Prior to the Swartz Creek-Goodrich hockey game Feb. 1, the Dragons took the time to lend a helping hand to the Martians.
Members of the Swartz Creek hockey team presented an American flag to Goodrich hockey players Max Hawkins, Zack Pernack, Reece Geml and Sean Rollins in memory of Kayla O’Mara, the Goodrich High School junior who died Jan. 24 in a car accident.
The four Martians then held the flag up while the national anthem played, and a moment of silence was observed for O’Mara, her twin sister Kaitlin and friend Danielle Bila.
Kaitlin O’Mara and Bila were in the same car as Kayla at the time of the accident, and remain hospitalized as of press time.
‘They said a real nice dedication for them ? it impressed me,? Goodrich coach Doug Van Kuren said.
Van Kuren also said the flag will remain hanging at Ice Mountain Sports Complex (home of the Martians), and he expects there will be a memorial plaque or something similar to commemorate the flag dedication,
In the subsequent game, the Martians fell to the Dragons 3-2 after leading 2-0 in the first period.
Pernack scored the first goal of the game with 9:41 left in the first period, on assists from Tom Ferreri and Derek James. Ferreri then put the Martians up 2-0 with 2:16 left in the first, scoring on assists from Pernack and Brennen Benedict.
However, the Dragons? Jordan Phillips scored a goal just before the end of the first period to put Swartz Creek within one goal, 2-1. Phillips and Kevin Lane then each scored a goal in the second period to put Swartz Creek in the lead for good.
The Dragons outshot the Martians in the game 39-14.
Goodrich bounced back to defeat Genesee Area Conference rival LakeVille 7-0 in a Feb. 4 game.