Clarkston played two and a half periods of winning hockey in Saturday’s matchup against Stoney Creek. Unfortunately, hockey games are three periods, so the Wolves had to settle for a 4-4 tie with the Cougars.
Leading 3-1 halfway through the third, Clarkston (6-7-2) failed to close out the Cougars, giving up three goals in the final seven and a half minutes.
‘We stopped skating and stopped playing in the third,? lamented Clarkston coach Bryan Krygier, ‘Everything that could go wrong went wrong, and that can’t happen if we’re going to be a successful team.?
After surging out to a 2-1 lead at the first intermission, the Wolves appeared to put the game away twice in the third.
The first coming with 13:58 remaining when sophomore Brad Pizzey scored off a deflection to give Clarkston a 3-1 lead. Stoney Creek fought back, despite going shorthanded with eight minutes left.
Halfway through the Clarkston power play, Stoney Creek senior Adam Ekl stole an errant pass and beat Clarkston goalie Troy Fasseel, eligible for the first time this week, on a breakaway to score his second goal of the game, cutting the lead to a goal at 3-2.
Following the goal, Clarkston attempted to put the game away for the second time, when Connor Hughes scored just 63 seconds after the Stoney Creek goal to push Clarkston’s lead to 4-2.
For the second time, the Wolves couldn’t close out the Cougars. As Joey Zarantonelle scored off the backhand with four minutes remaining, Cougars followed 36 seconds later by a second chance goal from Chris Jetts. He caught Fasseel out of position and tied up the game.
Clarkston had opportunities to win the game in the final minutes, as Stoney Creek had a penalty in their own zone with 22 seconds left. The Wolves couldn’t capitalize and the game ended in a tie.
‘We got a point tonight (as a result of the tie), but we should have won.? said Krygier. ‘We had the game wrapped up, and we let them back in it.?
Jon Graham and Jack Schlau both scored in the first period to give the Wolves a 2-1 lead at the intermission.
Clarkston goalie Fasseel became eligible for the first time this week, after transferring from Lake Orion this past year.
He made 25 saves on 29 shots. Krygier said he plans to continue rotating goalies.
Earlier in the week, the boys tied their game against Birmingham Unified, 2-2.
Nick Heinrich and Dillion Drayer scored the goals. Fasseel made 21 saves and the boys had 25 shots on goal.
The Wolves are back in action on Thursday, as they travel north to take on Port Huron Northern at McMorran Arena.