FEBRUARY 20 , 2020 FREE

RAVENNA ON A ROLL! The Bulldogs lost two key players, and the coach who led their turnaround, then promptly won their first 15 games

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www.muskegoncoop.com 4 Ravenna on a Roll The Ravenna boys basketball team lost its head coach over the summer, as well as two key players 2 Convenient Locations who did not return this winter. Despite all of that, the Bulldogs have won their first 16 games of the 1051 Peck Street, Muskegon, MI 49440 season and at least a share of a conference title. 1920 Laketon Ave., Muskegon, MI 49442 8 The Amazing Richards Era For the past decade, Coach Brad Richards has led the Fruitport Calvary Christian girls basketball team to some amazing accomplishments. His three daughters have led the way with All-State performances. Now that era is coming to a close, as Richards wraps up his final season and prepares to take over the boys team. 12 The New (Local) Kings of Wrestling For years, the Reeths-Puffer wrestling team has been very good, but always played second-fiddle to Whitehall, a longtime power. But this year R-P finally got the best of the Vikings, beating them at the city tournament and in an amazing district tournament match. On the cover: Mona Shores junior Brady Rose, who stepped in for injured starting quarterback Caden Broersma and led the Sailors to the Division 2 state RAVENNA ON A ROLL

Jacob May Calvin Schullo Trevor Sterken After years of losing, the Bulldogs have been chasing a perfect regular season ACL in Ravenna’s first varsity football game in August, ending his Steve Gunn basketball season before it even started. LocalSportsJournal.com That left the Bulldogs with lots of unexpected question marks. The Ravenna boys basketball team had a series of setbacks They only had two starters returning this season, and the new coach, before the season even started, leading some people to wonder if the former Ravenna JV coach Courtney Kemp, had no varsity experi- program’s impressive revival had peaked, and the Bulldogs might ence. It would have been no wonder if the players had lost some slide back toward mediocrity. confidence and started the season slowly. Justin Johnson became the coach of the team in 2014-15, and But that’s definitely not what happened. had a big job on his hands, trying to revive a losing program at a The Bulldogs kicked things off in December with a surprisingly school where football has always been king. The Bulldogs had not easy 68-42 victory over conference rival Montague. Then came a won a West Michigan Conference 72-32 win over Byron Center Zion Christian, a 59-29 win over pe- basketball championship for de- rennial league power Whitehall, and a forfeit victory over Marshall cades, or a district title since 2002. Academy. He was successful, but the Then the calendar turned over to 2020, and the Bulldogs just improvement took some time. The kept it winning, ripping off 12 straight victories to run their record Bulldogs finished 4-16 in 2014- to a perfect 16-0, and clinching at least a share of the West Michigan 15, which was on par with the Conference championship. past. They managed only six wins All but three of those first 16 games were won by at least 10 in 2015-16 and 2016-17. points. The lone exceptions were close games against North Mus- Things started to turn around kegon (50-42 and 54-52 victories) and a tight win in the first gaqme in 2017-18, when Ravenna broke the .500 barrier with an 11-9 against Oakridge, 62-56. record. Last season the team improved to 15-7, and the future finally The amazing run was due to a group of players who had built looked hopeful. enough confidence to continue to improve, despite the loss of their Then fate came along and threatened to steal Ravenna’s mo- coach and two teammnates. mentum. “I wouldn’t say deflated – it was more like confused, where do Johnson, who had received much credit for putting the program we go now?” Kemp said, when asked about the team learning that on the map, left last summer to accept the coaching position at Divi- Coach Johnson would not be returning this season. “All of these sion 1 Mona Shores. kids have a lot of belief in themselves and talent, but with Coach Grant Parker, a senior standout who had played varsity since his Johnson being there ever since the kids came through the system, freshman year, decided to skip the basketball season due to the wear we were left kind of scratching our heads for a minute. and tear his body took over several seasons of football. Then senior “But we knew we couldn’t feel sorry for ourselves. As I point guard Josh Cox, the team’s leading scorer last season, tore his reminded the guys, they only have so many years of high school basketball, and they had to make the most of it.” points per game), senior forward Calvin Schullo (14 points) and se- Losing Cox for the season was also a “gut punch for the com- nior forward Hunter Funk, who was averaging nine points and nine munity,” Kemp said, but the team maintained the same mentality of rebounds, along with a team-leading four assists. pushing forward. “We joke about being like the Pistons of the early 2000s, and “You can’t be a better team without a player like Josh Cox, but getting it done as a team," Kemp said. "We don’t have a superstar or there were guys ready to fill those big shoes,” he said. tremendous egos.” To clinch a share of the conference championship on Feb. 17, The two starting guards – Sterken and Conner Kilbourne – have the Bulldogs had to travel to Oakridge and beat their