MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group and affiliates
BUSINESS LINE: (248) 525-2349
CELL PHONE: (248) 884-1051
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
BREITUNG TWP., Mich. – Jaxon Buckley is trying to lead his soccer team to some unchartered waters.
The Kingsford High School midfielder/forward has already helped his Flivvers capture their first Upper Peninsula Division 1 Tournament championship in school history in 2023 and with the school’s first opportunity to compete downstate in the MHSAA boys soccer state tournament in nearly two decades, Buckley and Co. hope to gain more than experience – they want to earn some hardware along the way and make a statement.
“I think we can complete with them,” said Buckley of some of the Lower Peninsula teams. “We’re so glad we have the chance. We want to go aways. It will be nice to see how we stack up against some of them.”
Along with Marquette, Kingsford has generally been one of the top teams in Michigan’s great white north region – er Upper Peninsula – and the talented soccer prospect has emerged as the state’s best kept secret.
“Jaxon is a very good player,” said Kingsford coach Jeff Gordon, whose team enters this week’s Division 3 district semifinals with a 19-1-0 record with Buckley leading the charge with 18 goals and 11 assists. “He’s very experienced. But he buys into the team concept. I know some teams out there might have 1-2 stars, but we believe in the team concept. I would think that Jaxon and some of the others will be considered for All-State, though. We’ve had a great season as a team and hope to continue that winning. We do have some nice players on our team and I know Jaxon really wants to play in college We hope playing downstate gives players like Jaxon some exposure.”
Kingsford's Jaxon Buckley has spent some time with the Wisconsin-based Croatian Eagles SC during the past two years and is perhaps the Upper Peninsula's top soccer prospect. Courtesy Photo| Kingsford High School.
Although Kingsford has not competed in a league for boys soccer and has played as an independent since launching its soccer program in the late 1990s, the school has always searched for some tough competition.
Buckley and the Flivvers have played a wide variety of schools from Michigan and Wisconsin over the years. But the school, along with its U.P. brethren, have not been allowed to compete in the state-wide tournament since Buckley was a toddler. Due to a court-order that forced soccer out of season in Michigan as part of a 2001 law suit that was finally settled in early 2007 that forced several sports out of season, the only way for the U.P. to continue to compete in boys soccer in the fall and girls soccer in the spring is the U.P. had to be forced to be ineligible for the MHSAA state tournament.
“I never really understood much about it, but I was so glad when our coach told us (back in August) that we’d have the chance,” said Buckley. “I think we can play with a lot of those teams downstate.”
Residing only a couple of miles from the Wisconsin border, Buckley, like several other top players in the U.P., has made the consistent drive down into the Badgers territory for club soccer and even to play in the Olympic Developmental Program system. Buckley plays club soccer for Kimberly Area S.C. and even though he is on the ODP Midwest Region II squad, he is listed under Wisconsin and not Michigan.
“That may seem weird, but we only have to drive like three hours to Wisconsin for ODP or club. If we were part of Michigan (state pool) we’d have to drive all day. I don’t even know where it is downstate but I’m told it’s a ways down there (for ODP),” said Buckley, who is also in the national pool in ODP and will represent the Midwest team at a tournament down south this winter.
Buckley, who is also a quality wing player in hockey, may forgo that sport this winter and might even play basketball. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound prospect would love to continue strapping on his cleats next school year in the collegiate soccer world and will be putting more effort into that dream over the next few months.
“I am really going to start working on that,” said Buckley, whose has received some exposure on the club and ODP circuit. “I will dedicate a lot of time to reach out to some college coaches and send in some film and things like that. I would love to play in college, maybe even Division I.”
Despite being one of the all-time leading scorers and assists players in Kingsford history, the postseason awards have been fewer and far between for the versatile and talented prospect from the south-central part of the Upper Peninsula. Buckley was a clear choice for the 2022 All-Upper Peninsula First Team last year as a junior and is the top candidate for the U.P. Player of the Year this season. He is a likely candidate for All-District, All-Region and All-State as any player from the Upper Peninsula and the farther the Flivvers advance in the postseason the more likely that Buckley and some of his teammates will gain traction and consideration for those awards.
This past summer while competing in a Midwest tournament on the club level for Kimberly Area Soccer Club, Buckley was approached by a coach with the Wisconsin-based Croatian Eagles Soccer Club of being a guest player with them for the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships last July at the ESPN Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Buckley quickly accepted the invitation to compete for Wisconsin’s oldest club – even though he had to drive to southeastern Wisconsin to train.
“That was a lot of fun and a great experience. It was worth it,” noted Buckley, who mentioned that there are a handful of Upper Peninsula players currently on college rosters right now. “One of our coaches is also a (NCAA) Division III assistant coach and he explained to me a few things about college exposure.”
Kingsford’s Jaxon Buckley has emerged as one of the top players in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Courtesy Photo | Kingsford Soccer
Buckley ended up logging a lot of minutes for the Croatian Eagles S.C. and even reached the scorebook on a couple of occasions.
“That was a great experience,” he said. “I even had a goal in the first game and two assists in the third game. We finished 2-0-1 in our group but didn’t advance based on goal differential. But I still gained some great experience.”
Despite there only being anywhere from 14-17 soccer programs in the Upper Peninsula each year, Buckley, his teammates and some of his competitors are glad the soccer landscape has finally changed in Michigan and at least the teams north of the Mackinac Bridge finally have a chance to compete against state-wide competition.
