OURSPORTS
SECTION C
Heritage Newspapers
Quick Hits
UM hoops hosts
“Little Dribblers”
University of Michigan
men’s basketball head coach
John Beilein and his staff
announced Thursday (Nov.
18) the Wolverine “Little
Dribblers” program for
young U-M basketball fans
which will celebrate its
third year.
For registered “Little
Dribblers”, an introductory
meeting will take place on
Sunday, Dec. 5, at 2 p.m. at the
Junge Family Champions
Center located near the north
end of Crisler Arena. The
program, open to kids in
kindergarten through sixth
grade, will give young Maize
and Blue fans the chance to
meet and interact with the
Wolverines while developing
their basketball skills.
For $85, the Wolverine
“Little Dribblers” will have
the opportunity to par-
ticipate in three practices
with the U-M coaches and
players (Jan. 8, 22, 29) as
well as receiving a “Little
Dribblers” membership
card, T-shirt, authentic The
Rock basketball, a team jer-
sey, and a team photo with
Coach Beilein.
For more information,
734-763-5504.
RichRod Watch
After the Michigan foot-
ball team’s embarrassing
loss rival Ohio State on
Saturday, football fans from
around the state have been
clamoring for the firing of
head coach Rich Rodriguez.
However, if Michigan
Athletic Director David
Brandon does decide to
cut ties with his coach,
Wolverine fans shouldn’t
expect it to happen soon.
If Michigan waits until
after Jan. 1, 2011, the school
will save $1.5 million, so
don’t expect it to happen
before that.
After three seasons with
Michigan, Rodriguez has
a 15-21 record. He is 0-6
against Michigan State and
Ohio State. His teams also
have the distinction of
never beating a Big 10 team
with a winning record in
conference play.
Bball clinic offered
The 2010 Ann Arbor
middle school girls basket-
ball clinic will be held from
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday,
Dec. 11, at Huron High
School.
The clinic, for girls in 6th
to 8th grades, will cover ball
handling, passing, shooting
and individual and team
defense. The morning will
end with offensive tips in
preparation for competitive
games.
Coaches and players
from Huron, Pioneer and
Skyline high schools will
serve as the instructors.
Cost is $30. To register visit
aareced.com, or visit the
Community Education &
Recreation office. Deadline
is Friday, Dec. 10.
Watch as Big House
freezes over
In preparation for the
University of Michigan’s
“Big Chill” ice hockey
event, the Big House will
transform one of the big-
gest football stadiums in the
country, to one of the big-
gest ice arenas.
Anyone who is interested
can watch the progress that
is made as workers go about
the task of resurfacing the
turf field with ice.
The University of
Michigan’s athletic website,
www.mgoblue.com, has a
live webcam pointed at the
field round the clock for
people to watch.
To see, log on to http://
www.mgoblue.com/sports/
m-hockey/spec-rel/ihm-big-
chill-2010.html#webcam.
The “Big Chill” which
will pit Michigan vs.
Michigan State, will take
place at 3 p.m on Dec. 11.
A2’s native son
Successful span- Jimmy Howard’s career
1998-2001
Westport
Rideaus of
Eastern
Ontario Junior
Hockey League
Pioneer hockey team splits a pair
Pioneer skaters fall to
Pinckney, beat Troy
By Mike Larson
A2 Journal
The Pioneer hockey team had
no answer for Pinckney when
the teams met last Wednesday
