Hockey: Pioneer knocks off Skyline with playoffs looming (see WLAA photo gallery)

The Pioneer and Skyline hockey teams are heading to Trenton for the Division 2 hockey Regionals next week.

The Eagles will play the winner of the Saline-Woodhaven game at 5:30 p.m., on Thursday, March 18. The Pioneers will play on the same day but at 8 p.m. against the winner of the Trenton-New Boston Huron game. The finals are March 20.

As a little warm-up for Regionals, Pioneer and Skyline met on the ice on Wednesday in a city rivalry game at the Ice Cube. Without getting ahead of ourselves, it could be a preview of that Regional final and the rubber match in the season series.

After falling to Skyline 5-3 last month, the Pioneers struck back with an impressive 5-2 win over the Eagles.

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Pioneer not only got more shots in the goal but also on the goal. They outshot the Eagles 39-18. Skyline’s Tommy Letke made 34 saves while Pioneer’s Elliot Davis made 16 saves.

Pioneer had five different players score goals in the win.

Eli Jackel scored at 5:04 of the first period with an assist from Parker Churchill to put Pioneer on the board. The Pioneers led 1-0 after one.

In the second period, Ethan Kotre scored from Jack Ceccacci to make it 2-0. It was the only goal of the second period.

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The goals came quickly and often in the third period.

Pioneer went up 3-0 when Ceccacci scored unassisted at 11:03.

The Eagles got on the board at 11:21 when Ryan Garret took a pass from Jack Bazzani and scored to make it 3-1.

Pioneer answered within 3 minutes when Sean Fitzgerald scored with an assist from Ceccacci to push the lead back to three goals.

Iian Reichbart scored at 15:02 with assists from AJ Schmunk and Aidan Moran to bring the Eagles to within 4-2. But less than a minute later, Devin McDaniel scored for Pioneer with assists from Ceccacci and Ethan Kotre to make it 5-2.

Skyline plays on Friday against Lenawee Co-op. Pioneer plays Saturday against Bay Reps.

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