All local teams compete in the MAC, which for the first time will include three divisions - the Red, White and Blue. Previously, teams either competed in the Red or White in the former two-division conference.

Utica is the lone area team to remain in the Red Division, after battling for the regular-season title there through much of the 2007-08 campaign before settling for a second-place finish, three points behind champion Dakota. Michael Nye returns as the Chieftain head coach.

In the MAC White, Warren-Sterling United returns to defend the title it won after a heated race last season. The Thunder won the crown with an 11-1-4 league mark, good for 26 points, two ahead of runner-up L’Anse Creuse North, three ahead of Ford II, four ahead of L’Anse Creuse, and seven ahead of Stevenson. Andrew Peraino returns as the WSU head coach this season.

Stevenson and returning coach Al Korolewicz are back in the White Division this season. Eisenhower, coached by Bob Hall, moves from the Red to the White.

Moving from the White to the newly formed Blue Division this season is Ford II coached by Lee Jenkins, who also serves as vice president of the MAC High School Hockey Coaches Association.

The following is the early-season schedule for area teams, along with last year’s records:

Nov. 22, vs. Ford II, 8:30 p.m., Suburban Ice-Macomb.

Nov. 28, at Thanksgiving Tournament, 8 p.m., Kentwood Ice Arena.

Nov. 29, at Thanksgiving Tournament, TBD, at Kentwood Ice Arena.

Nov. 22, at Eisenhower, 8:30 p.m., Suburban Ice-Macomb.

Nov. 28, vs. Bay City in Bay City Tournament, 5:30 p.m., Bay County Civic Arena.

Nov. 29, vs. Mount Pleasant in Bay City Tournament, 6 p.m., Bay County Civic Arena.

Nov. 21, vs. Fraser, 8:25 p.m., Great Lakes Sports City.

Nov. 22, vs. Troy, 7:45 p.m., Great Lakes Sports City.

Nov. 29, at Lamphere, 8:25 p.m., Viking Arena.

Nov. 22, at Anchor Bay, 5:15 p.m., Glacier Pointe.

Nov. 28, vs. Hartland, 5 p.m., Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

Nov. 29, vs. Huron or Plymouth, 5 or 7 p.m., Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

Nov. 22, vs. Troy Athens, 8 p.m., Viking Arena.

Nov. 28, at Thanksgiving Tournament, 8 p.m., Grand Rapids.

Nov. 29, at Thanksgiving Tournament, TBD, Grand Rapids.

Note: Eisenhower, Ford II, Stevenson and Warren-Sterling United play their home games at the same sites as last season. Eisenhower and Utica play at Suburban Ice-Macomb in Macomb Township, Ford plays at Great Lakes Sports City in Fraser and WSU plays at Viking Arena in Hazel Park. Stevenson, which previously had its home games at Troy Sports Center, moves to Great Lakes Sports City for home games this season.

More information about local teams is available at www.machockey.com.

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