at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.
The Pirates took the game
easily, winning 7-1.
Pioneer’s Anthony Moran
scored in the first period, and
his team was never again able
to get on the board.
Pinckney overwhelmed the
Pioneers early on, taking a 4-1
edge in the first period. The
Pirates then added a trifecta of
unanswered goals in the final
period to cruise to a win.
Joe Chronis and Ben Silvers
each had an assist on Moran’s
goal.
Pinckney was led by J.P.
Maracani and Mitch Rogowski,
who each tallied hat-tricks in
the lopsided win.
most
al
2001-2002
U.S. National
Team
Development
Program
22-11-1, 2.78 GAA
Pioneer 6
Troy 2
The Pioneers got back on
track on Friday when they took
on Troy in the Ann Arbor Ice
Cube Tournament.
The Pioneers held just
3-2 lead as they entered the
third period, but the Ann Arbor
team exploded to score three
more goals to win the game 6-2.
The Pioneers were led by Joe
Chronis, who scored five points
in the victory (four assists, one
goal).
Other Pioneer scorers were
Zach Reinholt, Anthony Moran,
Kyle Waitz and Louis Marr, who
all scored a goal and an assist.
Jack Wissman also added an
assist.
Mike Larson can be reached
by email at MLarson@A2Journal. Photo by Dave Chapman/A2 JOURNAL
com.
Log onto our Web site
for additional stories, local
video and daily updates
on everything Ann Arbor.
December 2, 2010
Ann Arbor a
starting point for
Detroit’s Howard
By Mike Larson
A2 Journal
Jimmy Howard was born in New York,
became a collegiate legend in Maine and is
currently occupying one of the loneliest
and most scrutinized positions in all of
professional sports.
But before he set NCAA records and
earned the job of starting goaltender for
the Detroit Red Wings, Howard spent
some significant time in Ann Arbor.
Howard, 26, donned his goalie gear
in A2 during 2001, as he suited up and
played with the U.S. National Team
Development Program.
“It was a great time for me when I was
in Ann Arbor,” Howard said. “We were
really busy with hockey, but I really loved
the city.”
Howard was 17 when he played with the
NTDP, which is headquartered at the Ann
Arbor Ice Cube.
While in Ann Arbor, Howard was enrolled
at Pioneer High School.
The goalie said that the size of the high school
was difficult to get used to at first.
“It was a real culture shock for me,” he said. “I
went from a school where I knew almost everyone, to
being put into a school that was just massive. It took a
while to get comfortable.”
Howard was born and raised in Ogdensburg, New
York, a city of about 12,300, located on the south bank
of the St. Lawrence River in the northern part of the
state.
“I came from such a small town, coming into
Ann Arbor was a big thing for me,” Howard
said. “I was pretty shy, so I just wanted to keep
my head down and get to my classes and every-
thing. I didn’t really want to draw too much
attention to myself.”
Howard might have been able to avoid atten-
PLEASE SEE HOWARD/2-C
2003-2005 2005-2009 2005-Present
Maine Black
Grand Rapids Detroit
Bears Griffins Red
47-23-10, 1.85 90-73-11, 2.66 Wings
GAA, .932 SV% GAA, .911 SV% 51-22-12,
2.35 GAA, .920 SV%
The Ann Arbor Pioneer hockey team was defeated against Pinckney last Wednesday, but
bounced back with a win over Troy on Friday.
Page 2-C  Thursday, December 2, 2010 • HERITAGE NEWSPAPERS/A2 JOURNAL

