Roman Gaudet of the Motor City Rockers fends off Evan Foley of the Port Huron Prowlers near the boards in the Rockers’ opening game on Oct. 13 at Big Boy Arena.
By: Jonathan Szczepaniak | Metro | Published October 21, 2022
FRASER — There’s a new team calling Hockeytown home.
Maybe it’s not quite the same as the Detroit Red Wings, but the Motor City Rockers brought Big Boy Arena back to life.
“Delaware last year, shoutout to all the fans, were loud and loyal, and I’m sure Motor City will be the same,” Rockers goalie Trevor Babin said. “It was loud, and it was rocking.”
On Oct. 13 at Big Boy Arena, the Rockers opened their inaugural Federal Prospects Hockey League season against the Interstate 94-rival Port Huron Prowlers.
The visiting team spoiled the opening night buzz early as Prowlers forward Joseph Deveny tallied two goals to take a 2-0 lead, but that was until the Rockers came alive.
Rockers forward Brad Reitter got the crowd going six minutes into the third period, scoring the Rockers’ first goal in franchise history on a deflection in front of the net.
Just 35 seconds later, Big Boy Arena erupted as Rockers forward Derek Makimaa slipped one past the Prowlers keeper to tie the game.
“On that second goal when it became 2-2, it got really loud,” Rockers coach Gordie Brown, who coached Northville High School’s hockey team last year, said. “The energy was there and the boys were feeling it. That place was rocking.”
The Prowlers won 3-2 and followed up with a 7-3 win on Oct. 14 on their home ice, McMorran Arena, but the Rockers finally earned their first win a day later as Rockers forwards Jonathan Juliano, who played for the Prowlers from 2017-2020, and Ross Bartlett each scored in the win.
Babin got the win in net, stopping 28 shots.
While the Rockers have yet to win at home, it was a step in the right direction for the franchise.
“It was a good sign,” Babin said. “We really gelled during the game, and it was a good sign for things ahead.”
While the team is slowly working through its chemistry woes, its balanced attack behind the team’s speed, intelligence and physicality has made up for it in the meantime.
Brown said a balanced skill set was what he and the team were looking for when building the roster.
“From my perspective, and I’m a balanced guy, I’m looking for a few heavy guys, a few quick guys, guys with high IQ, but the biggest for me is to compete,” Brown said.
Two guys who fit the mold are veterans Juliano and Brandon Contratto, who are the two oldest players on the team.
Contratto, the hockey coach at Grosse Pointe South High School, said while the team’s chemistry hasn’t developed fully on the ice, it won’t take long for the team to get on the same page.
“I think this team has that because a lot of guys have played together at some point in their career, and they know each other,” Contratto said.
For more information about the Rockers schedule visit mcrockershockey.com.