The VanDyke who’s playing goalie has changed, but it looks like the results may be pretty similar for the Reeths-Puffer hockey team.
Last season the Rockets won on a lot of games with Huck VanDyke in net. He moved on to play travel hockey this year, but his younger brother, freshman Bear VanDyke, stepped in to take his place.
The new kid got off to a great start on Friday, stopping 35 of 37 shots to lead Reeths-Puffer to a season-opening 5-2 victory over Rockford at Griff’s Icehouse in Grand Rapids.
Another brother connection – senior Eli Cuti and junior Tyler Cuti – also played a big role in the win, scoring two goals apiece to pace the R-P offense. Junior Rohan Moyer, playing his first game for the Rockets, piled up three assists.
R-P goalie Bear VanDyke
“From start to finish, Bear was the best player on the ice,” said R-P head coach Bill Zalba about his new goalie. “He looked calm and cool and collected throughout.”
The Rockets scored twice in the first period. Eli Cuti scored a power play goal at the 5:08 mark, then Tyler Cuti added a tally at 9:31, with an assist from Moyer.
Eli Cuti found the mark again at 9:25 of the second period, with an assist from Hayden Taylor.
Tyler Cuti matched his brother again with a shorthanded goal at 11:23 of the second period, with another assist from Moyer.
R-P’s last goal came in the closing minutes of the game when Taylor scored an empty-netter with an assist from Moyer.
The Rockets will try to make it two wins in a row when they host Troy United on Saturday at noon at Muskegon’s Trinity Health Arena.