Icers finished their season after a 3-2 loss in the MHSAA Pre-Regionals against Grand Blanc, Feb. 25.
Senior Jacob LaPorte opened the night with a quick goal less than half a minute into the game off of an assist from senior Kyle Cuthrell.
The Wolves followed it by taking possession of the puck from faceoff to try to net one more.
Grand Blanc tied the score at the beginning of the second period with the first goal from Jack Clary. He brought the Bobcats into the lead with 11:46 remaining in the period and scored another goal nine minutes later.
“The second period didn’t go very well for us,” said Coach Bryan Krygier. “We had problems like the last couple of games. We dug ourselves a hole and we didn’t dig ourselves out. Their leading player showed up when he had to and when big players show up good things happen for that team.”
LaPorte cut the deficit with his second goal eight seconds left in the period with an assist from Chase Wiedemann and Shawn Cotter.
“It gave us a little bit of confidence and a little bit of pep,” Krygier added. “We just couldn’t recoup from the deficit. Even during the power plays we had some shots we couldn’t get past their goaltender.”
The Wolves fired 11 shots on Grand Blanc’s net in the last period with three of them in the last few seconds. Each one was knocked away by Bobcat’s goalie freshman Spencer Bully.
“When it comes to playoff hockey usually it comes down to the goaltender,” said Krygier. “Their goaltender came out pretty good for them.”
The Wolves made 35 shots on the net and goalie Jack Viazanko made 14 saves during the night.
The Wolves finished the season 16-7-2 and tied for third place in the OAA Red with Stoney Creek.
“We played a good season,” said Krygier. “We had some disappointing losses. This one was very disappointing not only for the seniors but for the juniors. We play a tough schedule throughout the year for a reason – improve and be ready and prepared for the playoffs. When you don’t do the things you do during the course of the season and you let your guard down nothing comes from it.
The team loses 14 seniors: Cotter, Cuthrell, Kyle Hogarth, Kamren Huizenga, LaPorte, Eric Matynowski, Garrett Polish, Alex Propson, Carter Rea Roman Reiner, Nick Surovec, Drew Terry, Viazanko and Wiedemann.