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HERMANSVILLE -- For the 83rd time, the Meyer Township Community Club in Hermansville will be the Midwest epicenter for independent basketball. The 2022 edition of the Gold Medal Classic tips off Thursday evening with four games on the tournament docket.
At 6 p.m., Jeffrey John Seamless Gutters of Norway will take on Fireplace North of Iron Mountain in Class EE. The gutter hangers will feature recent Norway High School players, including 2022 Division 4 second team All-U.P. selection Nolan Amundson; 2020 and 2021 Division 1-3 Second Team All-U.P. selection Logan Parolini; and Zachary Seat -- grandson of longtime Gold Medal tournament director, the late Raymond P. Bray.
The 7 p.m. game will be a Class C contest between two long-time tournament stalwarts as Kakuk Construction of Daggett will take on Iron River Shamco. Kakuk's will feature the seniors from the 2022 MHSAA Division 3 state runner-up Menominee Maroons, along with their head coach Sam Larson and his assistants.
The Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Division 1-3 2022 player of the year Aiden Bellisle of Menominee will play for Kakuk's.
A pair of Class D games will conclude the opening night, with the 8 p.m. tilt pairing Jim's Plumbing of Wallace against Stihl Saw Sales of Powers. Jim's Plumbing, owned by Jim Starzinski, is another long-time sponsor of tournament teams.
The final game Thursday will feature a group of Menominee County farmers, including Class of 1995 North Central star Tom Granquist and Bark River-Harris standout Justin Bloniarz of Perronville. The group will call themselves Farmersonly.com and take on Wilson Farms of Stephenson at 9 p.m.
Friday night's schedule will also include four games and begins at 6 p.m. A Class EE game between Bellmore Farms of French Town and NutriFeed of Powers begins the evening of action.
The 7 p.m. contest is the opening Class E game, as Hermansville Wildwood will take on Jim's Plumbing. Shamco's Class D squad will take on Rapid River at 8 p.m.
The final game Friday will be a Class C showdown between Juice Promotions of Carney and Dave's Auto of Iron Mountain. Former Norway High School standout Joey Pontbriand and former Iron Mountain All-U.P. performer Jake Hogberg will join Carney-Nadeau graduates, the Polfus brothers, Jacob and Mike, on the Juice Promotions squad. The Dave's Auto roster features Kingsford graduate Geoff Smart, as well as Iron Mountain graduates Pat Flood and Kyle Johnson.
Something of note that will take place Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Community Club -- a renaming dedication ceremony. Longtime Gold Medal Tournament official and lifelong Hermansville resident, the late Frank Rodman, will be honored by the Meyer Township Board and the Gold Medal Tournament Committee in renaming the building in his name.
Meyer Township Board Member Chad Knodl will deliver a speech on behalf of Meyer Township, and Matt "Sweets" McCarthy of Niagara, Wis. will speak on behalf of the committee.
Saturday and Sunday will feature Class A and Junior High divisions.
After taking Monday evening off, the tournament will run Tuesday evening through April 17.
Classes C, D, E and EE will conclude on April 15, with Class B and the Women's Division to be held April 16-17.