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Grand Rapids Hockey Offseason News

-Sam Rendle, Tony Palkki, and John Skrbec have been named captains for the 2008-2009 season.

-J.R. Mackey has been awarded the 2007-2008 Grand Rapids Hobey Baker Award.

-Corey Kosak was named Player's Choice team MVP for the 2007-2008 season.

-Sam Sparen was named Player's Choice team Most Determined Player for the 2007-2008 season.

-Pat Rendle has been named Grand Rapids High School Athletic Director as Wayne Pender is set to resign at the end of the school year.

Grand Rapids vs. Elk River (Edina Holiday Classic)
Braemar Arena, Edina, MN-6:00 p.m.
12/21/2007

Game Preview:
The Grand Rapids Thunderhawks have beaten the Elk River Elks the last three times the teams have met. Both team come into this game 0-2 in the Edina Holiday Classic. Grand Rapids was beaten by Edina 3-2 and Eden Prairie 3-1. Elk River was beaten by Eden Prairie 6-2 and Edina 4-3. The section 7AA rivals will meet for the third straight year in the holiday classic. Grand Rapids has won the last two games, which were both close. Grand Rapids also beat Elk River 3-2 in the 2006 section semi-final at the DECC in Duluth. Old faces such as Brandon Martell (ER), Chris Slavik (ER), Tony Seibert (ER), Pat White (GR), Joe Stejskal (GR), and Reidar Jensen (GR), but the rivalry will be the same. Expect a low scoring, extremely physical hockey game. Robb Roy has scored five career goals against Elk River, including and overtime game winner.
This game will have a live web stream at www.myfoxhockey.com.

Last meeting: Grand Rapids 4, Elk River 2 (11/22/2007-Edina Holiday Classic). Sam Sparen scored the first goal for Grand Rapids and Robb Roy scored the next three for Grand Rapids to lead the Thunderhawks to victory. Grand Rapids outshot Elk River 28-24 in the game.

Notes: Robb Roy has scored 5 career goals in 3 games vs. Elk River. Sam Sparen has a goal and an assist in three games. Corey Kosak has two assists and Tony Palkki has an assist in games vs. the Elks.  

Special Teams: The Grand Rapids power play sits at 24.24% (8/33) on the season. Grand Rapids has killed off a penalty 35/40 times (87.5%).

Line Score: Goals (top), Shots (bottom)

Box Score:

1st Period-1. GR, Tony Palkki (Robb Roy, Sam Sparen) (PP) 5:06; 2. GR, Jack Moore (Shane Greniger) 7:44; 3. ER, Cory Volk (Ryan McElhone) 10:15

2nd Period-4. GR, Grant Prokop (Shane Greniger, Jack Moore) 5:04; 5. ER, Alex Halverson (Ryan McElhone) (PP) 7:14; 6. ER, Levi Lutz (#6) 7:24; 7. ER, Ben Jaremko (Ryan McElhone, Ryan Jaremko) (PP) 9:14; 8. GR, Jack Moore (Corey Kosak, Sam Rendle) 14:56; 9. GR, Tony Palkki (Sam Sparen, Robb Roy) 16:59

3rd Period-10. GR, Grant Prokop (Shane Greniger, Billy Shaw) 8:11

Saves-A.J. Underwood (GR) 21, Kyle Hennum (ER) 31

Three Stars:
3. Tony Palkki (GR)
2. Grant Prokop (GR)
1. Jack Moore (GR)

Game Summary:
Official start time: 6:07 p.m.
Official end time:  7:58 p.m.
Official game time: 1 hour, 51 minutes

Grand Rapids got off to a hot start and played well enough throughout the night to beat Elk River for the fourth straight time. Tony Palkki and Jack Moore scored first period goals to top Elk River's one goal in the first. Grand Rapids outshot the Elks 11-7 in the period and had the 2-1 lead a third of the way through the game. The second period continued to be the wild period this year for Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids outshot Elk River 17-11 in the period, but each team netted three goals in the middle third of the game. Grant Prokop extended the Thunderhawk lead early in the period, but the Elks cut it back to one just over two minutes later. The Elks scored the next two goals to make it three unanswered and a 4-3 game in favor of Elk River. Jack Moore scored his second of the game to even the score at four and set the stage for Tony Palkki to continue his season long dramatics. Palkki scored with less than one second left in the period to make it 5-4 Rapids after two. For Palkki, it was his third goal in the final minute of a period this season and his second goal of this hockey game. Grant Prokop would become the third Thunderhawk to score twice in the game. Grant's goal was the only goal of the period and Grand Rapids finished off the 6-4 win over their section 7AA rival. A.J. Underwood picked up the win and made 21 saves in the process. Grand Rapids was able to throw 37 shots on goal, but Kyle Hennum stopped 31 in the loss. Grand Rapids improves to 4-4-1 on the season. The 4-1-1 record is identical to their record after nine games last season.

Photos are now up.

Photo of the game:

Courtesy of Shannon Merritt

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