MUSKEGON — Reeths-Puffer took it in stride when it received the news that Sparta would be awarded the O-K Fischer Conference title, despite the Rockets and Spartans tying atop the standings, due to a goal differential tiebreaker.
“We said, ‘They took the conference, so we’re just going to take the mitten,’ smiled senior Jaxon Stone, referring to the regional trophy the Rockets earned by dominating Sparta 6-2 Wednesday night in the finals.
R-P decisively took that mitten, scoring the team’s 12th straight win to earn a spot in Saturday’s quarterfinal game at Ferris State against the Forest Hills Northern/Eastern co-op team.
The Rockets’ offense has been at a new level in that span, scoring five or more goals in seven of those 12 victories.
Stone is the leader, currently owning a team-high 25 goals, as well as 29 assists, which ranks second. He put in a key score late in the game to ensure the Rockets’ win. He was far from alone; five different Rockets scored, with Tyler Tindall doing so twice.
Coach Dustin Langlois said the team’s skill in puck possession has been a major factor in its success. Over the course of the season, R-P’s shot totals relative to its opponents have steadily increased.
“The main thing for us is just to generate shots,” Langlois said. “Obviously the more time you’re in their zone, the less time they’re in yours. It’s just getting pucks in deep and going to work, and these boys have been working. We’ve been focusing more on blocking shots too, trying not to (allow) as much to the net. Especially in playoff hockey, you have to block shots, and that’s going to be the edge that gets you over the top.”
However, defense is important too, and Langlois credited Huck VanDyke with another stellar performance in net. Sparta’s two goals marked only the fifth time this season it’s been held under three, and it entered Wednesday on an 11-game winning streak.
“That’s a good team over there,” Langlois said. “They’re a bunch of workers. Those kids never give up, and we knew that they were never going to give up that whole time.
“We watched a lot of their game film from when we played previously and just nitpicked it. We have such a smart group of guys that they pick up anything that we show them.”
