Reeths-Puffer got off to a hot start last season before struggling down the stretch and finishing 13-13-1 - but with most of its top scorers back, hopes are high as this season approaches the opening face-off.
The Rockets bring back their top four goal scorers from a year ago - Hayden Taylor, Jordan Benkert, Tyler Cuti and Dom Switzer. Offense, said coach Bill Zalba, shouldn't be a problem, as long as the forwards work together.
"Everyone wants to score goals, but we have some unselfish players," Zalba said. "Our guys understand that and have the understanding that it's a 'we' thing and not a 'me' hing. As long as they have that mentality, we'll put a lot of pucks in the net."
R-P does welcome some impressive up-and-comers to the roster as well, including sophomore Olsen Stone, whose older brother Jaxon previously starred for the Rockets. His production should soften the blow of the departure of Eli Cuti, Tyler's brother and the Rockets' top graduated scorer from last season.
Another young player to watch for is Montague student Michael Flanagan, a sophomore who was earning ice time last year before suffering an injury that knocked him out for much of the season. He's slated for a role on the top three lines, Zalba said.
"He's almost like a grown man now and it'll be fun to see him jump in," Zalba said.
Freshman Calvin Peterson is another young icer who should contribute. The biggest star among the younger players, though, might be the one in net. Bear VanDyke, who started in goal much of last year as a freshman, elected to play elsewhere this year, and an open competition for the goaltender position resulted in sophomore Kaleb Norris winning the job. Norris is an Oakridge student, and that school was added to R-P's co-op umbrella this year.
"He's super poised in the net," Zalba said. "He's a quiet kid, quiet demeanor, but he plays the position well. He played with us this summer and then through the fall, he was playing well too. He's a sound goaltender with great fundamentals and a great head on his shoulders."
The Rockets certainly have the experience and the statistical bona fides to consider themselves a conference and regional contender. They might also have some extra motivation; last year, they dropped the regional championship game to rival Mona Shores, which went on to play a double-overtime classic with Caledonia in the quarterfinals.
While R-P doesn't waste much time looking "in the rear view mirror," Zalba said, if drawing on the memory of that setback fires the team up to practice harder and dig deep during a game, all the better. The Rockets will get their chance at some sense of revenge Dec. 30 when they play Shores at the Lakeshore Sports Centre.
"You never want to lose (in the playoffs)," Zalba said. "You want to go as far as you can, but when you lose to our crosstown rival it burns a little more. Those are things we talk about where you take what you can and learn from those situations and apply it going forward."
Last season's O-K Fischer Conference race featured a good deal of parity, with R-P finishing fourth behind a closely bunched trio of Grandville, West Ottawa and Shores. Zalba expects more of the same this fall, and with strong offensive players, the Rockets should be among the less welcome sights on opponents' schedules.
"We have a good balance of underclassmen and upperclassmen, and this year, those freshman and sophomore kids are going to push our upperclassmen to keep and earn the ice time they'll get," Zalba said. "The enthusiasm and coachability has been great so far. Our practices have been high tempo, and the compete level has been great. It'll be a fun year with those kids."
