A really bad third period abruptly ended the Reeths-Puffer hockey team’s four-game winning streak on Saturday.
The Rockets pulled ahead of Chippewa Valley United 4-3 early in the third, but then gave up four straight goals and ended up falling 7-4 in the last of their two weekend games at the Bay City Showcase.
The loss ruined an otherwise great day for Reeths-Puffer’s Hayden Taylor, who recorded a three-goal hat trick and increased his season goal total to eight.
R-P fell to 5-4-1 on the season.
R-P's Hayden Taylor, who scored a hat trick.
The Rockets got off to a great start, collecting goals from Dom Switzer and Taylor within the first seven minutes of the game to take a 2-0 lead.
Chippewa Valley answered with two of its own, however, and the score was tied 2-2 headed into the second period.
The opponents scored the first goal of the second to go up 3-2, then Taylor struck again for R-P, leaving the score 3-3 at the second break.
Taylor’s third goal, less than two minutes into the third period, put the Rockets up 4-3, but then the roof caved in, with Chippewa Valley finding the net four times to steal the win.
The Rockets will host East Kentwood on Wednesday at Muskegon’s Trinity Health Arena.