rivals again, done a nice job filling the hole that Cox left in the lineup. with the Eagles nipping at their heels in the league standings with Sterken has been averaging 10 points and 3.5 assists per game, only one loss. and according to Kemp, “leads us in toughness.” Aa it turned out, it wasn't much of a contest. The Bulldogs Sterken is a first-year starter who manages to thrive despite cruised to a being almost completely deaf. He communicates with his coach and "It's crazy," said senour guard Trevor Sterken, when asked teammates through advanced lip-reading skills. about finally winning a conference title after so many years. "The “He can hear you with his hearing aid if you are really close memories of this basketball team. for myself and my friends, there to him, and he says that as long as you are clear, he can read your are going to be a lot of happy memories. lips,” Kemp said. “He does everything well, and he’s the most posi- "Ravenna will always be a football school, but this basketball tive kid, too. His attitude as a point guard is just contagious.” group has been really good, too. I'd say we're multi-talented." While Kemp said he wasn’t exactly sure how good his team would be, he said he had a good feeling about the chemistry before Putting it all together the season started, because a group of unusually talented seniors was mixing with a group of unusually hard-working juniors, includ- In retrospect, it seems obvious ing guards Joel Emery and Dom that that foundation for success Jones. at Ravenna was already in place, Those two get a lot of playing through the work that Johnson minutes, along with Jack Emery put in during his five years at the and Dom Mabrito. The rest of the school. roster is comprised of Adam Nutt, The team really started to see Chad Erickson, Nolan Vermeer and the light at the end of the tunnel in Cox, who attends games but does the 2016-17 season, when Parker not dress. and Sox were called up to var- “I knew the juniors and sity as freshmen, and a year later, seniors would be a really good when Jacob May, Calvin Schullo combination,” Kemp said. “There and Jack Emery were called up as is something to be said for ex- sophomores. perience, but the work ethic, the Suddenly there was more tal- mentality, the unselfishness of the ent on the varsity roster, and more juniors has really been the glue for general excitement about basket- this team.” ball. Kemp is a remarkable story “Coach Johnson did a nice job himself. He and Justin Johnson are of building the excitement,” Kemp longtime friebnds who both played said. “In the past, we’d have one basketall at Ubionville Sebewaing of two kids show up for workouts High School. But Kemp ut never in the summer, or another show up Hunter Funk Conner Kilbourne coached the sport at any level until for the last 10 minutes because he Johnson contacted him prior to his overslept. first season, asking him to take over the junior varsity program. “Now, we’ve got six to eight kids at every session. Definitely He applied for the varsity job when Johnson left, with zer expe- more people are taking interest. And it’s definitely taken off (this rience at that level, and got the job. year). We hope to keep it going.” “That was my resume – JV coach for five years,” said Kemp, The players certainly felt prepared going into the season, even who lives in Allendale and makes his living in property manage- after learning there would be a new coach and no Cox or Parker. ment. “I had no coaching experience before that. But I was blessed “We honestly expected it,” said May, a 6-5 senior, back in Janu- (in the past) with some really good coaches and opportunities in ary, after the Bulldogs had run their record to 8-0. “I feel our team basketball, and I have always followed the game closely, for what- chemistry is really solid. And beginning of last year, we started to ever that’s worth. take things more seriously. Now, we treat every practice like it’s a “I’ve also been blessed with great athletes in this program, and game. We go all out.” with great assistant coaches (Andy May and Tim Jones). It’s been A big part of Ravenna’s stunning run this season has been nerve-wracking but a lot of fun for an old guy who still has that simpl, hard-nosed defense. In their first 15 games, the Bulldogs held competitive itch.” opponents to less than 40 points seven different times. The fans of Ravenna have responded to the big season in big “Defense is the focus, period,” Kemp said. “If we play hard- numbers, according to Kemp. Traditionally, they have turned out in nosed defense, we will know we are going to be in every game, no droves for Friday night football games, but have left big sections of matter what. We pushed them super hard before the season started, the gym bleachers vacant for varsity basketball games. But that has and we’ve only picked up our intensity on defense.” changed dramatically this season. Ravenna has been making its push toward perfection this “We knew we had something special going on with the big season without a dominant offensive player. The Bulldogs have a home crowd we had for the first Oakridge game,” the coach said. balanced scoring attack that features any number of players who can “The gym used to be half full, but now you have to get there early. hurt opponents from the inside or outside. The crowd has been our sixth man, and we really appreciate the sup- In mid-February, the team’s leading scorers were May (15 port we’ve been getting from everyone in the community.” Stop in today for your School Apparel!

