Northville senior’s hockey career has been nothing short of remarkable
Elise Mavrinac has thoroughly enjoyed a four-year varsity career as a valued member of the Northville High School girls hockey team.
Elise Mavrinac’s improbable high school hockey career is just a few months from ending, which is unfortunate because the selfless Northville senior’s ice journey has been compelling since the minute the puck was dropped in her initial game.
In the weeks leading up to her freshman year at Northville High School, Mavrinac’s dad, Anthony, learned the Mustangs’ ladies hockey team was in desperate need of players.
A multi-sport athlete throughout her elementary and middle school days, Mavrinac could skate, but had never laced up a pair of hockey skates.
“My dad asked me if I’d be interested in playing hockey at Northville High School and I said, ‘Sure, I’ll give it a try’,” she recounted following Thursday night’s down-to-the-wire 2-1 setback to Livonia United.
Driven to succeed
“That summer, we’d find a rink and I’d work on my hockey skills, sometimes as early as 5 a.m. in the morning. It didn’t take long before I fell in love with everything about hockey.”
Following pre-season team conditioning, Northville Head Coach J. Lee chose Mavrinac to serve as the Mustangs’ goalie — the anchor of the defense.
“Elise had experience playing goalie in field hockey, so we figured she had the instincts, poise and athleticism the position required,” Lee said. “Even though she had zero hockey experience, she excelled from Day One.”
Natural-born leader
In the days leading up to her junior season, Mavrinac was selected as a team captain — the program’s first-ever junior to earn such a distinction.
“Elise has unbelievable intelligence and leadership skills,” Lee explained. “She leaped into the role with everything she had and has been such an asset to our program.”
Mavrinac improved so much during her first three seasons between the pipes, she has received looks from Division 2 and 3 women’s hockey programs.
In 2025, the personable student-athlete with a sterling 3.9 grade-point average abruptly took an on-ice detour.
Seamless transition
“We had an incoming freshman, Autumn Clark, who had played goalie for her travel hockey teams join our team and she expressed interest in playing goalie for us,” Lee said.
“When I discussed with Elise the possibility of her playing forward her senior year, she was 100% all-in on the idea. That’s how selfless this young lady is.”
So there was Mavrinac on Thursday night, decked out in her No. 7 jersey, flying up and down the ice, making an impact for the Mustangs while playing forward.
Shifting gears
During a third-period power play, she secured a pass near the right face-off circle and came within an eyelash of scoring her first high school goal.
“I’ve really enjoyed the transition,” Mavrinac shared. “It’s been interesting learning how the bench works and how playing offense and defense are so different.
“One thing I don’t miss about playing goalie is all the equipment you have to wear. My gear probably weighed close to 50 pounds (she smiled). I feel so light and airy out there now without all the goalie pads on.”
Greater appreciation
Mavrinac added that she now fully appreciates the grueling pace non-goalies face every shift.
“I’m out there giving it everything I have, so when my shift is up in 30 to 40 seconds, I’m ready for a breather,” she said.
Along with the intricacies the sport demands, Mavrinac has embraced the camaraderie playing for Northville has delivered.
“I love hanging out with my teammates, both during the time before games and practices, and when we’re competing in games,” she said.
“Some of my best friends now I met playing hockey.”
Multi-sport Mustang
Mavrinac’s athleticism has also carried over to the Mustangs’ track & field team, for which she qualified for the MHSAA Division 1 state meet earlier this year in the high jump.
“I feel playing hockey has really helped my high jumping because my legs feel so much stronger,” she said.
Mavrinac is eyeing majoring in psychology in college, with hopes of someday being able to help children who have experienced traumatic childhoods.
Everyone who knows the ambitious Mavrinac will agree that her next journey will be as successful as her hockey career — detour and all.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