At a glance: Jimmy Howard

Name: James Howard

Position: Goaltender, Detroit

Red Wings

Height: 6-1

Weight: 204

Born: March 26, 1984

Draft: 2003-2nd round (64th

overall) by the Detroit Red
Wings

2010-11 Stats: 13-2-2, 2.49 GAA, Jimmy Howard

.914 SV%
Achievements: Holds
University of Maine school
record for shutouts, goals
against average and save per-
centage; holds single season
NCAA record (2003-04) for
GAA (1.19) and save percent-
age (.954); named to 2005-06
AHL All-Rookie team; nomi-
nated for Calder Memorial
Trophy.

HOWARD
FROM PAGE 1-C
tion while in classes at Pioneer,
but the young goaltender wasn’t
able to keep out of the spotlight
when he was between the pipes.
Howard played nine games
with the Under-17 team, and 26
games with the Under-18 team
during his stay in Ann Arbor. In
that time, he amassed a record
of 22-11-1 with four shutouts.
He also managed to curry
favor with his coach, Mike
A2 to NHL connection
Jimmy Howard wasn’t the
only future NHL player to
show up in the Ann Arbor area
to work with USA Hockey’s
National Team Development
Program.
Below is a list of current
NHL players who all spent time
playing hockey in Ann Arbor.
Rick DiPietro (New York
Islanders)
Patrick Kane (Chicago
Blackhawks)
Adam Hall (Pittsburgh
Penguins)
Andy Hibert (New York
Islanders)
Jack Johnson (Los Angeles
Kings)
Phil Kessel (Boston Bruins)
Brett Lebda (Detroit Red
Wings)
Brian Rolston (New Jersey
Devils)
Brian Gionta (Montreal
Canadiens)
Erik Johnson (St. Louis
Blues)
Kevin Shattenkirk (Colorado
Avalanche)
Eaves.
Eaves, who is currently the
head coach of the University
of Wisconsin hockey team and
father of Howard’s current Red
Wing teammate Patrick Eaves,
said he was impressed with
Howard from the start.
“Jim was a very talented
player when he came to us. He
was so competitive,” Eaves said.
“He just never stopped working.
You knew that he was going to
put in the time. Nobody was
going to outwork him.”
Eaves said that Howard’s
time in Ann Arbor, playing for
the NTDP was defined by his
ability to evolve as a player.
“It wasn’t easy for a lot of Photo by Mike Larson/A2 JOURNAL
those guys,” Eaves said of the Detroit Red Wing goaltender Jimmy Howard makes a save during a recent practice at the Joe Louis Arena. As a teenager, Howard
NTDP players. “You have to spent a year in Ann Arbor playing hockey with the USA National Team Developmental Program.
remember, they are still kids,
and they are uprooted from trophy case. NHL Entry Draft by Detroit. Howard spent time bouncing percentage of .914 and a goals
their homes and their families. In 2002 he led the United It was then when things around between Grand Rapids against average of 2.49.
They are put into a program States to gold in the IIHF started to slow down for the and Detroit, but in the 2009-2010 “Things are starting to come
and asked to play their best. It’s World U18 Championships in upstart goalie. season, he was finally given a together for us,” Howard said.
not easy.” Slovakia and “He went chance to start. “We’ve got a lot of great play-
Howard, like most other play- was later named into the NHL “We knew for a long time ers and we are trying to bring
ers in the USA program, came the USA goal- Had enough Howard? and really that Jim had what it took,” Red another Stanley Cup back to
to Ann Arbor and lived with a tender of the If not, had to work Wing coach Mike Babcock said. Detroit.”
host family. year. check out hard for a “We wanted to make sure he And while Howard wasn’t
“But none of that fazed Jim,” The goal- www.heri- spot,” Eaves was ready, and that we weren’t born in Michigan, he said there
Eaves said. “He learned on the tender elected tage.com to said. “He getting him in over his head.” is a very special place in his
fly. One thing about the develop- to go to the watch video spent a lot Howard proved he was ready. heart for the Wolverine State,
mental program is that it forces University of of Howard of time in Last season the goalie played and Ann Arbor in particular.
players to redefine what hard is. Maine, where and the Red the minors, in 63 games, going 37-15-10 and “I’m not originally from here,”
“Jim came here and was a he led the Black Wings prac- and for some was a finalist for the Calder he said. “But this is my hockey
great player in his own right. Bears to the ticing at the guys, that Trophy, the NHL’s rookie of the home. I get to play for the
But when you are playing with Frozen Four Joe Louis can be the year award. Detroit Red Wings and I got to
the best in the country, you can’t championship Arena. kiss of death. “Last year things really came represent my country in Ann
take anything for granted. And during the 2003- For Jim, together for me,” Howard said. Arbor. I kind of feel like my
he did that. He really rose to the 2004 season. though, he “But it helps when you play in hockey career really took off in
occasion.” The Bears came up short, used it as an opportunity.” front of such a great team.” Ann Arbor. I’ll always feel like
Rising to the occasion has falling to the University of Howard started his pro- Things haven’t slowed down my time there was a special
kind of been Howard’s hall- Denver, 1-0. fessional career with the for the keeper either. time.”
mark, even after he left Ann While with Maine, Howard Grand Rapids Griffins in the As of Monday, Howard was Mike Larson can be reached
by email at
Arbor. was drafted in the second American Hockey League. ranked second in the league
After playing with the NTDP, round (64th overall) of the 2003 Between 2005 and 2009, with 13 wins. He also had a save MLarson@A2Journal.com.
Howard started filling up his

