena in the first game of a pre-regional doubleheader.
That game will be followed with Howell taking on the Eastside Stars. Both games will be broadcast on The Livingston Post, starting at 4:50 p.m.
Brighton and Jackson have met several times over the years in the pre-regional, with Brighton winning each time.
The Vikings won the CAAC with a 12-0 record and went 20-4-1 overall, numbers that got the attention of Brighton coach Paul Moggach.
“We’ve talked about that, so (the players) don’t put them aside and look ahead to Monday,” he said. “If we execute our plan, then they have to respond to us, vs. the other way.”
The Bulldogs (18-6-1) ended the season in a 1-4-1 slump, partly due to injuries and also to a tough closing schedule. But Moggach says his team is eager to get going.
“We had a team sleepover on Saturday night,” he said. “The team wanted to do some bonding, so we stayed at (the Kensington Valley Ice House) all night. I think the guys are happy with each other which is a big thing. But you still have to play the game. It’s good preparation. We’ll be ready.”
Howell (15-10) plays host to the Eastside Stars, a co-op team based in East Lansing. The Stars (7-14) finished sixth in the seven-team CAAC.
“I know they have a couple of skillful players,” Howell coach Mike Mantua said. “Other than that, I don’t know a whole lot. I know they split with (Grand Ledge-)Fowlerville, and they’re a good team. I don’t think it’s going to be an easy game for us.”
“We just have to play our game,” captain Steven Mullally said. “We have to play the way we know how to play, and that’s fast-paced, moving the puck. As long as we do that, we’ll be in good shape.”
Playing at home for the pre-regional agrees with the Highlanders.
“The kids get the comfort of their home locker room, and we get the home fan base,” Mantua said. “WE’ve been working hard all season, and the kids are starting to understand what we want to accomplish, and it will be fun to see if our efforts pay off.”
The winners will play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The regional final against Orchard Lake St. Mary, which beat Clarkston 9-0 on Monday, will be played Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at the Kensington Valley Ice House.
