All the Reeths-Puffer hockey team can do is keep winning and hope for a little help in the conference championship race.
The Rockets remained hot on Wednesday with an impressive 8-0 victory over East Kentwood on Senior Night at Muskegon’s Trinity Health Arena.
The win was their eighth in the last nine games, and the other outcome during that period was a tie. They have not lost a game since Jan. 7.
The Rockets are now 18-5-1 overall and 7-2 in conference play. They are tied with Hudsonville for first place in the O-K Conference Fischer Division with 14 points apiece.
R-P has one regular season game remaining, a conference clash with Grand Rapids Northview on Feb. 17, while Hudsonville has two conference games remaining, against Grand Haven and Caledonia.
The Rockets celebrate a goal on Senior Night. Photo/Joe Lane
The Rockets need to beat Northville and hope Hudsonville loses at least of its two remaining games to claim at least a share of the division title.
After playing so well for the past few months, a championship would mean a lot to the team, according to R-P head coach Ryan Martin.
"We definitely have a chance to win a conference championship here, and that was one of the goals we set at the beginning of the season,” Martin said. “Right now we need to beat Northview and hope for a little help and for someone to beat Hudsonville. From there we would head to some tiebreaker scenarios. We are excited to see how the regular season plays out and to be in the thick of the conference race."
The Rockets took control against East Kentwood very early, scoring six goals in the first period.
R-P's Jaxon Stone (13) battles for position with an opponent. Photo/Joe Lane
Tyler Tindall found the net twice while Avery Freeland, Croix Klint, Eli Cuti and Kaeden Benner added single goals.
Isaiah Winters and Freeland added goals in the second period, then Sean Gieske capped off the scoring with his first career varsity goal.
Goalie Tanner Bonjernoor got the shutout with 10 saves.
"It was awesome to see the boys play so hard for the seniors and to support them like that in their last home game,” Coach Martin said. “Several seniors tallied points tonight, including Gieske getting his first career varsity goal in his last home game. I am really proud of the way these guys play for one another and celebrate each other's accomplishments."
