Rangers face Jackets Monday, Tuesday

The Marquette Rangers’ schedule this week proves that sometimes even junior hockey players have to face a curve ball.

The second place Rangers travel to downstate Wyandotte to battle the Motor City Metal Jackets in North American Hockey League North Division play Monday afternoon and Tuesday evening. The rare Monday-Tuesday series is part of three games for Marquette this week as the team will return to Lakeview Arena Friday for a single game against the Janesville Jets.

The Rangers trail first place Traverse City by four points heading into the games this week, while Motor City is locked in a tight battle for third place with Janesville in the division race.

Marquette and Motor City split their last series at Lakeview Arena on February 5-6. The teams have played eight times this season and are 4-4-0 against one another head-to-head.

Forward Garrett Ladd continues to lead the team in overall scoring with 48 points on 16 goals and 32 assists.

Hancock native Tanner Kero leads the team in goal production with 28 on the season, which is the most of any player in the entire NAHL. The second leading goal producers in the league behind Kero are Brian Sheehan of Wichita Falls and Rui Encarnacao of Janesville, each with 24.

Monday afternoon’s game starts at 2:30 p.m., while the Tuesday game begins at 7:30 p.m.