The Reeths-Puffer hockey team battled hard on Wednesday but lost its first game of the season, 4-3, to Hudsonville on the road.
The Rockets were supposed to open the season last Friday, but the game was postponed due to weather. Hudsonville was playing the third game of its schedule.
Penalties hurt the Rockets, particularly in the second period, when Hudsonville scored two power play goals with a 5-on-3 skater advantage two different times.
Jaxon Stone, a Fruitport student and new member of the R-P squad, scored his first goal of the season, along with Tyle Tindall and Bucky Martin. Freshman Eli Cuti, another Fruitport Rocket, had two assists.
R-P goalie Tanner Bonjernoor had a busy night, recording 34 saves.
“I thought we looked tight and nervous or overly excited at the start,” said R-P head coach Ryan Martin. “Once we settled in, we played well considering we were playing our first game of the season and they were playing their third.
” However, there is no excuse for our lack of discipline in the second period and it cost us the game. This is our first game. We will shake it off and battle back.”
