Mona Shores ends hockey skid at the expense of the Reeths-Puffer Rockets, 6-3

By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON – No matter who has the better record or who is playing their best hockey at the moment doesn’t matter when it comes to the rivalry between the Mona Shores and Reeths-Puffer hockey squads.

The Sailors entered Wednesday night’s contest at Trinity Health Arena with their rival in the midst of a four-game losing streak and a disappointing 3-7 overall record.

The Rockets have had some more positive results this season with a 6-5 overall record and came into the contest with a two-game winning streak.

Mona Shores did not let its current struggles determine the outcome of the game as the Sailors scored the first four goals of the contest in a 6-3 win over the Rockets.

Eli Habetler scores a power-play goal from the high slot. Photo/Eric Sturr

The Sailors are now 4-7 on the season and will play their next game Jan. 5 in the Stan Konrad Memorial Showcase, while Reeths-Puffer falls to 6-6 and will host Kenowa Hills on Jan. 5.

“It’s always a big game and it doesn’t matter who has the better record when these two teams play,” said Sailor coach Chris Benedict. “It’s a rivalry game and these are high school kids who want to beat their buddies or kids they have played against growing up.”

The Sailors jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the opening period of play.

Reeths Puffer’s Jaxon Stone attempts the backhand wrap-around, and the puck barely stays out. Photo/Eric Sturr

Zach Leibrandt opened the scoring 10:12 into the stanza with the first of four power-play goals for Mona Shores. The Sailors increased their lead to 2-0 with another power-play goal 15:40 into the period from Eli Habetler, then Ethan Ring found the back of the net with 31 seconds remaining in the first period.

Mona Shores added an early second-period goal from Quinn Addicott 1:28 in to increase its lead to 4-0.

“Hockey is a funny game,” Benedict said. “You can say you want to get off to a fast lead and it doesn’t always go that way. We have had a tough time starting off slow during the early part of the season.”

The Rockets mounted a little bit of a comeback, scoring 9:20 into the middle period on a goal from Tyler Tindall, then adding another tally at the 10:31 mark by Eli Cuti to cut the deficit in half.

Ring responded for the Sailors with a late second-period goal at the 15:18 mark to give Mona Shores a 5-2 lead heading into the third stanza.

The Rockets attempted to get back into the contest after Jaxson Stone connected with a goal 8:05 into the third period to cut the deficit to a 5-3 margin.

The Sailors closed out the scoring 9:38 into the third period with a power play tally from Habetler.

Mona Shores went 4-for-6 on its power play to propel the squad to victory.

“We have two really good power-play units,” Benedict said. “The top unit was really clicking tonight, and it really paid off from them being patient with the puck.”

Reeths Puffer’s Connor Stawski pokes the puck from Mona Shores’ Eli Habetler. Photo/Eric Sturr

Mona Shores’ Nathan Tilden provides the screen and the leg-lift as Eli Habetler’s shot scores – just above goalie Mark Steward’s right leg pad. Photo/Eric Sturr