On Friday evening, the Richard Montgomery Rockets prepared to face off against the Sherwood Warriors who were tied for first place with The Rockets. With the hockey season now underway, the rivalries were quick to begin; however the game began with RM missing their leading scorer, junior Adrian Martella, who was not available for the game.

Before the game, the Rockets quickly scrambled to adjust their game plan in the locker room, making new strategies with multiple players missing. Despite this, morale ran high, boosted by junior alternate captain Dmitry Bilous. “If we all work hard and put in the effort, we can win this game.”

The players took to the ice and from the horn the game was largely a contest of skill and physicality. The Warriors came out strong, scoring two minutes in. A penalty taken by junior Julia Kochman made the Rockets set up their penalty kill, but RM would go on to actually score during the penalty. Junior Dmitry Bilous scored two shorthanded goals ten seconds apart, to put RM in the lead, 2-1.

Late in the first period, the Rockets were on the offensive when Sophomore Jacob Logsdon blocked an attempted clear and scored on a semi-breakaway, ending the period with a 3-1 lead for the Rockets.

The second period went by almost identically, with The Warriors scoring only 13 seconds into the second period. The Rockets returned the favor two minutes later, with Bilous scoring a powerplay goal, assisted by Junior Peter Jasperse, creating a 4-2 game, in favor of the Rockets.

Bilous didn’t end his hot scoring streak yet,scoring another goal with his pinpoint accuracy, assisted by Logsdon, allowing the Rockets to widen the gap with a score of 5-2 at the end of the second period.

With the 3 goal lead, the Rockets took their foot off of the gas, allowing the Warriors to score 2 goals and control momentum halfway through the third period, creating an intense 5-4 game. With 6:43 left on the clock, Freshman Tj Mouchti scored on a deflection from a Rocket shot by Bilous, increasing the lead again.

Logsdon took a penalty for boarding with 5:45 left, and with the Rockets starting to get nervous Bilous scored once again. He sniped in his fifth goal of the game, and his third shorthanded goal with 3:17 left.

The hard skating and the diligent work paid off, with The Rockets winning their fourth straight game in a row this season, and creating an astounding record of 4-0-1.