Bolstered by a four-goal second period, the Goodrich hockey team soundly defeated visiting Swartz Creek 7-3 in their Dec. 12 contest.
Max Hawkins and Matt Hill each notched a hat trick in the victory, as the Martians improved their season mark to 5-2.
Swartz Creek started the game’s scoring with 11:56 left in the first period, as Kyle Lane found the net on assists from Nick Moore and Aaron Taylor. They added another goal with 10:42 left, as Jim Gilmer scored on an assist from Robby Metcalf.
The Martians answered with 3:52 remaining, as Hawkins lit the lamp on an assist from Lance Keene, pulling the Martians to within one, 2-1, at the end of the first period.
In a game shortened to two periods, the visiting Martians defeated Lake Fenton 10-0 in a Dec. 10 contest.
Goodrich tied the contest at two with 11:20 left in the second period, as Hill scored an unassisted goal. Swartz Creek briefly reclaimed the lead with 10:32 left in the second, as Bryan Seeley scored on an assist from Taylor. However, Hill answered with another unassisted goal with 8:14 remaining to tie things at three.
The Martians would take the lead for good with 6:37 left in the second, as Hawkins scored his second goal of the game on assists from Steve Locke and Brian Van Kuren to put the Martians ahead 4-3. Goodrich added another goal with 2:21 left as Hawkins completed his hat trick with assists from Hill and Van Kuren.
Hill completed his hat trick at the beginning of the third period, connecting 19 seconds into the period on an assist from Van Kuren. Derek James wrapped up the Martians? scoring with 6.8 seconds left on an assist from Derec Powers.
Brad Smith recorded the win in net for the Martians.
The Martians kept up the offensive assault throughout the contest, notching 40 shots on goal (including 20 during the fateful second period), compared to 28 for Swartz Creek.
Two days earlier, the Martians scored five goals each in the first and second periods in a 10-0 rout of Lake Fenton that was stopped after the second period.
The Martians scored five goals each in the first and second periods before the game was halted. Goodrich’s first-period goals were as follows: Nick Meyers at 14:23 on assists from Keene and Scott Hollingsworth; Hawkins at 14:13 on an assist from Hill; Keene at 12:11 on assists from Dan Daugherty and Sean Brigham; Ryan Mortimer at 10:38 on assists from Keene and Phil Holloway; and Hawkins at 2:47 on assists from Van Kuren and Hollingsworth.
Goodrich’s second-period goals came in this order: Reece Geml at 13:35, unassisted; Mortimer at 11:26 on an assist from Hill; Van Kuren at 7:25 on an assist from Hawkins; Keene at 2:33 on an assist from Mike Palmer; and Steve Tangney at 20 seconds on assists from Zach Pernack and Geml.
Goodrich returns to action Jan. 2 when they host Lapeer West at 6 p.m.