Jordan Benkert scored a dramatic goal with 2:36 left in overtime on Saturday, giving the Reeths-Puffer hockey team an exciting 3-2 victory over the Bay Reps in its final game of the two-day Traverse City Showcase.
The victory was the first for the Rockets in four games, and capped a successful weekend with featured one win and one tie.
R-P is now 2-3-1 on the season.
The Rockets had to rally to beat the Bay Reps, a combined team of players from several high schools in the Traverse City area.
Jordan Benkert
They trailed 2-0 after one period, following two goals within one minute by the Bay Reps’ Colton Davidson and Josh Collins.
R-P evened the score in the second period. Dom Switzer started the rally when he picked off a pass and scoring on a hard shot that went off the goalie’s shoulder and into the net at the 16:12 mark.
Hayden Taylor tied the game at 2-2 with his fourth goal of the season a few minutes later, with an assist from Connor Anderson.
The third period was scoreless, leading to Benkert’s game-winning goal in overtime, which was assisted by Chase Strunk and Michael Flanagan.
The Rockets won despite being outshot 28-18. R-P goalie Bear VanDyke turned in a strong performance, stopping 26 shots.
Bear VanDyke
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R-P started the weekend by battling to a 2-2 tie with Gabriel Richard on Friday, breaking a three-game losing streak in the process.
The Rockets had to battle from behind, just like they did on Saturday. All of the scoring came in the second period.
Gabriel Richard took a 2-0 lead on a pair of power play goals from Mason Eshelman and Austin Owens. R-P answered quickly, however, with shorthanded goals by Strunk and Benkert.
The third period and overtime session were scoreless.
VanDyke was a big star of Friday’s game, stopping 29 of 31 shots. The Rockets were outshot 31-13.
Chase Strunk
“I was very pleased with the attention to detail and the compete in the guys this weekend,” said R-P head coach Bill Zalba. “We used the past few tough losses as fuel and are learning from our mistakes.
“On a Thanksgiving weekend, I am very thankful for this group of young men, and I’m excited to get back to work with them on Monday.”
The Rockets will host the Kalamazoo Eagles on Wednesday at Trinity Health Arena, then will play Grand Haven on Friday at Lakeshore Sports Centre.