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DAVID T. BOWEN JONATHAN R. HOOGSTRA [email protected] [email protected] OF Counsel: DAVID K. FATH, JR. Sherry Becker Financial Advisor & Roger Garretson Financial Advisor The new (local) kings of the wrestling mat After years of playing second fiddle to Whitehall, the Reeths- Puffer wrestling team finally beat the Vikings - twice - and wrestled away the unoffical designation as the area's top grappling squad. By Steve Gunn LocalSportsJournal.com Being second best has never been Matt Brink’s specialty. As a young man, he was perhaps the top wrestler to ever come out of the Muskegon area. He won three individual state champion- ships while wrestling at Fruitport High School, then went on to a stellar career at the University of Michigan, where he earned All- American honors as a heavyweight wrestler in 2000 and 2001. So when he became head coach of the Reeths-Puffer wrestling team 14 years ago, Brink obviously had big things in mind for his squad. And there has been plenty of success. Going into this season, the Rockets had won five straight O-K Black Conference championships and five straight Division 2 district titles. A lot of teams would be thrilled with a record like that. But the Rockets were never considered the top team in the Mus- kegon area, because Whitehall kept getting in the way. The Vikings had won the championship at the Greater Muskeg- on Athletic Association Wrestling Tournament for 13 straight years, with Reeths-Puffer finishing second many of those years. The event is like the Super Bowl of local high school wrestling, and the winner gets all the glory. Whitehall also keep stealing the state tournament headlines, ad- vancing to the Division 3 state semifinals three of the past four years, and the quarterfinals the other year. But that all changed this season, when the Rockets took on the Vikings in two high-pressure scenarios, won both times, and emerged as the new kings of the local high school wrestling scene. The first was at the Jan. 18 city tournament at Holton High School, when Reeths-Puffer won eight of the 14 weight classes and ended Whitehall’s long domination of the event. The second came on Feb. 13, when the Rockets faced White- hall in the first round of the local Division 2 district tournament at Reeths-Puffer High School. The Rockets trailed and had their backs against the wall, but rallied to win the last three matches to steal a thrilling victory and eliminate Whitehall. They went on to beat Muskegon later that night to win their sixth consecutive district title. The sudden success over Whitehall, after so many years of frus- tration, meant a lot to Brink. “This is our year,” he said after beating Whitehall in districts. “Whitehall has been a powerhouse for years, and to take them down at city and in the district tournament, I just can’t say enough about how proud I am of this team.” Getting it done on the mat

The Rockets made an emphatic statement at the city meet, easily outdistancing Whitehall 253-217. Reeths-Puffer was dominant across the 14 weight classes, with eight individual champions, two runners-up and four wrestlers who finished third. R-P wrestlers went head-to-head with Whitehall opponents in four championship matches and won three of them. Winning individual city titles for the Rockets were Colby Ste- phenson (215 pounds), Hunter McCall (285), Jacob Blawat (119), Alex Chipman (135), Kaden Edwards (140), Thade Radosa (145), James Rozycki (152) and Caleb McNeil (160). Several of the R-P champions had to battle hard to win their titles. Reeths-Puffer wrestling Coach Matt Blawat beat Montague’s Cole Coppess in the finals 6-4. Ste- phenson edged out Whitehall’s Shane Cook 7-4, McCall beat White- Brink, a three-time high school state hall’s Jarrean Sargent 3-0, Chipman downed Whitehall’s Nichalas champ and two-time college All-Ameri- Blanchard 5-0, Rozycki snuck past Mona Shores’ Robert Swanker can, finally guided his team past White- 2-0, and McNeil beat Orchard View’s Kody Goudzwaard 6-4. hall. Photos/Leo Valdez “The kids really had to rumble in that final round,” Brink said about the championship matches and third-place matches. “I figured important match, for myself and the team. we needed to win at least half of them. “I really didn’t know I got the pin until a couple of seconds after “We have been talking about this throughout the season, it was it happened. When it finally settled in, I was really excited. It was one of our bigger goals, and the kids really stepped up.” one of the best feelings I’ve had in a long while.” Brink noted that he has been coaching at R-P for 18 years, The entire match lived up to its advance billing. Several specta- including 14 as head coach, and had never won a city tournament tors