Zelenka's hat trick carries GH hockey over Midland Dow

Senior forward Tom Zelenka recorded a hat trick and fellow senior Ian Hibbard added a goal and two assists, helping lead the Grand Haven varsity hockey team to an impressive 4-1 victory at Midland Dow on Friday evening.

The Bucs’ last contest of 2012 helps improve their record to 6-3-2 overall.

Hibbard’s goal — on an assist from Jake Poel — gave the Bucs’ a first-period lead. They would never relinquish the advantage, either, as Zelenka found the back of the net in the second, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead at the second intermission.

Midland Dow ended the Bucs’ shutout bid with its first goal in the third period, but Zelenka put the Chargers away with back-to-back goals, including an empty netter for the game’s final score.

The Bucs outshot Dow by a 26-22 margin, with Grand Haven goalie Zach Kooi earning the win.

Grand Haven returns to the ice on Jan. 4, as it hosts Portage Central at L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon