MUSKEGON – The mix was exactly what new Reeths-Puffer hockey coach Dustin Langlois was hoping to see:
Returning standouts from last year still doing their thing, with the new guys jumping in and contributing right away.
That occurred on Wednesday when three returning Rockets found the next, and three new guys also cashed in, giving Reeths-Puffer an exciting 6-4 victory over Grand Rapids Christian in its season opener at Muskegon’s Trinity Health Arena.
“We had three first-year varsity goals tonight,” Langlois said. “That just shows the depth we have, and the newer guys are coming in and stepping up.”
The Rockets plan a play during a time out. Photo/Joe Lane
The game was very tight until the final minutes, when the Rockets took final control with two late goals.
With 2:34 remaining and the scored tied 4-4, Langlois took a time out before a faceoff in the GR Christian end of the rink.
Coming out of the time out, the Rockets won the face off and ripped a shot from the blue line, which was tipped by senior Jaxon Stone and freshman Hayden Taylor before finding the back of the net, giving the Rockets a 5-4 lead with 2:29 remaining.
“Coach set up the plan,” said Stone, who was originally credited with the goal before it was awarded to Taylor. “I won the faceoff and sent it back. We just executed. It felt great.
“I actually got the first tip and Hayden got the second tip. He’s a freshman and got a goal in his first game.”
R-P goalie Mark Stewart. Photo/Joe Lane
Langlois gave full credit to his players for following the play that was drawn up by the assistant coaches.
“They hit it to a T,” the coach said. “Nothing ever works out like that, but they executed perfectly, and it was amazing.”
An empty net goal by junior Cole VanDyke with 8.5 seconds remaining sealed the 6-4 victory.
When the game started, it appeared the Rockets were picking right up where they left off after going 19-6-1 last year.
R-P sophomore Connor Anderson got the scoring started just 2:51 into the game.
The Rockets celebrate a goal. Photo/Joe Lane
Just three minutes later, senior Croix Klint scored an unassisted goal to give Reeths-Puffer a 2-0 lead.
Grand Rapids Christian quickly got back into the game, however, scoring two goals and tying the score within the first two minutes of the second period.
Klint gave the Rockets a 3-2 lead with a goal just 13 seconds after Grand Rapids Christian had tied the game.
At the 9:08 mark of the second period, Eli Cuti extended the lead to 4-2 when he netted a goal with an assist from Taylor.
R-P's Dewey Modoff (11) clears the puck out of the zone. Photo/Joe Lane
Grand Rapids Christian closed the period out with two goals to make the score 4-4 headed into the third.
Nobody found the net down the stretch until the Rockets’ final two goals in the closing minutes.
The Rockets will now be off until Nov. 29 when they travel to face Holland West Ottawa.
“We’ve only had five days (of practice),” said Langlois about the quick first game on the schedule before a two-week break. “It’s not a lot of time to build culture and systems.
“We’re definitely going to do that and slow things down a little bit. We’ll try to iron out the details and we’ll take the couple weeks to rest and learn.”