called it the most exciting high school dual match they ever championship. He said the wrestlers knew that, and wanted to do witnessed. something about it. Whitehall jumped out to an early 12-0 lead when Ira Jenkins “They wanted to win it for me and for each other,” he said. “It won by forfeit at 171 pounds, and Kayleb Venema won by pin at 189 was something we’ve never been able to accomplish. We got into pounds. a position where we could finally make it a reality, and it was a big Things seemed to be getting even worse for Reeths-Puffer in deal for us.” the 215-pound match, because Whitehall’s Jarrean Sargeant had a The district tournament showdown between the two teams on 7-0 lead over R-P’s Colby Stephenson with only 29 seconds left. But Feb. 13 was much closer, and put an exciting exclamation point on Stephenson pulled it together and got a pin, making the score 12-6. the Rockets’ best season. R-P’s Hunter McCall then pinned Whitehall’s Hayden Brown in It was the first time in recent memory that the teams had met in the 285-pound match, tying the score 12-12, and Greg Maynard (103 the state tournament. Reeths-Puffer has been Division 2 for years pounds) followed with an exciting 6-4 win over Dylan Osborn to put and Whitehall was Division 3, but the Vikings moved up to D2 this the Rockets up 15-12. year due to increased enrollment. Whitehall regained the lead 18-15 when Aiden Weiler got a pin Just by luck, the two powerhouses drew each other in the very at 112 pounds. R-P’s Jacob Blawat turned in a 17-7 major decision first round of districts, guaranteeing a high profile match, with the victory at 119 pounds, and his teammate Noah McKinnon pulled out winner likely claiming another district trophy, and the loser having a a 4-2 win at 125, putting the Rockets up 22-18. very early end to another successful season. The Vikings then recorded three straight wins, with a pin by Whitehall led R-P 30-28, and the Vikings’ Jacob Haynes Riley Buys at 130 pounds, an overtime win by Max Brown at 135, led Reeths-Puffer’s Caleb McNeil 6-4 after two periods in the and a 4-3 victory by Marco Moore at 140, to take a 30-22 lead with 160-pound bout, which was the final match. three matches left. If Haynes had managed to hold the lead for two more minutes, But the Rockets swept all three to steal the win. his team would have won. It started when Thade Rodosa beat Nick Blanchard 9-3 at 145 But McNeil refused to give up. He scored two points with 1:08 pounds, making the score 30-25. James Rozycki gutted out a tough left to tie the score at 6-6. Then he somehow managed to pin Haynes 3-1 win over Chris Dowdell at 152 points, pulling the Rockets within with 31 seconds remaining, giving Reeths-Puffer six points on the two points, 30-28. scoreboard and a dramatic 34-30 victory in a much-anticipated Then McNeil made his magical comeback in the final match of matchup. the night, getting the late pin that put Reeths-Puffer over the top and The Rockets went on to face Muskegon in the championship sent the big crowd into a frenzy. match and waltzed to a 77-0 victory, clinching its sixth consecutive “It went back and forth – it was one of the most exciting match- Division 2 district title and a berth in regionals. es I’ve seen in a long time,” Brink said after the match. “It was just a “It was a very stressful situation, but we’ve been told all season huge team effort. Everybody came together and did an unbelievable that pressure is a privilege,” said McNeil, a junior. “I knew it was an

The amazing Richards era at Fruitport Calvary Christian is coming to a close, at least as far as the girls basketball team is concerned the Eagles had won seven straight Alliance League championships LocalSportsJournal.com and seven straight Division 4 (previously known as Class D) district For the past 10 years, tiny Fruitport Calvary Christian High titles. School has had a very big athletic feather in its cap. The number of consecutive conference titles increased to eight The school’s point of pride has been its varsity girls basketball on Feb. 18, when the Eagles defeated Grand River Prep 45-23 in a team, which has been transformed from a perennial loser into one of championship showdown. the best in the area. The victory left the team wth a 16-3 overall record and a 7-0 The name Richards will forever be attached to the team’s incred- league mark. ible run. It also left Richards with the challenge of trying to enjoy his Brad Richards left his post as the boys varsity coach at Ravenna latest championship, even though the season was not over and there High School to take over the Calvary were still tough games ahead. girls in 2010-11. "You have to enjoy every win, and as competitive as I am, The Fruitport Calvary girls were sometimes it's a hard thing to