This weekend, the Varsity Hockey team suffered its first loss of the 2022 calendar year to a well balanced west side Grandville HS squad, 8-4. Grandville jumped out to a 2 goal lead in a ferocious first seven minutes of the opening period. Lakeland finally scored on their first shot of the night when Mitchell Bellar made a deft pass to senior Spencer Pickett who directed the puck past Grandville goalie Anne Beck. The Bulldogs quickly built their lead back to two goals just two minutes later.

Lakeland cleared their heads between periods to score two goals in the second period: Fisher Christian (Luke Weinberger and Caden Pierson) and Kyle Sierota (Picket and Weinberger). But the unrelenting Bulldogs netted three to pad a 6-3 lead after two.

Weinberger capped off his three point night (assists to Bellar and Robby Lewis) for the lone Eagles goal in the third.

Assistant Coach Matt McElwee on the loss: “We ran into a buzz saw of a team tonight. Grandville never stopped with or without the puck. One small mistake or missed assignment and it’s a scoring chance for them. Paul Baker just kept our head above water against their 50 or so shots but it wasn’t our night for a W that’s for sure. We can do better.”

Lakeland meets Fenton/Linden next Wednesday at the Hartland Bounce House.