Weekend Recap: 2024 Howies Hometown Cup
Unraveling the Inaugural Howies Hometown Cup
Howies Hockey is not only known for its commitment to creating the world’s highest-quality hockey products but also for its commitment to the communities in which we work and play. That’s why we at 200×85 have been proud to associate with Howies over the years and why it was a no-brainer to collaborate with them to bring an event to their hometown. This is how the Howies Hometown Cup came to be.
Spanning over 5 rinks, Howies was present at every rink and hosted tours and experiences at their headquarters in Grand Rapids. On the ice, it took 100 games for the 49 teams to battle it out until only 8 champions were standing. We want to thank all the attending players, coaches, families, and Howies Hockey for making this a memorable weekend. Check out the division breakdowns to see who came out on top for the inaugural Howies Hometown Cup.
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- 2024 2016 Champs 1
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- 2024 2015 Champs
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- 2024 2014 Champs
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- 2024 2013 Champs
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- 2024 2012 Champs 1
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- 2024 2011 Jetspeed Champs
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- 2024 2011 Supertacks Champs
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- 2024 15U 16U Champs
2016 Division
Champion: Jr. Grizz
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Luca Harris, #6
The Jr. Grizz started the weekend strong with two significant wins, but they faced a tough challenge from the Brighton Ice White in their final pool play game. Despite a close 4-3 match, the Jr. Grizz secured the win. They then proceeded to shut out the Trenton Trojans in the semifinals, setting up a rematch with Brighton for the title. In an intense offensive battle with a total of 13 goals scored, the Jr. Grizz sealed their perfect, undefeated weekend with an 8-5 victory to clinch the championship.
2015 Division
Champion: Squirt Trojans
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Drew Callahan, #48
As pool play reached its final stages, the Squirt Trojans and the Sylvania North Stars both held 2-1-0 records, trailing behind the Bombers, who boasted a perfect 3-0-0 record. Only the top two teams would advance to the final. The North Stars took to the ice first against MI Motors, while the Trojans faced the Bombers shortly after. With the North Stars tying 5-5 with MI Motors, they needed the Trojans to lose to have any chance of extending their weekend. In a “win-and-in” scenario, the Trojans came out strong, shutting out the Bombers 6-0. The next morning, these two teams faced off again for the title. While the Bombers managed to score this time, they couldn’t overcome the Trojans, who secured the championship with a final score of 5-2, earning themselves hats and a banner.
2014 Division
Champion: MI Motors
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Austin Krochalk, #11
MI Motors had an impressive journey to the finals, showcasing an average positive goal differential of 5 over their four victories. Their final challenge awaited them in the form of the St. Louis Dragons. While MI Motors started the weekend with a win against the Dragons, their momentum surged into the championship following a commanding 6-0 victory over WCHD in the semifinals. Undoubtedly proving themselves as a dominant force, MI Motors secured their title with a resounding 7-2 triumph over the Dragons.
2013 Division
Champion: Downriver Blades
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Gabe Marzouq, #11
The Downriver Blades’ 6-0 victory in the semi-finals not only secured their place in the championship but also preserved their flawless 4-0-0 record. They were poised to compete against WCHD, who had just triumphed 7-5 over MI Motors. WCHD held a 3-1-0 record, with their sole loss being to the Blades. As the title hung in the balance, regulation play ended in a 3-3 tie. The game extended into overtime, where the Blades ultimately claimed victory and glory.
2012 Division
Champion: WCHD
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Dimitri Petrushchak, #1
After rebounding on Saturday from their 4-2 loss to MI Motors, WCHD concluded their pool play with a decisive 6-1 victory, securing the 3rd seed in the elimination round. Their semi-final clash with the 2nd seed Colorado Stars was tightly contested, with WCHD maintaining a narrow 4-3 lead. This set the stage for a championship rematch against MI Motors. WCHD sought and achieved their revenge, defeating MI Motors 4-1 to claim the title.
2011 Supertacks Division
Champion: BT Elites
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Ted Wiitanen, #10
Despite their 6-5 loss to MI Motors Elite in the final pool play game, BT Elites managed to qualify as the 4th seed and advance to the semi-final round. Their opponent was the undefeated WCHD (2-0-1), whom they had lost to 6-5 earlier in the weekend. However, BT Elites turned the tables and eliminated WCHD with a convincing 4-1 victory. Their next challenge awaited in the championship game, where they faced MI Motors Elite once again. The championship match was intense, and regulation play ended without a resolution. In overtime, Teddy Wiitanen scored the golden goal on a breakaway, securing the championship title for BT Elites.
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2011 Jetspeed Division
Champion: SCS Saints Red
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Blake Fleming, #58
Three teams finished pool play with identical 3-1-0 records, leading to a tiebreaker situation involving the SCS Saints Red, So Dust, and the Toledo Cherokee. So Dust was the only team to limit the SCS Saints Red to fewer than 6 goals during pool play and also the only team to defeat them, although So Dust had lost to the Cherokee. After calculating the tiebreaker results, the Saints and So Dust advanced to the championship. However, this time around, So Dust couldn’t contain the Saints’ offense. The Saints dominated with a 6-0 shutout victory over So Dust to claim the championship title.
15U/16U Division
Champion: MHA White
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Hunter Turkstra, #19
All four teams that made it to the semi-final round remained undefeated in regulation. The 1st-seeded Coffee Grinders (3-0-1) managed to shut out the 4th-seeded MLH Black (1-0-3). In the second semi-final match, the 3rd-seeded MHA White (2-0-2) unleashed an offensive onslaught, defeating the 2nd-seeded Orchard Lake Red (3-0-1) with a final score of 10-4. Moving into the final, the Coffee Grinders couldn’t contain the opposition’s offense, allowing MHA White to secure the title with a 5-2 victory.
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What an electrifying weekend it was at the inaugural Howies Hometown Cup, a standout event that is sure to become a spring season tradition! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made the 2024 Howies Hometown Cup a roaring success, from the passionate players and supportive parents to our dedicated partners and hardworking staff.
Get ready for more adrenaline-pumping action next weekend with the highly anticipated CCM Blue Chip Invite as the Spring/Summer Tournament season kicks into high gear. While there are a few openings left in some of our summer events, now is the perfect time to secure your team’s spot in the best tournaments of the 2024-25 season. Dive into all the excitement and explore our upcoming events!
*In order to get the discount, teams must pay full price for the CCM Motown Tournament and then register for the CCM Chicago World Invite (full price option using discount code below) to get the $500 off.