do," he said after the game. "I have to pretty bad back then, and Richards had remind myself to enjoy the moment." established himself as a winning coach It will be Coach Richards’ final conference title, at least with the at Ravenna. girls team. But his kids attended Fruitport Cal- With his youngest daughter, Kelsey Richards, wrapping up her vary, they loved the school, and didn’t high school career, he has decided to take over the boys team next want to leave. His oldest daughter had season, when his youngest child, son Bradley Jr., is an eighth-grader reached varsity age, was very good at and joins the varsity. The Michigan High School Athletic Associa- basketball, and he wanted to coach all tion allows schools with tiny enrollments to have eighth-graders on of his kids in high school. varsity. So he accepted the job and dove in, determined to work his The coach will be facing a challenge very similar to the one he turnaround magic at a new school. faced when he took over the girls team. The boys have not been very “It’s such a great school for families,” Richards said. “Our kids good in recent years, and had a 1-14 record as of this writing. loved going there. A few other schools approached me with solid But few people are betting against Richards and his ability to offers, and my wife and I prayed about it, and we decided to stay at create a similar turnaround. Calvary. “I put in a decade with the girls,” Richards said. “It’s been a “It wasn’t my first rodeo (taking over losing teams). Ravenna real blessing for our family. Now the baby of our family is a boy, he had lost 45 straight conference games when I started with that team. loves basketball, and Lord willing I’m going to get a chance to coach We ended up having some pretty good things happen at Calvary.” the boys for a few years.” That’s an understatement, to say the least. Success has been a family affair. Richards' three daughters – Richards’ coaching record at Fruitport Calvary is currently 186- Taylor, Allison and Kelsey – all took their turn being the top scorers 40 as he nears the end of his 10th campaign. Going into this season, on the team, among the best players in the area, and All-State selec- tions. times – in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018 – the Eagles lost in the Taylor Richards, a 2015 graduate, finished with an astonishing championship round of regionals, and four of those losses came to 2,551 points in her high school career. Allyson Richards, a 2017 perennial state power Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart. graduate, finished with 1,951 points. And Kelsey Richards, a senior Last season the team finally got over that hump, winning the this year, had scored 2,217 career points as of this writing, which an first regional championship in school history for any sport by beating undetermined number of games Mendon 49-46 in a barnburner on left to play. their opponents’ home court. At least one of the Richards The Eagles built an 11-point daughters – and usually two – lead in the third quarter, then were on the team every season that withstood a strong comeback by their father has coached at Calvary. Mendon to claim a thrilling 49-46 Taylor went on to play basket- victory over the Hornets and a ball at Cornerstone University, Al- Division 4 regional championship lyson still studies and plays there, at Mendon High School. while Kelsey has already accepted The heroes at the end were a basketball scholarship to Spring Lizzie Cammenga, who hit a Arbor University. putback after a missed three throw “Each one of them has this with 22 seconds remaining, and real competitive fire inside of Kelsey Richards, who made up for them, and each one was driven a so-so shooting night with a pair personally to be the best basketball of free throws with 22 seconds players they could be,” Richards left. said. “I have lots of pictures and Coach Richards was extreme- video of all three of the girls ly emotional that night, after his Brad Richards shooting free throws in the rain, team reached a level it had never Taylor Richards and dribbling two basketball at a reached before. time at the campground. “These girls won it tonight “They are great kids. They are all involved in music, and all got on sheer guts and willpower,” he said after accepting the regional high grades, and in addition to all of that, they each made it a priority championship trophy. “The things they are talented at didn’t always to be great basketball players. show up tonight, but they found a way to win.” “I really consider my daughters three of my best friends. We are The Eagles advanced to the Division 4 state quarterfinals, where very close. It’s hard to put into words just the thankfulness I feel for they lost 59-32 to Lenawee Christian, the eventual