Hard-working Reeths-Puffer captures Division 1 hockey regional title, defeats Sparta, 6-2

 

When a regional title is on the line, the team that wants it the most has a distinct advantage.

Reeths-Puffer hockey had that and more on Wednesday night when it topped Sparta 6-2 for the school’s first Division 1 regional championship since 2020.

The Rockets started out with a 1-0 lead on an Eli Cuti goal that was assisted by Jaxon Stone. 

But back-to-back penalties put Reeths-Puffer at a 5-on-3 disadvantage and Sparta capitalized with five minutes left in the opening period.

“Obviously, emotions are high,” said Reeths-Puffer Coach Dustin Langlois about the early infractions. “We told them we wanted them to be physical, you have to play physical, we want them (Sparta) to be scared to touch the puck, but you gotta do it appropriately. So we told them intensity is good but we have to calm down and keep our emotions in check.” 

The costly penalties were enough to wake up the Rockets to play penalty-free hockey the rest of the evening. 

“We just had to settle down, gotta stay in the right mind,” said Reeths-Puffer senior Stone. “We had a lead and we don’t want to get rid of that and just be smart and keep working for it.”

Tyler Tindall lifted the Rockets back on top with 32 seconds left in the first period on a hard-working goal. Tindall split two Spartan defenders, fell to his knees, but was able to flip his shot into the net for a 2-1 lead. 

“That’s Tyler Tindall for you,” said Langlois about Tindall’s goal. “That kid does not give up, he’s probably one of the hardest workers we have, he’s just a classy individual.”

Reeths-Puffer’s momentum was short lived as Sparta opened the second period with a goal to tie it at 2-all.

Connor Stawski put the Rockets back on top, and this time for good, with a power-play goal on a shot from the top left near the blue line. 

Reeths-Puffer took a 4-2 lead on a one-timer from Dewey Modaff with four minutes left in the period. 

The third period was all Reeths-Puffer as the Rockets tallied goals from Jaxon Stone and Tindall to close out the night. 

“I was just trying to get a shot on goal and make that lead bigger,” said Stone about his tally. “Once I scored, I just cellied with my boys, it’s just amazing.”

Huck VanDyke played a stellar game in goal for Reeths-Puffer with 21 saves. The sophomore netminder did his best work with saves through heavy traffic in front of the net.

“You’re not going to stop them all, but Huck, He’s been lights out the last couple games for us,” said Langlois. “This building is very difficult to see, the puck blends in with the seats and t-shirts, it’s very dark, and once it gets above the boards, it’s tough for goal tenders to see. Huck made all the right stops tonight.”

Reeths-Puffer’s Croix Klint finished with three assists on the night, while Connor Anderson had two assists. 

“It’s absolutely amazing, these guys put in the work. They focus and you couldn’t ask for a better group of kids,” said Langlois. “They put all the weight on their shoulders. They all talked to each other and it was minimum coaching by us, this win is all on them. They wanted it.”

The Rockets (19-7) advance to Saturday’s 2 p.m. quarterfinal matchup against Forest Hills Eastern at Ferris State University.