Wisconsin forward Michael Maillette celebrates his first career goal during a game on Nov. 22 against Minnesota. (Photo courtesy of the Wisconsin Windigo)

Editor’s note: We know this list is not comprehensive, but we are always looking for more local players who are still playing the game they love at a high level. We apologize for any players we have missed and hope to include them in future stories.

Several hockey players with local ties are playing juniors, college hockey, or even in the NHL. Included are former Mr. Hockey in Michigan, Camden Markham, who is having a strong season with the Watertown Shamrocks of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), and Todd Kilpela, who is playing 18U Tier I hockey with Victory Honda.

WISCONSIN WINDIGO

The Wisconsin Windigo, who have former Houghton Gremlins forward Michael Maillette on the roster, and former Michigan Tech Huskies player Bryce Reddick as an assistant coach, are sitting in first place in the NAHL’s Midwest Division with a record of 20-6-1-2, good for 43 points, four more than the second-place Anchorage Wolverines.

Maillette, who recently picked up his first career goal against the Minnesota Wilderness on Nov. 22, picked up an assist Friday night as Windigo defeated the Chippewa Steel, 7-2. Saturday night, the Windigo fell to the Steel, 4-2.

AUSTIN BRUINS

The Austin Bruins are second in the NAHL’s Central Division with a record of 20-5-1-2, good for 43 points. They trail the Bismarck Bobcats by six points for the division lead.

Calumet native Jackson Rilei has already matched his totals from last season of six goals and seven assists in 53 games, this season in just 28 games.

He picked up an assist each night this past weekend in games against the North Iowa Bulls. The Bruins won both games, 4-2 on Friday and 6-2 on Saturday.

WATERTOWN SHAMROCKS

The Watertown Shamrocks are eighth in the NAHL’s Central Division in their first season of play. They are 4-21-2-1, good for 11 points.

Markham is second on the Shamrocks in scoring with nine goals and 17 points in 28 games this season. He also has four power play goals.

He scored in a 5-3 loss to the Bobcats on Friday, as the Shamrocks attempted a comeback from a 5-1 deficit, but ultimately came up short.

Another Houghton native, Eliott Mikesch, has one goal and four points in 26 games this season for the Shamrocks. He is mired in a scoring slump at the moment, as he has not had a point since Oct. 11 in a 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Mallards.

MELVILLE MILLIONAIRES

The Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, are third in the Viterra Division with a record of 14-13-2-1, good for 31 points, three back of the Weyburn Red Wings for the division lead.

Houghton native Gaborik Carlson is eighth on the Millionaires in scoring with two goals and 14 points in 30 games this season. He scored on Tuesday, Dec. 10, in a 6-4 loss to Weyburn as part of a two-goal second period that helped the Millionaires turn a 3-0 deficit into a 3-3 tie.

However, the Red Wings scored three of the next four goals to seal the win.

The Millionaires followed that loss up with a loss to the Estevan Bruins, 5-3, on Friday and a two 2-0 win over the Bruins on Saturday.

VICTORY HONDA

Victory Honda 18U Tier I is mired in a tough stretch of their season, with just one win in their last eight games, a 6-1 win over Biosteel Sports Academy on Dec. 1.

Kilpela, a Hancock native, is fifth on the team in scoring with four goals and 24 points in 37 games. He is a +14 on the season.

Kilpela is committed to Michigan Tech University.

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

The Dartmouth Big Green are 6-3-2 overall and 4-2-1 in the ECAC.

Hancock native Austin Salani, a freshman forward, has seen action in one game thus far, a 5-1 win over at Princeton on Nov. 9.

MICHIGAN TECH UNIVERSITY

The Michigan Tech Huskies are 9-5-2 overall and 7-3-2 in CCHA play after a win and a tie this past weekend at Bemidji State.

Atlantic Mine native Alex Nordstrom, a senior forward, has one goal in 11 games this season with the Huskies. He scored his goal in the third period Saturday in a 9-5 win over the Beavers.

Former Huskies captain and Houghton native Raymond Brice is an assistant coach with the Huskies this season.

NHL

Three players with local ties are playing in the NHL currently, defenseman Matt Roy with the Washington Capitals, Victor Mancini with the New York Rangers, and Kevin Gravel with the Nashville Predators.

Roy, who played three seasons for the Huskies, signed in the offseason with the Capitals. In his first season with them, he has played in 19 games, scoring one goal and seven points. He had assists in back-to-back games against Toronto and Montreal on Dec. 6 and 7.

Mancini, son of former Huskies head coach Bob Mancini, was born in Hancock. He is in his rookie season with the Rangers and has seen action in 15 games. He has one goal and five points.

Injuries have thrust Kingsford native Kevin Gravel back into the NHL with the Predators. He was called up last week, and has seen action in two games. He picked up his first point as a Predator, an assist, on Dec. 12, in a 4-1 win over Dallas.