The East Grand Rapids Pioneers took to the ice Saturday afternoon to face the Eagles of Grand Rapids Christian at Patterson Ice Center in what could be billed as a “homecoming” game for both teams. Several of the Pioneers and Eagles were teammates over the course of many seasons of playing hockey through EGRAHA, so each team knew the other well. Just as on the ice, the stands were filled with parents from each team who have developed good friendships as the result of their sons’ earlier hockey playing years.
The game did not start well for the Pioneers, as Grand Rapids Christian struck first just over six minutes into the game as forward Alex Huizenga ripped one home to put the Eagles up 1-0. Jack Markosky picked up an assist on the goal. GR Christian got on the board again about three minutes later as sophomore Ryan Betts fired one past the EGR goaltender, with assists handed out to Ben Hopp and Ty Boyd on the play. Just halfway into the first period, the Pioneers suddenly found themselves down 2-0, and in desperate need of a goal. With about six minutes to play in the first period, the Eagles found themselves short-handed as the result of the first of eight penalties they would commit for the game, and the Pioneers would capitalize. Captain Jake Coretti found the back of the net on the power play, with help from Josh Keller and Corey Turner, to cut GR Christian’s lead to 2-1. Unfortunately, any momentum that East Grand Rapids picked up was quickly erased as the Eagles answered just a minute and a half later with Alex Huizenga picking up his second goal of the game with an assist going to Kirk Groenenboom. Facing their second two-goal deficit of the game, EGR got a crucial goal with just over a minute remaining in the period, as Travis Baranoski ripped a top-shelf goal past the Eagles’ goalie to pull the Pioneers to 3-2 and to gain some momentum back heading into the second period. Charlie Tyson picked up an assist on the goal.
The second period turned out to be a penalty-filled one, with GR Christian committing four infractions and East Grand Rapids committing two. The rash of penalties by the Eagles finally caught up to them, as the Pioneers converted their second power play of the game to tie the score 3-3 with about four minutes to play in the period. Senior Danny Chappell knocked home a rebound, with assists going to Josh Keller (his second of the game) and Austin DeMull. Neither team would score to close out period two, so the teams headed into the final 17-minutes all tied up.
The Pioneers came out strong to start the third period, knowing that whichever team could score the next goal would take a huge step towards pulling out a victory. The drama did not last long, as East Grand Rapids would pick up that vital goal less than two minutes into the period. Corey Turner notched his first career goal, and the eventual game-winner, with a fine effort to get the puck past the Eagles’ netminder, as Alex Thoits and Danny Chappell picked up assists on the play. With the Pioneers up 4-3, the Eagles were whistled for their seventh penalty of the game with about twelve minutes to play, giving EGR a chance to add to its narrow lead. Once again, the Pioneers capitalized, scoring its third power play goal of the day, with Jake Coretti picking up his second goal of the game, with Corey Turner picking up his second assist to give him three points for the contest. When the final horn sounded, East Grand Rapids skated away with a hard-fought 5-3 victory.
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