MUSKEGON — Reeths-Puffer narrowly missed a couple of scoring
chances early and could never bounce back from an early deficit
Wednesday night in a 4-0 regional final defeat to Traverse City Central.
The Rockets (16-8-2) were shut out for the first time all season.
Traverse
City Central started the game playing with great physicality and speed
and never let off the gas, creating early scoring chances. Reeths-Puffer
didn't have as many opportunities early, but came very close to scoring
a couple of times, falling just one connection or rebound short of an
easy goal.
Reeths-Puffer's Tyler Tindall takes a big hit from Traverse City Central's Cash Drew Zrimec during Wednesday's regional finals game. TCC won, 4-0.
TCC began to wear down the Rockets' defense later
in the first period and scored twice - once on a slap shot by Cole
Herzberg and the second on a rebound goal from Andrew Beattie. The
Trojans further stepped up the attack in the second period, though they
didn't score in those 17 minutes.
The Rockets were 0-for-2 on
the power play in the first two periods, while Traverse City Central did
not gain a man advantage until very late in the second period.
TCC added two more goals in the third period, one of them an empty-net tally in the final minutes.
R-P
graduates a slew of top players from the team, including top scorer
Ayden Hartzell, Trenton Hanks, Tyler Tindall, captain Connor Anderson
and Montague student Bucky Aney.
