February 15, 2012
It was Senior Night for 14-6 Kenowa Hills, who was playing host to the 7-13 Forest Hills Central Rangers. The home stands at the Walker Ice Arena were absolutely jam-packed, and the Ranger fans came out in pretty good numbers as well. Both fans combined into probably the biggest crowd I have seen at a high school hockey game that I have covered this season. The Knights of Kenowa Hills came into the contest a game behind East Kentwood in the OK Tier II Conference at 7-2, while FHC was just a game behind in league play sitting on a 6-3 record. The sizable crowd was in for a fantastic game, and although their overall records suggested that this should be an easy “W” for Kenowa Hills this one was anyone’s game the whole way.
The Knights couldn’t have asked for a much better start as senior Matt Neal ripped a shot past the Rangers defense just 2:05 into the game to give his club the early 1-0 lead. The goal was assisted by fellow senior Brandon Cockrill, and you got that feeling that it might be a long night for Forest Hills goalie Evan Gerondale who had just given up a goal on what was just the second shot of the game. However, Gerondale bounced back from this early setback and turned in a great performance.
For the remaining 14:55 of the first period, and the entire second, the game turned into a defensive slug-fest with both teams goaltenders coming through time and time again. Kenowa Hills Zac Totten had a shutout going through halfway into the third period, and came up HUGE for the Knights during the first two periods, protecting his net at all costs. As the second period went on the game became more and more physical, with both teams landing huge hits one after another. With the score still 1-0 heading into the final period it seemed as though the Knights were in control, yet there was still 17 minutes to play and anything could happen.
With 9:47 to play Ranger Brandon Dean took matters into his own and put on a beautiful move to work around a Knight defender and put one home to tie things up at 1-1. Then just 2 minutes later, riding high on momentum, the Rangers were able to tack on the go ahead goal to put themselves up front 2-1. This one came courtesy of a great pass from from Kyle Gilbert that was one timed perfectly by sophomore Luke Johnson. In just over two minutes the game had completely turned upside down, and now FHC seemed to have it all going for them. Once they had the lead Forest Hills did not let up, and they continued to attack for the remaining 7 mins of the game. Kenowa Hills tried to muster up one last stitched effort to tie things up but ran out of time and fell in a great game to the Rangers to a final of 2-1.
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