Goodrich’s varsity hockey team couldn’t quite figure out a way to defeat both Lapeer-area high school hockey teams.
The Lapeer West Panthers of the Flint Metro League eliminated the Martians with a 5-3 victory in Division 3 pre-regional playoff hockey action Mar. 1 at Ice Mountain Sports Complex in Burton.
The Panthers (10-15) advanced to take on the winner of the Mar. 2 Brandon-Lake Fenton game in regional action Saturday, Mar. 4 at Hartland. Meanwhile, the Martians finished their season with a record of 13-9-4.
Max Hawkins, Reece Geml and Derek James scored for the Martians in a losing cause.
Two days earlier, Goodrich’s win against Lapeer East in Division 3 pre-regional hockey action Feb. 27 was full of the elements associated with Stanley Cup playoff hockey.
There were rabid fans on both sides, as well as tight checking, quality goaltending, hitting, penalty killing, and low scoring ? entering the third period, with the game tied at one, it was likely the next goal scored would decide the game.
Goodrich junior Mitch Milke made sure that goal went in the Martians? favor. Milke took a rebound and flipped it past the right side of Lapeer East goaltender Robert Cavanaugh with 4:26 left in the third period, giving the Martians the decisive goal in their 2-1 win against the Eagles at Ice Mountain Sports Arena.
Lapeer East finished their season with a record of 9-13-4.
The game started out the Eagles? way, though, as Kraig Hizelberger scored an unassisted goal with 12:59 left in the first period to put Lapeer East up 1-0. However, Hawkins silenced the Lapeer East faithful with a goal of his own 44 seconds later to tie the contest.
Then the defenses took control of the contest. Both teams? penalty-killing units kept busy, as Goodrich went on the power play four times during the game, while Lapeer East had two power plays. However, neither team was able to capitalize when they had the man advantage.
The game stayed tied entering the third period. After the Martians staved off a Lapeer East power play with 8:37 left in the third, nothing of consequence happened until Milke’s game-winning goal.
With the Martians leading 2-1 in the waning moments of the game, the Eagles tried their best to force overtime. Lapeer East coach Bob Keast pulled Cavanaugh with about two minutes left in favor of the extra attacker, but the Eagles were unable to put the puck past Goodrich senior goalie Brad Smith.
Smith stepped up his game against the Eagles, stopping 23-of-24 shots (95.8 percent), while Cavanaugh stopped 18-of-20 shots (90 percent) in goal for the Eagles.
Goodrich wrapped up their regular season with a 5-2 win against Bloomfield at the Detroit Skating Club Feb. 25. The Martians scored two goals in the first period and two within the first two minutes of the second period to take command of the game.
Milke scored two goals for the Martians, while junior Brennen Benedict had one goal and two assists and Hawkins one goal and one assist. Freshman Tom Ferreri scored the Martians? other goal, while senior Steve Tangney and junior Zack Pernack each had an assist in the contest.