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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. Moorhead
IRA Civic Center, Grand Rapids, MN
12/14/2007

Game Preview:
The Grand Rapids Thunderhawks (3-1-1) and #16 Moorhead Spuds (2-2-0) have squared off the past two seasons on FSN Hockey Night and the Spuds have won each of the meetings. In fact, the Spuds have won the last six meetings between the two schools. Moorhead is coming off of a 7-2 home loss to the #1 ranked Roseau Rams while the Thunderhawks have won three straight road games. Grand Rapids will count on Robb Roy (5g, 8a, 13p) and his line mates to put goals on the board for Grand Rapids. Sam Rendle (4g, 3a, 7p) is the leading scorer from the blue line for the Thunderhawks. Moorhead is a very young team that will be looking to senior captains Ben Ammerman, Joe Becker, and Nick Thielen to carry the load. Each team is still trying to find a replacement for last year's goaltender. Spuds senior Coleman Wagner got the start vs. Roseau and played fairly well and Grand Rapids went with A.J. Underwood vs. Brainerd and he played very well. The Grand Rapids offense has been hot as of late and will need to continue that in Friday's battle. The Spuds, on the other hand, need to shore up defensively before their trip east.

Last meeting: Moorhead 5, Grand Rapids 3 (12/15/2006-@ Moorhead Sports Center) Moorhead's Jordy Christian set the tone with a breakaway goal just 22 seconds into the game. Grand Rapids was without the AP Player of the Year in Patrick White, but were still able to amount a bit of a comeback. Shane Greniger tied the game at one early in the second period. Moorhead then reeled off three goals in a row by Sean Ambrosie, Jordy Christian, and Pat Dietz to take a 4-1 lead. Corey Kosak would shift the momentum some with his goal midway through the 2nd to make it 4-2 heading into the locker room. Zach Morse and Nick Thielen would tally for their respective schools in the third period and the game ended 5-3. Moorhead outshot an injury plagued Grand Rapids team 27-16 in the game.

Notes: Grand Rapids returns just two career points in games against Moorhead. Last year Shane Greniger scored a goal assisted by Robb Roy at the Sports Center in Moorhead.

Special Teams: The Thunderhawks power play has still scored at least once in every game and is 6/29 (21%) on the season. Brainerd managed to score a power play goal on Tuesday, but the Grand Rapids penalty kill still is at a very solid 92% (24/26).

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

Box Score:

1st Period-1. MH, Aaron Wheeler (Nick Thielen, Joe Becker) 10:56

2nd Period-2. GR, Sam Sparen (Robb Roy) (PP) 7:53; 3. MH, Aaron Wheeler (Nick Thielen, Ben Ammerman) (PP) 11:12; 4. MH, Alex Altenbernd (Trent Johnson) 15:52; 5. GR, Tony Palkki (Jack Moore, Grant Prokop) 16:38

3rd Period-6. MH, Alex Altenbernd (Trent Johnson) 12:12

Saves-A.J. Underwood (GR) 31, Logan Marks (MH) 25

Three Stars:
3. Aaron Wheeler (MH)
2. A.J. Underwood (GR)
1. Alex Altenbernd (MH)

Game Summary:
Official start time: 7:30 p.m.
Official end time: 9:16 p.m.
Official game time: 1 hour 46 minutes

Moorhead came out flying after a 7-2 loss to Roseau and looked like a completely different hockey team. The Spuds outshot Grand Rapids 13-5 in the first period and Aaron Wheeler scored the lone goal of the period to give Moorhead a 1-0 lead. The second period continued to be an eventful one for Grand Rapids. Each team scored a pair of goals in the middle frame to make it 3-2 heading to the third. Sammy Sparen tied the game at one with a sweet power play goal at 7:53 of the second. After receiving a nifty pass from Robb Roy, Sparen looked up and stuck the puck in small hole in the upper corner to even the score. Three and a half minutes later Moorhead took the lead again at 2-1. Aaron Wheeler scored his second of the game. Wheeler made a very nice tip on a blast from the point that beat Underwood upstairs. The Spuds continued rolling when Alex Altenbernd scored his first goal of the game with 1:08 remaining in the period. It looked as though Grand Rapids would head to the third down 3-1. Tony Palkki changed that late in the period when he made two very fancy moves and beat Moorhead goalie Logan Marks top shelf to make it 3-2 with just 22 seconds remaining. The Thunderhawks battled hard in the third and outshot Moorhead 12-5 in the final frame, but came up short. Moorhead scored the only goal of the period when Alex Altenbernd tallied his second of the game. Both of his goals were assisted by Taylor Johnson. Logan Marks was outstanding and picked up the win in his first varsity start by making 25 saves. AJ Underwood played very well in defeat. Underwood stopped 31 pucks in the game for Grand Rapids.

Photos are now up (courtesy of Shannon Merritt)
Photos are now up (courtesy of Missi How)

Photos of the game:

Courtesy of Shannon Merritt

Courtesy of Missi How

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