Big Rapids 5 Grandville 3

Big Rapids comes away with a win against a tough Grandville team 5 to 3. Big Rapids started the scoring early (less than a minute into the game) on a goal by Mike Hickson with the assist going to Billy Clark and Tom Hancock. As was with much of the game, Grandville answered, scoring on a power play goal from the blue line by Brenden Giffel to knot the game at 1 to 1. The first period saw two more goals by Big Rapids and one by Grandville. Big Rapids scored on a top shelf laser shot from Paul Goggins with the assist going to Jordan Defever, which again was answered by Grandville's Ian Straayer to even the score at 2 to 2 . Later in the period Big Rapids went back to work, this time scoring on a 4 on 4 goal by Hickson with a beauty of an assist going to Hancock.

Neither team carried the play in the first, though Grandville had 3 power play opportunities and after one period it was BR 3 GV 2. The second period was not spectacular by any means, as each team only had 4 shots on goal. Grandville opened the scoring in the 2nd on a shot that was deflected by a Cardinal defensive player to again even the score, but Big Rapids' Billy Clark scored the eventual game winner on a shot from the high slot , and after 2 periods, the Cardinals were up 4-3.

In the third period both teams looked to their Captains, with Grandvilles' Andy Grypma and Straayer carrying much of the play and Big Rapids ' captain Nick Goodfellow showing his team a physical style of play. The period produced 10 shots for each team, 4 power play shots from Grandville late in the game and two power play shots for Big Rapids, however each team could not capitalize until Big Rapids' Brandon Madaj scored an empty net goal with the assist again going to Hancock. Eric Saum was in net for the Cardinals and made 21 saves on the night to preserve a 5 to 3 win. Sophomores Hancock and Hickson both hit scoring marks during this game, Hickson got his 10 goal of the year and Hancock hit the 15 assist plateau. Big Rapids is in action next weekend against Cadillac and the Traverse City Bay Reps, while Grandville is set to battle East Grand Rapids.