Posted: 12/4/02

Forest Lake falls to Grand Rapids 3-1

Berk Brown
Sports Editor

Mark Columbus discovered how to get past Forest Lake goalie Brett Sawyer and Grand Rapids was able to claim victory.

Columbus scored a pair of goals to lead Grand Rapids to a 3-1 victory over the Rangers in Forest Lakeís season opener on Friday at Maroon and Gold Arena.

First-year coach Carl Brandt said the Rangers let the middle 15 minutes get away from them and never really recovered.

ìWe played to our strengths, but we gave-away that second period,î Brandt said. ìThe first period it was a great hockey game, but the second period we got on our heels.

ìThe kids know they gave away that second period.î

Columbus put Grand Rapids up 1-0 with a power-play goal at the 13:30 mark of the second period, but it didnít take the Rangers long in the third period to tie the game.

Phil Vandeveer scored on an assist from Matt Stendahl at the 2:59 mark of the third period for the Rangers to tie the game at 1-1.

ìThe momentum had really swung,î Brandt said of the third period. ìThe third period we came out smoking.î

Forest Lake out-shot Grand Rapids 11-10 in the final period, but it was the Thunderhawks that got the breaks they needed in the final minutes.

Columbus scored again for Grand Rapids at the 8:12 mark of the third period to put the Thunderhawks ahead 2-1.

Arie DeGrio added another goal at the 9:32 mark to help secure the 3-1 Grand Rapids victory.
Brandt said his team played well enough to win, but Grand Rapids goalie Chris Norby simply kept the Rangers from converting on opportunities.

ìHe came up big, ìBrandt said. ìWe had some quality chances, he just stopped them.î

Norby stopped 21 of 22 shots while Forest Lakeís Sawyer stopped 25 of 28 shots.

ìBrett played real well,î Brandt said. ìAll the goals Grand Rapids got were on very good plays.î

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