Three Ann Arbor footballers honored by AP

By Mike Larson
A2 Journal
Three area players were recently named honorable mention
selections on the Associated Press Division 1-2 All-State high
school football team.
Skyline’s Andrew Copp and Jordan Woods, as well as Pioneer’s
Drake Johnson all got the nod.
Johnson, who was one of Pioneer’s key offensive playmakers in
2010, was honored as an all-purpose back.
Over the course of the season he rushed for 850 yards and 10
touchdowns. He also caught 17 passes for 312 yards and four touch-
downs.
The versatile Johnson also scored on special teams with a punt
return touchdown and an interception returned for a score.
Copp was one of the best players on the Skyline team this sea-
son, despite the fact the team wasn’t able to win a game.
Copp threw for 2,433 yards and 23 touchdowns in Skyline’s first
varsity season.
Woods was one of his favorite receivers this past season, as he
caught 65 passes for 1,103 yards and 10 touchdowns.
2010 DIVISION 1-2 ALL-STATE FOOTBALL TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Gabe Dean, Lowell, 5-11, 195, Jr.
QUARTERBACKS
Tommy Vento, Farmington Hills Harrison, 6-1, 185, Sr.
Gabe Dean, Lowell, 5-11, 195, Jr.
Andrew Copp
RUNNING BACKS
Dennis Norfleet, Detroit King, 6-9, 175, Jr.
Terrell Porter, Berkley, 6-4, 205, Sr.
Taiwan Jones, Ira Township Anchor Bay, 6-3, 220, Sr.
Thomas Rawls, Flint Northern, 5-10, 215, Sr.
RECEIVERS
Shane VanFleteren, Utica, 6-3, 185, Sr.
DeAnthony Arnett, Saginaw, 6-1, 175, Sr.
Matt Houston, Lowell, 6-1, 180, Sr.
Neil VanderLaan, Rockford, 5-11, 176, Sr.
LINEMEN
Mike Keith, Warren De La Salle, 6-1, 245, Sr.
Jake Fisher, Traverse City West, 6-7, 270, Sr.
Feerooz Yacoobi, Dearborn, 6-2, 225, Sr.
Parker Ehinger, Rockford, 6-8, 285, Sr.
Kenny Rogers, Holt, 6-6, 260, Sr.
Mario Ojemudia, Farmington Hills Harrison, 6-3, 220, Sr.
LINEBACKERS
Justin D’Agostino, Detroit Catholic Central, 6-2, 220, Sr.
Tim Hamilton, Birmingham Brother Rice, 6-2, 235, Sr.
Will Reeves, Grosse Pointe South, Sr.
Brett Egnatuk, Rockford, 6-1, 220, Sr.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Brandon Bartneck, Utica Eisenhower, 6-4, 190, Sr.
Delonte Hollowell, Detroit Cass Tech, 5-9, 170, Sr.
Sean O’Brien, Greenville, 6-1, 175, Sr.
ALL-PURPOSE
Jared Kujawa, Temperance-Bedford, 6-1, 195, Sr.
KICKER(S)
Kyle Brindza, Plymouth, 6-2, 220, Sr.
Evan Fischer, Holt, 5-10, 160, Jr.
PUNTER
Alec Smith, Grand Haven, 6-2, 205, Sr.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jeff Wood, Temperance-Bedford
SPECIAL MENTION
(nominees receiving two or more votes from the 11-member
panel)
RUNNING BACK
Kevin Buford, Canton
RECEIVERS
Jake Duzey, Troy Athens; Macauley Hill, Port Huron Northern
LINEMEN
Darryl Goldsmith, Detroit Cass Tech; Ryan Hankins, Davison
LINEBACKERS
Dalton Stenberg, Grand Haven; Justin Zimmer, Greenville; Desmond
Morgan, Holland West Ottawa
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Chris Laneaux, Portage Northern; Davion Stackhouse, Canton
ALL-PURPOSE
Shane Barron Flint Carman-Ainsworth
HONORABLE MENTION
(nominees receiving one or no votes from the 11-member panel)
QUARTERBACKS
Austin Pichiotino, Bay City Western; Mack Sovereign, Traverse City
Central; Josh Campbell, Alpena; C.J. Mifsud, Dearborn; Andrew
Copp, Ann Arbor Skyline
RUNNING BACKS
Aaron King, Portage Central; Marques Stevenson, Lake Orion; Zac
Boersema, Holland West Ottawa; Ryan Burkard, Romeo
Drake Johnson
RECEIVERS
Connor Bruns, Midland Dow; Alec Smith, Grand Haven; Aaron
Burbridge, Farmington Hills Harrison; Jordan Woods, Ann Arbor
Skyline; Devlin Bell, East Lansing; Eric Posavetz, Sterling Heights
Ford
LINEMEN
Troy Hinds, St. Clair Shores Lakeview; Adam Bennett, Romeo;
Aaron Cox, Sterling Heights Ford; John Costello, Bay City Western;
Chris Thompson, Flint Carman-Ainsworth; Damon Knox, Muskegon;
Conor Hart, Birmingham Brother Rice; Bryan Bell, Walled Lake
Central; Blake McGee, Lake Orion; Brandon Tammaro, Detroit
Catholic Central; Jarrell McKinney, Detroit Cody; Brennen Beyer,
Plymouth; Nate Theaker, White Lake Lakeland; Danzell Maze,
Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills; Drake Hoffman, Grand Rapids Forest
Hills Central; Nick Cadwell, Grand Ledge; Chris Nash, Roseville
LINEBACKERS
David Kolanek, Bay City Western; Lydell Simon, Saginaw Arthur
Hill; Jake Georgakopoulos, Fenton; Jerry Westerman, Grand
Haven; Zac Collins, Clarkston; Garrett Bryten; Ed Davis, Detroit
Southeastern; William Webster, Redford Thurston; Brent Zdebski,
Walled Lake Western; Mike Smith; Collin Ritchie, Okemos
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Loran Jaddou, Birmingham Brother Rice; Terry Richardson, Detroit
Cass Tech; Darien Haeck, Port Huron Northern; Brett Johnson,
Grand Ledge
ALL-PURPOSE
Eric Schwenk, Midland Dow; Jake Vento, Farmington Hills Harrison;
Kishon Wilcher, Detroit Cass Tech; Vincent Mercado, Dearborn
Edsel Ford; Raphael Dunson, Taylor Kennedy; Drake Johnson,
Ann Arbor Pioneer; Jarret Chapman, Port Huron High
KICKERS
Lucas Blankenship, Troy; Dylan Mulder, Saline; Bryan Holmes,
Holland West Ottawa; Kris Selita, Macomb Dakota
COACHES
Jim Caserta, Holland West Ottawa; Dave Moore, Greenville; Jason
Watkins, Midland Dow; Tim Baechler, Canton