Highlanders hit the road to Michigan’s Copper Country

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For Howell’s hockey team, this week’s trip to the Copper Country isn’t just about hockey.

It’s a family affair.

The Highlanders made the 540-mile ride from Howell to Houghton on Tuesday for a tournament which begins today when the Highlanders take on Hancock at Michigan Tech at 6 p.m. The Highlanders will play either Calumet or Houghton in a second game on Thursday night.

“We have at least 10 people connected with the team who have family up there,” Howell coach Mike Mantua said. “They wanted to go up for the holidays and get some games with teams up in that area. … The parents really pushed for that to happen.”

The Highlanders (7-2) will take on a Hancock team that is ranked No. 2 in Division 3. The Bulldogs (5-1) haven’t lost since falling to Hartland in the season opener. Depending on how the Highlanders do, they’ll take on either Houghton (6-3), ranked No. 9 in Division 3, or Calumet (3-4-1), which has been on a tear since an 0-4 start.

“We know we’re going to play some high caliber teams,” Mantua said, “so we know it’s going to be a good test for our group, and we’re very excited about it.”

It’s only the second trip the team has made in Mantua’s five seasons as Howell coach. The team played at Western Michigan University his first season.

It’s the first time the team has traveled to the Upper Peninsula since 2012, when complaints from parents led to the ouster of then-coach Randy Montrose and his staff.

The team traveled to Houghton on Tuesday, arriving that evening for two-plus days of bonding, hockey and team activities, including a tour of Michigan Tech University.

“Every hour of the day is organized with some team event,” Mantua said. “We’re going to be real busy and have a good team bonding experience.”

Twenty-plus hours on a bus goes a long way toward that, but Mantua said it’s a team that already is close-knit.

“I think there are nine kids who are cousins in some way,” he said. “So it’s a pretty close locker room as it is. Going up there, being able to play in front of family members is going to be a big thing for them.”

Hartland, as mentioned, spent the opening weekend of the season in the Copper Country. Brighton will make its 16th trip to Houghton next week.

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