state champion. just being able to spend time with them, and see them have so much Now the Calvary girls have one more opportunity, at least under success.” Richards' leadership, to reach the that he has always dreamed The Richards era at Fruitport Calvary reached two very special of – winning a state championship – when the 2020 state tournament milestones on the night of Jan. 24, from a family and team perspec- begins in the first week of March. tive. But Richards refuses to put any extra pressure on the team, not- In a game against Grand Rapids Wellspring, Kelsey Richards ing how difficult it is to win a state title. joined her oldest sister on a list of only 32 players in the history of “Basketball only has four state champions,” Richards said. “I’m girls basketball in Michigan to just proud of every team and what reach 2,000 career points. they’ve accomplished. We’ll take The victory over Wellspring it one game at a time.” also gave the Eagles their 53rd Regardless of how the state straight conference victory, dat- tournament goes for the Eagles, ing back to 2014. The previous the prorgram's accomplishments record was held by West Michigan over the years are pretty amazing, Lutheran, which won 52 in a row considering Fruitport Calvary is a between 2000 and 2012. school with 173 total students in “I was pretty excited,” Kelsey grades 9-12. said. “It was our Homecoming It’s by far the smallest school game, too, so it was nice to get it in its conference, but under Coach done then. I actually made a free Richards, its girls basketball team throw for my 2,000th point, and has become the big bully on the they announced it during a break block. in the game. “We really burn the midnight "It was still in the third oil trying to help our girls be as quarter, though, so I didn’t really successful as possible,” Coach celebrate or anything. I still had to Richards said. “We take basketball Kelsey Richards focus on the game.” very, very seriously.” Allyson Richards For Coach Richards, watching the last of his daughters reach an amazing milestone, and watching his team set an impressive record, was pretty emotional. “It was just a night of gratitude for me,” he said. “Those were real momentous accomplishments for Kelsey and the team. My num- ber one emotion was just tremendous gratitude for all the blessings God has given us.” If there has been one point of frustration for Richards, it has been the state tournament, at least beyond districts. Five different Pitlick Part 2 The Lumberjacks needed another big scorer so they traded for Rhett Pitlick, the brother of the team's all- time, single-season scoring leader. So for he seems to have the same type of skills.

By Steve Gunn Omaha late and only played in seven games, and this season barely LocalSportsJournal.com had a chance to get settled in before the trade occurred that also brought forward Cam Berg and defenseman Dylan Davies to Mus- It’s funny how history can repeat itself, sometimes in really kegon. good ways. Pitlick’s career is really just beginning, and there’s no telling In June 2015, the acquired forward how good he might be. from the in a trade that drew His genetic makeup is certainly very promising. His father, little notice at the time. , played in the with the But it didn’t take long for Lumber- Senators and . His cousin, , cur- jacks fans to notice Pitlick, who started rently plays for the . scoring at a remarkable rate in the He’s a left-handed shooter, just like his talented brother, and has 2015-16 season, and didn’t stop until already accepted a scholarship to play college hockey at the Univer- he posted an amazing 43 goals and 46 sity of , just like his father and brother. assists. He won the league goal-scoring Rhett has also been drafted by an NHL team (by the Montreal and point championship that season, Canadians in the fifth round last summer), just like his father, cousin and set an all-time, single season team and brother. record for points. Pitlick takes pride in his family’s hockey legacy, and says his Pitlick went on to play three years big brother always had a big influence on his development. at the before “We’re real tight,” Pitlick said about Rem. “I would say he’s turning pro. He currently plays for the like my best friend, to be honest. We always did everything together. of the , the top farm He has helped me out a lot.” club of the National Hockey League’s , and the The people who make their living by judging hockey talent big league is clearly in his future. seem to think Pitlick will be very, very good. One website labeled Forward to November 2019, when the Lumberjacks, interested him “Rhett Pitlick: The Montreal Canadians’ Stick of Dynamite.” in adding speed and goal production, completed a trade with the “Pitlick is a dynamic