East Grand Rapids senior Ryley Sikkenga scored five goals Monday and led his Pioneers to a 10-2 win over rival Grand Rapids Christian in the season opener for both.
"I don't know, I guess I was feeling it tonight," Sikkenga said. "It was nice, I had my line with me we have been together for two years and we kind of have a little bit of chemistry so it is nice to get back."
Monday was the first day that winter high school contact sports like hockey could have contact practices or competitions.
Even without a contact practice, the Pioneers and Eagles decided to jump right into game action.
"We have a lot of multi-sports athletes that come straight from football and sometimes they get back and we have a game in two days," EGR head coach Christopher Newton said. "Hockey players are kind of used to it, it is kind of a different breed."
11 months with no games, no problem for @RyleySikkenga
— FOX 17 Blitz (@FOX17Blitz) February 9, 2021
5 Goals for the senior in the opener@HockeyEgr wins big in game 1 pic.twitter.com/uNCUj2Fj1B
East had not played a game since losing in the state tournament last February.
"It was nice to back, have a little but of fun, get to play again," Sikkenga said. "It was just nice to have some fun, have some fans in the stands and put on a good game."
EGR (1-0) will take on Forest Hills Northern/Eastern (1-0) on Friday.
Grand Rapids Christian (0-1) hosts Mona Shores on Wednesday.
