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Rangers Defeat Pioneers 9-1 In Division 3 Pre-Regional

By Contributor, 02/28/17, 10:00PM EST

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#2 Ranked Forest Hills Central took on #6 Ranked East Grand Rapids in front of a sold old crowd at Patterson Ice Arena in the opening round of the 2017 Division 3 State Playoffs.

Forest Hills Central won both tightly contested games during the regular season 3-2 and 5-4 with expectations that the 3rd meeting would be the same.

Forest Hills Central would weather the early storm in the first few minutes before Mason Kistler would beat Pioneer netminder Lukas Schut for a 1-0 Ranger lead. Nick Schipani and Connor Foresman assisted on the goal. 30-seconds later Charlie Brewer would extend the Ranger lead to 2-0 after being set up by Jacob Demeter and Connor Foresman. The Rangers would keep the pressure on the Pioneers scoring two more goals to extend their lead to 4-0 after the 1st. Jacob Demter would tally the 3rd goal with assists going to Nick Schipani and Maston Kistler. Nicko Withey would round out the scoring in the first after being set up from Jack Bowling and Zak Currie.

The Rangers would continue to feed off the energetic crowd as Connor Foresman would add to the Ranger lead after taking a pass from Charlie Brewer for a 5-0 lead. EGR would finally beat Ranger netminder Drake Deering in the 2nd period as Brendan Baranoski scored with assists going to James Lykins and Alex West. Charlie Brewer would answer right back after Nick Schipani and Mason Kistler set him up for a 6-1 Ranger lead after 2-periods.

The Rangers withstood early Pioneer pressure in the 3rd as Zak Currie found the back of the net with assists going to Jack Bowling and Nicko Withey. Nick Schipani would add to his fantastic night already racking up 3-assists scoring the Rangers 8th goal of the game. Mackey Withey would end the game with 7-minutes to go as he went end to end after taking passes from Zak Currie and Jack Bowling for a 9-1 Forest Hills Central victory.

With the win the Rangers improve to 22 wins, 2 loses and 2 ties on the season. The Pioneers finish a fantastic season as Tier 2 Conference Champions with a 20-6 overall record.

The Rangers will now take on Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the Division 3 Pre-Regional 35 Final on Thursday, March 2nd at 7pm at Patterson Ice Center.