“It’s really exiting for all of us,” he said. “I know there are some good players up here that never really had the chance (to showcase) themselves or teams). Now we have that chance.”
(MSN will compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in results from high school varsity, club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at https://www.michigansoccernetwork.com/reportascore.. Please submit the competing teams, location and date of game, final score, overall and league records, goals, assists, goalkeepers and saves, standout defenders, players of the match, and any other pertinent details of the game. If there are courtesy action photos available, feel free to submit them at the above-listed emails.)
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Best Kept Secret: Kingsford’s Jaxon Buckley hoping to lead Flivvers to unchartered waters
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(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
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Michigan-based Premier Media Group is expanding ... don't miss out on coverage
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Premier Media Group is expanding its broadcast net.
And we want you.
The Michigan-based PMG, founded in 2022, its flagship production the Michigan Soccer Network and all other affiliates, is actively scheduling games in a wide variety of high school leagues and conferences, small colleges, amateur, pre-professional, youth club, and other avenues of the beautiful game in Michigan.
The schedule for the fall semester is starting to fill up across Michigan.
The daily connections are being made and the spreading of our brand has brought in great reviews.
Would the coaches, administration, student-athletes, players and fans like for us to broadcast a game near you?
Regardless of the now-popular remote broadcast games, on-location broadcast games, on-location shows or in-studio daily shows, there is a simple process. Visit the website www.michigansoccernetwork.com or click below for details.
PMG will also be holding various “Win A Free Broadcast” contest at various parts of the fall, winter (indoor) and spring seasons.
"(Michigan Soccer Network) has does a great job making these kids feel special,” offered Michal Hatfield, girls soccer coach at Trenton High School who also coaches in the Detroit City FC youth club system. “The broadcasts were professionally done and we were very pleased when they did our games. They did a great job with (play-by-play), graphics and postgame interviews with the kids. And a lot of people saw it. We had uncles and aunts that have never seen their nieces play get a chance to watch them on YouTube). And all of the kids were able to jump on there (the YouTube channel) afterwards and watch the game.”
The MSN staff had the pleasure of broadcasting multiple games the last two school years for schools in the Oakland Activities Association and have received its fair share of feedback. The goal is to conduct broadcasts of games throughout the state of Michigan, especially in the larger populated regions.
“MSN has done a great job with broadcasts in our league (Macomb Area Conference),” said Trevor Foster, current head coach of the Romeo girls soccer program, goalkeepers coach for Oakland University’s soccer programs, and director at the Michigan Goalkeepers Academy. “I know the girls love it. And I know some of the parents were putting their earphones on and listening to the game when they were (in the stands) and it gives relatives a chance to watch games that they normally wouldn’t be able to.
“It’s as close to professional (broadcast) as any broadcast of high school soccer that you will see out there,” added Foster. “Plus, they do all types of (amateur and pre-professional) leagues out there (in Michigan).”
“We were very pleased, especially with the knowledge of high school soccer in the state of Michigan from the play-by-play announcers and color commentators,” said Todd Heugh, the current director of athletics at Troy Athens High School and a former coach at the school. “They put together a valuable (product) and the games are live on YouTube for everyone to watch, even if you are (a relative or an alumni) not in the area. I know coaches go on there (YouTube), too, to watch games of an upcoming opponent.”
The PMG staff has a goal of 100-plus games this fall from mid-August through November. The Michigan Soccer Network conducted a record 50 remote or in-person broadcasts during the month of June.
PMG also has contacts within Michigan, the Midwest and even in different parts of the U.S. and have become broadcast partners for more than 15 different leagues or franchises within those leagues over the past three years. PMG has multiple broadcasting rights for within the USL-League Two, USL-W League, UPSL, MWPL, NISA, WSPL and more and constantly expanding its web of coverage both on various YouTube channels and on our website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com. It has broadcasted more high school boys soccer and high school girls soccer at more than 75 high schools in Michigan.
“MSN has been a great media partner for the Bucks and AFC,” said Costa Papista, President of the Flint City Bucks and Flint City AFC of the USL-League Two and USL-W League, respectively. “The production and overall quality of our live broadcasts are professional grade. Flint City fans, sponsors and supporters greatly appreciate the MSN quality. We are always receiving excellent feedback and comments from our fans and visiting fans as well.”
And now the busy season starts in earnest with high school, college and youth club team beginning the 2024-25 school year.
To schedule a game or to consult team members of our broadcast, reach out to the following persons in the PMG family of networks: Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner, 248-525-2083, jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com or new Director of Scheduling / Office Manager Alaina Gagnon, at agagnon@thepremiermediagrp.com and inquire about the broadcast options, packages, special packages and more.
For news on the soccer scene in Michigan, check out the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com for daily updates, game recaps, feature stories, previews and more for teams, players and coaches from a wide variety schools, amateur teams, colleges and youth club teams.
The PMG and MSN staff will continue to reach for its goal of providing quality broadcast on any network and in-depth coverage and content on it website.
INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE
Interested in internships in broadcasting, communications, journalism, public relations or sales and marketing in the sports world? The Premier Media Group is seeking applications for current college students or students entering their senior or junior years of high school that have a career interest in working in different capacity of a constantly-evolving media world.
Contact both Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner at 248-525-2083 or jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com and Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at (248) 525-2349 and dstickradt@thepremeiermediagrp.com.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com.)
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