Redmen Mixing Business With Pleasure Downstate

GAYLORD---The Marquette High School hockey team is downstate for the next few days, competing at the Michigan Public High School Hockey Showcase in Chelsea. But the Redmen are also having some fun, treating it as a bonding trip.

The Redmen stopped on the way downstate for a practice Wednesdsay afternoon at the Otsego County Sportplex in Gaylord. The team was then headed to Detroit to watch the Detroit Red Wings battle the Toronto Maple Leafs at Joe Louis Arena.

"You know, you go down to Chelsea and play three games and stay in Ann Arbor," Marquette Coach Doug Garrow said. "It's a big tournament for us because you get to play teams downstate that you normally wouldn't get to play."

Marquette is 11-5-1 on the season, having had a nice winning streak snapped last weekend by a tough Birmingham Brother Rice team.

The Redmen will face Saline in their first game at the Showcase Thursday afternoon at 2:00.

But it's also time for team bonding.

"The kids have a real good time down there," Garrow said. "We go out to dinner and do some things that we don't usually get to do up in the U.P. The kids look forward to it every year."

Marquette will also face the host Chelsea team Friday night, and then wake up early on Saturday for a morning game against.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS above to see some footage from Wednesday's practice, and more photos.