skater with absolutely blistering speed,” Omaha Lancers. The main acquisition in the deal was forward Rhett the website said. “Despite his draft position, Pitlick is one of the Pitlick, the younger brother of Rem Pitlick. most exciting Habs prospects in their entire system, and one of the Muskegon fans will be thrilled if the younger Pitlick can put up most intense players in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft period.” numbers resembling those of his brother. His stats prior to coming Steve Lowe, the Lumberjacks’ new president of hockey opera- to the Lumberjacks did not suggest any pending offensive fireworks. tions, echoed that theme just after trading for Pitlick. In 17 games with Omaha this season, he had four goals and seven “Pitlick is one of the most dynamic players in the United States assists. Hockey League,” Lowe said. “Having Rhett on the same line with But Pitlick is barely out of high school hockey and still very Danil Gushchin forms one of the best lines in this league,” new to the United States Hockey League. Last season he joined Considering all of that, it’s curious that Omaha decided to let him go in a trade. entered the holiday break with a 9-13-2 record, were 5-2-1 in their Pitlick admits he was next eight games, and moved up two spots in the USHL Eastern surprised by the move, Conference standings. but also excited. Pitlick scored less than a minute into his first game back with For one thing, he the team, and has totaled four goals and two assists since return- says the Lumberjacks ing. Lumberjacks Coach Mike Hamilton is impressed, and wants to have a more wide convince Pitlick to use his talents even more. open style of play, “He’s got unbelievable skill,” Hamilton said. “We’ve been try- which suits him just ing to get him to shoot the puck more. He’s got a great shot. We want fine. him to shoot first and pass second.” “Omaha is an Other Lumberjack amazing place, but forwards have also picked up the system they play the pace. Berg and AJ Hodges did not fit me,” Pitlick had four goals apiece during said. “I’m more of a the post-holiday hot streak, creative player, and while Guschin, Alex Gaffney they play more of a and Christophe Fillion had system there, with lots three apiece. of structure, instead Suddenly Hamilton had of just letting you go three forward lines clicking. out there and be you. He said the talent was always I would say they give there up front, but the Jacks you a bit more free- Rem Pitlick: Tallied an spent the first part of the sea- dom here. amazing 43 goals and 46 son struggling to get the puck “I kind of had to their forwards. mixed emotions (about assists for the 2015-16 Jacks. But the defense has im- the trade). It was a little sad to leave all my friends in Omaha, but proved, creating more scoring it opens up all sorts of possibilities here, maybe for the better. My opportunities, according to the brother loved it here, so I’m excited to be here, too. My parents were coach. really excited. They couldn’t believe it. It’s kind of funny how it “People always want to ended up.” talk about who’s putting the While Pitlick came to the Lumberjacks two months ago, he’s points up, but really it’s the just now settling in. That’s because he barely had time to say hello growth of the defensemen,” and play three games with the team before hitting the road for three Hamilton said. “They are Little brother Rhett weeks to compete with the select USA squad in the World Junior making good passes and get- Pitlick had 5 goals and A Challenge international tournament in Dawson Creek, British ting the puck out. We’re not Columbia. getting stuck in our own zone 9 assists in his first 13 Gushchin also left the Jacks to play with the Russian team in the for three minutes at a time.” games for Muskegon. tournament. The Russians won the championship while the Ameri- Pitlick is happy his team Photos/Leo Valdez cans took third. has seemingly turned the By the time the tournament was over, the Jacks were in the corner, and he’s excited about contributing. He said he tries not to midst of a two-week Christmas break. feel any extra pressure to produce, despite the expectations that some With Pitlick and Gushchin gone, the Lumberjacks struggled obviously have for him, due to his brother’s past accomplishments. badly, posting an 0-4 record. So they were really excited to have two ‘If I think about it, I can get into that perspective, but at the of their most potent offensive weapons available when their season same time, I just want to be here and be me,” he said. “I just want to resumed on Dec. 27. focus on this group and this year, not on the future or the past.” Their return clearly made a difference. The Lumberjacks, who

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