LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON — The Muskegon Lumberjacks 2022-23 hockey season still has a pulse.

For the past month, it has looked as though the Lumberjacks’ hope for making the playoffs was very dim.

But Muskegon posted one of its biggest wins of the season with its second-straight 4-2 win over Cedar Rapids at Trinity Health Arena on Saturday night. The team has now won four out of its last five games. 

The Lumberjacks posted the win on the shoulders of goalie Raythan Robbins. The recent Bemidiji State commit posted 41 saves on a monster night that also included an assist.

Muskegon has ten games left in the regular season and is now seven points behind sixth-place Cedar Rapids for the last remaining playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Muskegon’s win came on its second-straight night with a balanced offensive attack of four different players tallying goals.

Justin Solovey gave the Lumberjacks a 1-0 lead in the first period on the first of their two powerplay goals. Easton Young set up the play by weaving his way through the Rough Rider defense after being fed the puck by goalie Robbins.

Muskegon took a 2-0 lead in the second period off of its second powerplay goal, this time by Nathan McBrayer. Nicholas Rexine and Ty Henricks earned assists on the goal.

Less than a minute after a Ryan Walsh goal for Cedar Rapids midway through the second period, Muskegon erupted with back to back goals to give themselves a 4-1 lead.

Ethan Whitcomb gave Muskegon a 3-1 lead with just over eight minutes remaining in the second period. Henricks and Young both posted their second assists of the night.

A minute later, Luke Bass scored his lone goal of the night on assists from Sasha Boisvert and Ethan Whitcomb.

Cedar Rapids’ Dylan Hryckowian was able to find the net with four minutes left in the second.

Muskegon’s defense came through in the third, shutting out Cedar Rapids for the win.

The Lumberjacks are now 24-25-3 overall and have 51 points, seven behind sixth-place Cedar Rapids’ 58 points. Muskegon will next face Team USA’s U18 squad, Tuesday on the road.

Check out photos from the night shot by Sondra Workman.