Big Rapids Icedogs win Bantam B districts

The Big Rapids Icedogs Bantam B hockey team won the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) District 6 championship, held at Patterson Ice Arena in Grand Rapids.

Big Rapids shut out Holland 4-0 on Friday night with Zach Besemer in net. The Big Rapids’ goals came from Wil Fisher (2), Jordan Smith and Ryan Workman; assists came from Evan Monko (2) Nick Gilbert and Christian Conati.  Big Rapids defeated Rockford 3-2 on Saturday morning with Alan Kolenda in net.  Fisher scored two goals and Austin Draves found the back of the net, with an assist from Fisher.  On Saturday afternoon, Big Rapid lost to Jackson 6-4 with a late third period empty-net goal. Besemer was in net for the lost.  Goals were scored by Jeremiah McReynolds, Monko, Gilbert, and Conati; assists from Josh Kirby, Fisher, and Smith.

On Sunday, Big Rapids was seeded at second place going into the semifinals, and defeated GRAHA 7-1 with Besemer back in net.  Goals were scored by Brendan Bomay, Garret Daum, Fisher (2), Gilbert, and Conati (2), with assists from Nick Burden, Bomay, Draves, Fisher, McReynolds, and Workman (2).  The Championship game placed Big Rapids versus Westshore with Kolenda in net.  Big Rapids defeated Westshore 6-1, with goals coming from Fisher (who recorded a hat trick), McReynolds and Conati (2).  Assists came from Bomay (2), Smith, Workman, McReynolds, Monko, and Norris.  The Big Rapids team is coached by Joe Strohkirch, Jamie Park, and John Conati.