In a nip-and-tuck game Jan. 20, the Goodrich hockey team eventually tied the Clio Mustangs at two goals apiece.
Max Hawkins had a goal and an assist for the Martians, while Reece Geml had two assists. The Martians are now 5-4-3 overall and 2-1-1 in Genesee Area Conference play.
Clio’s Chris Payer started off the game’s scoring by connecting on an assist from Jonas Aaboe with 8:36 left in the first period.
The Martians answered with 7:37 left in the second period, as Hawkins scored on an assist from Geml to tie the game at one.
Goodrich then took advantage of a tripping penalty called against Clio’s Chris Schultz with 4:19 left in the second. Mitch Milke capitalized on the Clio penalty, scoring a power-play goal (assisted by Geml and Hawkins) with 3:42 left in the second to put Goodrich up 2-1.
However, with 24 seconds left in the second period, the Mustangs countered with a goal by Joe Berry to knot the contest once again at two. Neither team scored in the third period.
A total of eight penalties were called in the game, five against Clio and three against Goodrich.
In a battle of undefeated GAC teams, it was the visiting Durand Railroaders that came out ahead by a 3-1 score against the Martians in a Jan. 18 contest. Durand avenged a loss to Goodrich in first-round playoff action last year.
The game was scoreless and penalty-free through the first period. In the second period, however, Goodrich’s Milke was called for interference with 8:43 left Milke was called for interference with 9:41 remaining in the period. Durand captain Dane Atkinson then scored on an assist from Brent Wooton with 8:43 left to give the Railroaders a 1-0 lead.
Goodrich’s Tom Ferreri then tied things up at one apiece with 8:06 left, scoring on assists from Brennen Benedict and Steven Tangney. However, Durand’s Jack Vasicek scored with 1:17 left in the second to put the Railroaders back up 2-1.
In the third period, Durand’s Cameron Beckner added an insurance goal with 13:48 remaining to provide the Railroaders with their final margin of victory.