The Varsity Hockey team met its first LVC opponent on Saturday night in front of opposing raucous student sections. The Eagles took the ice undefeated and resplendent in their new away gray jerseys. The challenge: take back the Bogie Lake Cup the Walled Lake Northern Knights seized from Lakeland in a dramatic OT win last season.

Coach Ronayne on the weight of the game: “It’s Northern. The kids all know each other, played travel hockey together, and are one of our top rivals. They are well coached and have 9 or 10 seniors with solid goaltending. We’re talking serious players who can score before you know what hit you.”

And that’s just what happened four minutes into the game when WLN’s Andrew Evans lit the lamp and the Northern crowd to put the Eagles in a 1-0 hole. But the Eagles answered. Late in the period, junior Elliot Smith fed the puck to junior Brennan Grant. Grant delayed along the boards as senior Luke Weinberger made his way to the net. Grant lanced the puck in and Weinberger showed backhand but went forehand tying the game 1-1 after one.

The second period featured three Eagles goals. Sophomore Joel Slicker deftly banked in his second goal of the season from under the goal line (assist Nate Behmlander) off of a Northern defender’s shin guard. Lakeland’s powerplay let loose scoring the next three goals. Junior Timmy Hinkle helped kick off the scoring doing what he’s been doing all season – rushing the puck deep into the offensive zone and feeding a teammate. Tonight it was Weinberger’s turn at the table converting Hinkle’s centering pass past the WLN goalie on the ice from the slot. Northern got themselves deeper into trouble allowing the Eagles a two man advantage. The Eagles peppered the Knights with nine consecutive shots that were all turned back. But as in NHL, the continuous barrage of shots paid off and sophomore Ryan Danielson put away the 10th shot of the powerplay to put Lakeland up by three at the end of the period.

In the third period Northern scored to come within two until Danielson drilled his second pp goal of the night (assist Grant) from the right circle to put the game out of reach 5-2.

Junior goalie Paul Baker was solid in net to gain his 2nd win of the season turning back 24 of 26 shots. Baker on the impact of the hometown crowd: “Having large support like we did really helps fire up the boys. Always easier to play when you know you have your school supporting you.”

Up next for the Eagles – a huge test against Walled Lake Western/Pinckney Unified on Friday night 8:20 pm LIA.