Senior Charlie Brewer chose the perfect time to make the biggest play for FHC hockey this season, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime on senior night and giving the Rangers an enormous win over Grandville at Patterson Ice Center. This huge win against one of the top division teams in the state is just what the Rangers needed to finish off the regular season and head into playoffs.

Charlie had scored a game-winner earlier in the season to beat Catholic Central, but this was a much more meaningful goal.

“It was such a special feeling,” Charlie said. “But having it be on senior night means a lot, especially because it was a night dedicated to us as seniors.”

Both teams were quiet in the first, and FHC had a very well defended period. Junior goalie Carl Mielock made great saves not just in the first period, but all night that could have easily changed the momentum of the game. Both teams had the same amount of penalties, but neither team could convert on power plays. The Rangers went into the locker room with confidence on the defensive end, holding Grandville to zero goals in the first period.

Senior Jacob Demeter also made a memory on senior night in the second period, putting the Rangers up 1-0 off of assists from sophomore Cole Beaufait and Charlie Brewer. The Rangers kept their lead until two costly penalties at the same time for FHC gave Grandville their first goal late in the second period.

FHC and Grandville both played a very physical first part of the third period. The Rangers had a great defensive stretch until Grandville slipped a goal in the middle of the third to take a 2-1 lead. FHC was down for the first time in the game and they needed a spark. They found one in freshman Mason Kelly, as he put in his 4th goal of the season to tie the game at 2 with 4:13 left in the game.

“It felt amazing [to score the goal] since I was coming back from an injury,” said Mason. “My teammates are helping me through the process by making it feel like I have been playing the whole time.”

The Bulldogs and the Rangers would head into overtime with a very anxious crowd now watching the game. Emotions were flying high from both teams, as FHC and Grandville both didn’t want their winning streaks to end. FHC dug deep and none other than senior captain Charlie Brewer came in and put the puck in the back of the net to take down number one ranked Grandville with a final score of 3-2 as the crowd erupted.

Head coach Kevin Zaschak explains the emotions of the now 7-game winning streak.

“It’s been fun,” Zaschak said. “Our winning streak is now 7 games in a row and that’s the number 2 ranked division one team in the state. They were 21-2 coming into this game and how we kept the momentum going after 6 straight wins is huge. Especially when you start out the season 0-7 and then beat a team like this is huge.”

The Rangers now set their attention to next Friday in very intriguing matchups against West Ottawa on the road, and then a quick turn around to Saturday night against East Kentwood. Even though it will not be easy, FHC hopes to pick up two wins and continue their win streak heading into districts. In order to do that, the Rangers need to continue to focus on one opponent at a time, starting with a very experienced West Ottawa team.

“West Ottawa has a heavy senior group and is a lot like Grandville,” Zaschak said. “They’re one of the top 10 teams in Division 1 so we just have to have the same mentality like tonight and that is to compete and work.”