Gaylord, MI – March 5, 2022 – The Marquette Redmen hockey team advanced to the state semi-finals with a 7-1 victory over the Traverse City Central Trojans on Saturday afternoon. It was offense early and often for Marquette, and John Thomsen and Joe Gaffney had the call on Fox Sports Marquette 105.1 and 99.9 and online at foxsportsmarquette.com.
Marquette wasted no time in starting the scoring, with Brayden Grange taking advantage of a flurry in front of the TCC net when he slapped the puck home to give the Redmen an early 1-0 lead. The Trojans tightened up their defense after conceding the first goal, and even had a few quality scoring opportunities of their own, but it was Marquette that dictated the game with their offensive pressure. The Redmen found themselves in the penalty box more than they would have liked in the first period, with both Nash Riipi and C.J. Carter incurring minor penalties, but Traverse City Central failed to convert on their opportunities. Late in the period Marquette was able to double their lead on a goal from Owen Riipi, and less than a minute later Jack Sides pounced on a rebound and made the score 3-0 in favor of the Redmen, a lead they took into the first intermission.
End of First: Marquette 3, Traverse City Central 0
Traverse City Central opened the second period with renewed intensity, generating some early scoring chances, aided by a Marquette interference minor. That advantage ended, however, when the Trojans were whistled for a holding penalty, and on the ensuing 4-on-4, Ethan Phillips scored on a long shot from the half-wall to make it 4-0. It didn’t take long after that for Phillips to extend his team’s lead to 5-0 after he picked up his own rebound and scored his second goal of the period, and Marquette would carry that 5 goal lead into the break.
End of Second: Marquette 5, Traverse City Central 0
Marquette continued their offensive pressure to start the third frame, creating several good scoring chances in the first few minutes. Traverse City Central was called for a tripping penalty just over five minutes into the period, and Jake Garrow was able to take advantage when he found the puck during a net-front scramble and slid it past the Trojans’ goalie, giving the Redmen a 6-0 lead, and Kody Moyer made it 7-0 just a few minutes later. Traverse City Central scored on a power play with under five minutes remaining to avert the shutout, but it was a cosmetic goal in the end as Marquette skated out the game and came away with a 7-1 victory.
Final Score: Marquette 7, Traverse City Central 1
Today’s Joe Boogren Player of the Game went to Ethan Phillips, who scored two important goals for Marquette in the second period of the game.
The Marquette Redmen will play in the state semi-final in Plymouth on Thursday, March 10th, against either Byron Center or Hartland. John Thomsen and Joe Gaffney will have the broadcast on Fox Sports Marquette 105.1 and 99.9 and online at foxsportsmarquette.com.
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