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Michigan Academic Player of the Year
Desmond Kearsley, goal tender for the Portage Northern Huskies for 2010-11, was chosen by Michigan Hockey Weekly as the 'Michigan Academic Player of the Year". Desmond has a cumulative GPA of 4.5. Desmond was honored on Sunday, March 20 in Livonia at a luncheon hosted by retired Detroit Redwings (Chicago Blackhawk/Montreal Canadian) Chris Chelios. this is the second time in three years that a player from the SWMHSL has been honored with this prestigious academic award. Congratulations to Desmond and the Huskies.
Season Finale
The Season concluded this year with the Portage Northern Huskies earning League Season Championship and League Tournament Champions! Congrats to the players and coaches from all the teams on a successful 2010-11 season.
Tournament Trophy:
Last year High School Hockey lost a dear friend, Art Missias. Art was the Head Coach for Portage northern for 19 years from 1985-2004. He also served in leadership roles for the MHSAA as Secretary, Vice President and then President of the Coaches Association. In addition, Art devoted over 35 years to KOHA and at the time of his death was the Head Coach of the WMU Mustangs, the Women's Club hockey team.
Art had two boys and a daughter through hockey with his daughter, Sara, currently playing for the WMY Mustangs and his sons, Matt and Chris, both played for the Portage Northern Huskies.
The league has decided to honor Art and his tireless work for the many hockey players and their families he served by naming the Season Tournament Trophy after him. It is only fitting that the trophy this year was earned by his own Portage Northern Huskies. His son, Chris, was on hand to hand the Art Missias Cup Trophy to the Huskies.
Special Thank You:
Jim Murray, Portage Central Mustangs Head Coach, has been promoted to Athletic Director of Portage Central High School at the retirement of Dr. Larry Edlund and is retiring this year as Head Coach of the Mustangs after 15 years. As posted in the SWMHSHL yearbook, Jim's impressive record while serving as PC Head Coach is as follows: 239-120-4 win/loss record, 10 Conference Titles, 6 Regional Titles, 7 Straight Academic All Start Team.
Jim has been an advocate for high school hockey and he has been instrumental in organizing the West Michigan Development League for the fall that skates in Grand Rapids. I is also one of the organizers of high School Olympics in GR, that put together 4 High School teams of all Seniors which gave them an opportunity to compete one last time before graduating and moving tto the next adventure in life.
Brian Bellware, a long time KOHA Coahc has been selected as the new Head Coach and will be assuming his new role beginning with the 2010-11 Summer SWMHSHL program.
On behalf of the SWMHSL, coaches, players and parents - we wish Jim the best and will look forward to still seeing you around the rink as one of the Administrators and as League AD Liaison to the SWMHSL. Congratulations Jim and thanks for the memories!
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