MGHSHL Playoffs Set to Begin with High-Stakes Play-In Games

By C. Steele

The road to the 2025 Michigan Girls High School Hockey League (MGHSHL) state playoffs officially begins on Thursday, February 27, with five pivotal play-in games at Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Canton, Michigan. Teams will battle for a spot in the Division 1 and Division 2 brackets as they aim to extend their seasons and keep their championship aspirations alive.

Play-In Matchups

The action kicks off at 4:00 p.m. on the East Rink, where Troy United and Northville—both from Group C—will face off in Playoff Play-In Game 1. The winner will earn a berth in the next round and look to build momentum for a playoff run.

At 5:30 p.m., Group B rivals Bloomfield-Birmingham and Washtenaw United will take the ice on the West Rink for Playoff Play-In Game 2. Both teams have had competitive seasons, making this an anticipated clash with a spot in the playoffs on the line.

The 6:00 p.m. matchup on the East Rink features Walled Lake (Group B) against St. Mary/SCA (Group A) in Playoff Play-In Game 3. This cross-group showdown adds an extra layer of intrigue as both teams seek to prove their postseason worth.

At 7:30 p.m., Livonia United and Grosse Pointe North, both hailing from Group B, will meet in Playoff Play-In Game 4 on the West Rink. With both teams familiar with each other's playstyles, this game could come down to execution in the critical moments.

The final play-in game of the evening, Playoff Play-In Game 5, will see Cranbrook Kingswood (Group B) take on Ann Arbor Huron-Skyline (Group A) at 8:00 p.m. on the East Rink. With a mix of offensive firepower and strong defensive units, this game promises an exciting conclusion to the night’s action.

Quarterfinals - Saturday, March 1

The winners of the play-in games will join top-seeded teams in the Quarterfinals, scheduled for Saturday, March 1, at Arctic Edge Ice Arena:

• 10:30 AM: MGHSHL Playoffs TBD vs. University Liggett School (West Rink)

• 12:00 PM: Plymouth-Canton-Salem vs. Sacred Heart United (East Rink)

• 12:30 PM: St. Clair Shores vs. Ann Arbor Pioneer (West Rink)

• 2:00 PM: MGHSHL Playoffs TBD vs. Mid-Michigan Alliance (East Rink)

• 2:30 PM: MGHSHL Playoffs TBD vs. Traverse City (West Rink)

• 4:00 PM: Livingston United vs. Mercy (East Rink)

• 4:30 PM: MGHSHL Playoffs TBD vs. Regina/Lutheran N./Austin (West Rink)

• 6:00 PM: MGHSHL Playoffs TBD vs. Grosse Pointe South (East Rink)

Path to the Championship

The Semifinals will take place on Wednesday, March 5, setting the stage for the Championship Finals on Saturday, March 8. With a competitive field and no shortage of talent, this year’s playoffs are expected to be one of the most intense in MGHSHL history.

Fans can catch all the action at Arctic Edge Ice Arena or follow along with live updates through team and league social media channels. The stakes are high, and as the postseason begins, every game could be a team's last.

The road to the MGHSHL state championship starts now—let the battle for Michigan girls’ high school hockey supremacy begin.