Detroit Catholic Central High School

The 1999 Catholic Central Varsity Hockey team, led by head coach Gordie St. John, had a remarkable season that culminated in winning the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division I State Championship and a #1 National Ranking.
 
Junior goalie Ben Dunne consistently delivered outstanding performances, and junior David Moss led the team in scoring.  Captains Matt Vanheest, Keith Rowe, and Erik Hawkins led the team to secure the last Michigan Metro High School League Championship, the 4th consecutive title for the Shamrock as the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League (MIHL) began the following year.
 
An important game was the showdown with perennial rival Trenton, which was stopped with 5 minutes left and a tie score (4-4) due to a life-threatening neck injury to a Trenton player. Coach Todd Johnson stated that the seriousness of the injury galvanized the Shamrocks in preparation for their state playoff run, which was only three weeks away. Years later, ESPN and Gatorade sponsored a replay of that game.
 
In the state tournament, the team posted victories in the semi-finals, with David Moss and Brad Holland scoring goals in the 2-1 victory over Marquette, and in the finals, Jim Spiewak scored both goals against East Kentwood in the 2-0 victory.  This victory marked their third state championship in six years and the first in the five-year run of State Championships by the Shamrocks. The team's achievement is a testament to their dedication and perseverance.
 
Michigan Interscholastic Hockey Coaches Association Post Season Awards: Dream Team: Ben Dunne, Keith Rowe (Mr. Hockey), Matt VanHeest; Class “A” All-State: Todd Bentley, Ben Dunne, Keith Rowe, Matt VanHeest and David Moss.  Coach of the Year: Gordie St. John.
 
Front Row (L to R):  Brad Holland, Dave Phillips, Patrick O’Dea, Andrew McCoy, Erik Hawkins, Keith Rowe, Matt Vanheest, Ben Dunne, Todd Bentley, Shawn McGowan, Joe Hillibrand.  Back Row (L to R):  Eugene Daneshvar, Matt Modelski, Chris Beaty, Jason MacDonald, Sean Genrich, Ryan Yost, Derek Genrich, Brandon Kaleniecki, Nathan Lewarne, Jeff Good, Joe Moreau, John Bowers, Chris Morelli, Dave Moss, Jim Spiewak, Rick Buttery ’01, Coach Todd Johnson ’87, Coach Matt Giordano ’96, Coach Gordie St. John

Not pictured:  Coach Brian Morrison ‘77 • Manager Mike Giordano • Mike Porter ’97