Macomb County, Oakland County

Teams from the MAC and OAA set to infiltrate the Rochester ONYX

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Donna Agusti ­West Bloomfield junior Cody Jones (21) battles for the puck during an outdoor game against Berkley earlier this season. The Lakers are set to face Fraser High at 5:15 p.m. in the MAC-OAA Showcase. Photo by Donna Agusti ­West Bloomfield junior Cody Jones (21) battles for the puck during an outdoor game against Berkley earlier this season. The Lakers are set to face Fraser High at 5:15 p.m. in the MAC-OAA Showcase.

For the third straight season, the Macomb Area Conference and Oakland Activities Association will square off for an all-day hockey fest at the Rochester Onyx Ice Arena, pitting the two conferences head to head in the 2012 MAC-OAA Showcase Feb. 4.

“It’s such a fun day,” said MAC President Russ DiCristofaro, who also coaches St. Clair Shores Unified. “It gives all the kids in the MAC and OAA a chance to showcase their skills. You have scouts floating in and out all day, some great hockey all day between teams that may otherwise not play each other. It makes for a great event.”

Teams were paired up against one another based on state rankings by United States High School Hockey Online.

In total, 15 games are scheduled from morning until night, beginning at 10 a.m. and culminating with the Shores Unified team, ranked No. 1 in the MAC, taking on Lake Orion High, No. 1 in the OAA, at 8 p.m.

“It’s really just a great day of hockey,” Berkley-Ferndale Unified coach Jeff Fleming said. His fourth-ranked OAA team will face Marysville High at 1:15 p.m. “There are so many games, all in one venue. It makes for a fun, competitive day, not just for the teams matched up with their counterparts, but also the solid rivalry between the two conferences that’s on display.”

DiCristofaro said the crowds have been good every year, and the number of scouts that attend the games has been growing.

“I think everybody looks forward to this,” he added. “I know we can’t wait.”

Fleming laughed when asked if coaches and players quietly pull for other teams within their own conference.

“It’s like the college football season. Big Ten teams and fans usually pull for other Big Ten teams,” he said. “I know we’ll root for the OAA a little bit.”

In the 2011 Showcase, OAA teams went 9-4-2 against MAC teams.

For a complete schedule of games, visit www.machockey.com or www.oaahockey. net.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1038.