Ann Arbor Huron had one more period to play before they could call their visit to Detroit Skating Club a success.
Though the Wolves only needed one more period to take the win and they did as they defeated the River Rats, 4-2.
‘We started out slow and as the game progressed we picked it up,? said Ralph Humphlett, head coach for Clarkston Varsity Hockey. ‘We cashed in on some momentum and the boys worked really hard to get their first victory of the season.?
Huron led going into the second period after they scored nine minutes into the game. They added one more point to their lead with a goal at 10:46 remaining in the period.
Less than two minutes later a quick shot from sophomore Nick Terry with an assist from junior Jagar Smith put the Wolves on the board with a goal.
Clarkston put pressure on the net with shots as they tried to gain control of the scoreboard.
The Wolves opened the third period with possession of the puck after winning the face off and quickly took it into the River Rats? turf.
Senior Kort Highducheck scored his first of two goals of the night 90 seconds into the final period with an assist from his brother Nik Highducheck, and Jared Harper, to tie the game.
The Wolves drove the puck to the net again as the period hit 13 minutes remaining, this time it was Terry as he made his way to the net. He made a shot on goal and Smith finished the play with putting the puck in the net to pull Clarkston into the lead, 3-2.
‘They continued to work hard,? Humphlett said about the third period. ‘They kept working. Even in that period we started a little bit slow, but they picked up the pace, they got excited, they pressured the puck and the puck started going in the net.?
Clarkston defense kept Huron out of the net before they could score before the Wolves could hit the net again.
With six minutes remaining, the Wolves broke out of their territory with the puck as Nik Highducheck came out of the penalty box. It was just in time to help Kort score the fourth and final goal for the night. Harper also assisted on the goal.
‘I haven’t played with my brother in a long time,? Kort smiled. ‘I just love being on the ice with him. It’s great. I thought everyone played hard and it was a great team effort from everybody. We battled through it.?
The Wolves made 32 shots on the net and senior goalie Trevor Propson had 25 saves in the net for the night.
Humphlett added the teamwork was really good for the night.
‘We have been stressing puck movement a lot,? he said. ‘They moved the puck really well and pressured the net a lot.?
The Wolves lost to Lake Orion on Saturday night, 6-3 with Jared Terry, Dan Milano and Jared Harper scoring for Clarkston Propson had 24 saves in the net and Clarkston made 26 shots on the net.
‘It was a tied game until about 12 minute mark when they scored their fourth goal,? Humphlett said. ‘It was a disputed goal, but the referees ended up ruling it was a goal. There were a lot of penalties on both teams. The flow of the game wasn’t good because you were either on the penalty kill or the power play. It breaks up the rhythm. It wasn’t a smooth running game. The kids played hard. Hopefully when we play them later on in the year we will get a better result.?
Clarkston (1-3) heads to Farmington on Thursday night, 7 p.m., and is back at Detroit Skating Club on Saturday against Stoney Creek. 8 p.m. at 888 Denison Court in Bloomfield Hills.
Kort added the win will give the team momentum against their league foes.
‘It’s a great boost,? he said. ‘We came out hard in the third and really made the game ours.?