Home of The

FALL TRYOUT INFORMATION:

Thursday 6/24, 5-6 Wings West

Friday 6/25, 445-545 Wings West

The SWM Blades is a high school varsity hockey team sanctioned in Michigan under the MAHA umbrella. We are a newly appointed, proud member of the MHSHL playing out of South Bend, IN.  (Practices are out of Kalamazoo).

The coaching staff is dedicated to making your student athletes time with us as memorable as possible, both on and off the ice. We take great pride in our team academics, community service and of course, putting a solid hockey product together.

Players entering 9th grade through 12th grade, living in the counties of Allegan, Calhoun, Kalamazoo or St Joe are welcome to tryout. If you are from a neighboring county but don’t have a place to play, please reach out for assistance.

What a typical year looks like:

*starts mid September-mid March

*50-55 games, cost $3300ish

*league play, showcases/tourneys, double elimination city and state tournament

*8-10 home games in Kalamazoo

*on top of playing in one of the best leagues in Indiana, some 20-21 fellow opponents include Culver Academy, Gilmore Academy (OH), St Ignatuis(IL) and Ste St Marie.

*we are a homeschool friendly organization

Please send a $25 tryout fee check, made payable SWM Blades, to Doug Hattan at 103 Morrow St Kalamazoo, MI. 49048. Checks are due by 6/10.

If you are planning on trying out, please rsvp to Coach Eddy at swmbladeshockey@yahoo.com.  Please include players name, school, grade, position, lh/rh and where he/she played last year along with coaches name.

If you have any questions or need direction, please email HC Tyler Eddy @ swmbladeshockey@yahoo.com

Blades look to make a run in this years state playoffs.  Here is the 4A bracket, 2/26-2/28.

Friday Games:

#1 Culver VA vs. #8 Penn Kingsmen, 7:10

#2 Carmel Gold vs. Crown Point, 9:20

#3 Lake Central Blue vs. # 6 HSE A, 9:40  

#4  SWM Blades vs. #5 Bloomington Blades, 7:40

Saturday:

Win, play either Culver or Penn, Saturday at 120pm

Lose, play either Culver or Penn, Saturday at 110pm

Saturday Night/Sunday:  TBD

Friday, 2/28 in Fort Wayne:

Gm1: Carmel Gold vs. Bloomington, 850pm

Gm2: SWM Blades vs. Culver A, 910pm

Saturday, 2/29:

Gm3: Winner of Gm1 vs. Winner of Gm2, 1:20pm-State Finals

Gm4: Loser of Gm1 vs. Loser of Gm2, 1:35pm

Sunday, 3/1:

Gm5: Loser of Gm3 vs. Winner of Gm4 (1-1 teams), 1025am-State Finals

*State Finals will now be held in Illiana league area (south of Gary), switched from Fischer's

Your Blades split the weekend series with Gilmour Academy, losing 2-3 on Saturday and in dramatic fashion, grabbing the "dub" 3-2 on Sunday.  It took a 3 on 3 OT and 8 men deep into a shootout to determine the winner.  Senior, Jack Tomer played fantastic in net and senior Chase Stenger snuck one in off the right post for the GWG.

From our team to yours, have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

A-Blaine Shafer

C-Austin Ziegler

Leadership/Community Service Chair-Chase Stenger

C-Chris Bigelow

A-Parker Lawrence

Your Blades finish the season with their first league playoff championship in league history.  A streak of 75 days with only two loses highlights the run!  Currently, your Blades sit #4 in the state in the GD(goal differential) department at 2.96 GPG.  Click the link below to view all 147 teams in the state:

http://myhockeyrankings.com/rank.php?y=2017&a=4&v=728&g=0

Your Blades brought home some 1st place hardware, in the top bracket of the annual Walter E  invite in Strongsville, OH. this weekend.   Game scores:

Blades 10 Talawanda 1

Blades 6 St Francis De Sales 1

Blades 3 Hudson 3

Blades 5 Strongsville 4(double overtime)

Jaxon Dobrowolski was named tournament MVP contributing to the overall success of the team and burying the game winning goal in the final game.  He  also had 0 penalties this weekend.

With much anticipation, the SWM Blades would like to announce Ben Blacker as their new assistant/goalie coach for the upcoming season. Ben is very excited to be apart of our staff and is looking forward to meeting everyone soon!  

Accolades:  Played for 2 seasons in the USHL with the Cedar Rapids Roughriders where he was named second team All-USHL.  He led the league with 33 wins while posting a 2.25 GAA and .926 save percentage.  As a WMU Bronco, he had a sensational rookie season:  Started 29 games  and was to the NCHC All Rookie team...helped the Broncos get to the NCAA Playoffs and furthermore, Frozen Four!

Get to Know Your Coach

Q:  What was your biggest highlight of your rookie season?

A:  "Beating Nebraska Omaha in Game 3, in OT, to move on to the Frozen Four in Minny"

Q:  Knowing how lucky we are have Coach Murray at the helm,  how is it being a player for him?

A:   "He is one of the most fun/toughest coaches to play for.  He takes great pride in making sure all of his players are the best they can be.  However, that means he will push you to our limit and then some to make sure you are the...perfect you.  He is a very funny and energetic coach. who is always a pleasure to be around

Q:  What are you looking forward to most, with your new coaching position? 

A:  "I'm looking forward to seeing the talent, hardwork and passion these young men have to give.  Hockey is not only a game that many of us love to play,  it is also is a platform that teaches respect, work ethic, and morals.  For me, being able to help these young men improve their skills not only on the ice, but to hopefully have an impact on their lives off the ice...is just a small part in what I can do to give back to the amazing game and community of Kalamazoo who has supported the WMU Bronco Hockey team, every step of the way.