Everyone expected Reeths-Puffer's Tyler Tindall to score a lot of goals this season, and he’s already living up to expectations.
The senior forward, who totaled 17 goals last season, put three in the net on Tuesday to lead the R-P hockey team to an exciting 7-5 comeback victory over Grand Rapids Christian in the first game of the season.
The Rockets trailed by two goals after the first and second periods, then stole the victory with four unanswered goals in the third.
Tindall led the final rally by scoring two of his three goals in the final period.
Eli Cuti also had a productive night for R-P with one goal and two assists.
R-P's Tyler Tindall, who had three goals and one assist.
“For our first game of the year we played well overall,” said R-P Coach Dustin Langlois. “We had some mistakes, but a new year comes with some growing pains. We are happy with the win, but we know we have to be better.”
The Rockets came out flat in the first period and trailed 2-0 at the first break.
R-P’s Tyler Cuti finally broke through with a goal early in the second period, with an assist from Gavin Pastotnik. Tindall added a goal just over a minute later to tie the game at 2-2.
Ayden Hartzell scored a power play goal for the Rockets midway through the period, with assists from Connor Anderson and Hayden Taylor, and R-P led 3-2.
Grand Rapids Christian answered with three goals, however, and skated off with a 5-3 lead headed into the third.
R-P's Eli Cuti, who had one goal and two assists.
The Rockets bounced back again down the stretch to snag the victory.
They collected goals from Tindall, Eli Cuti, Buckey Aney, and finally an open-netter by Tindall to close out the scoring.
Eli Cuti had two assists in the third period while Tindall, Taylor and Trenton Hanks each had one.
R-P goalie Huck VanDyke collected the win.
The Rockets will play another road game on Friday against Sparta.
“They are going to be a tough opponent,’ Langlois said about Sparta. “We beat them out for the regional title last year and we know they have been waiting nine months for this rematch.”