The sands of time do not flow evenly, an entire dune may not hold the same significance as a few grains in the grand scheme of things.
Over the course of two 15-minute periods and 10 minutes into the third period, Clarkston pushed the No.2 team in the state, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s to the brink of elimination as the two teams met in a pre-regional qualifier on Feb. 27.
In the span of 25 seconds, St. Mary’s wrested control of the game from the Wolves with two quick goals, giving the host team their eventual 4-3 margin of victory some four minutes later.
‘We should of won the game. We gave it away,? Clarkston Coach Bryan Krygier said.
With 6:47 remaining in the game and a 3-2 lead, Clarkston seemed to be in the catbird seat as the Eaglets? Shane Dwyer was sent to the penalty box for holding. But after a power play in which Clarkston failed to control the puck or spend any significant time in their opponent’s zone, Dwyer’s return to the ice was dramatic.
‘That was my second penalty of the game and that one was a real stupid one. I just wanted to get out there and finish the game,? Dwyer said.
On his first shift out of penalty box, Dwyer feathered a drop pass to Kristian Dziubinski who unleashed a one-timer from the left circle to knot the game 3-3 with 4:25 remaining in the third period.
Dwyer’s work was not done however, as he scored a goal of his own 25 seconds later, tucking a wrap around into the net for the eventual game winner.
‘It was a game of who made the least amount of mistakes. I thought we made the least going into the third period, but we made too many in the third period and when you do that against a good team they will score on you,? Krygier said.
After a spirited, yet scoreless first period, the Wolves were the team capitalizing on their opponents mistakes in a fruitful second period.
‘They came out and played a well- disciplined style and put us on our heels,? St. Mary’s Coach Brian Klanow said.
At 3:57 of the second period senior Kyle Chartrand intercepted a puck while forechecking, bullied around a defender and slid a back hand shot along the ice and through the five-hole of St. Mary’s goalie to make the score 1-0 in Clarkston’s favor.
Less than a minute later another stern forecheck, this time by senior Maverick Erickson caused the puck to trickle onto senior Kyle Cummings? stick, who promptly deposited the rubber disc into the net high on the stick side. Erickson was given an assist on the goal.
St. Mary’s rallied late in the second period as Billy Balent scored a power play goal after a wild carom in front of the net following a shot by James Watts. The Eaglets? Dan Stanisz also assisted on Balent’s goal.
St. Mary’s then tied the score with 3:23 remaining in the game as Brandon Kozlowski subtley deflected a shot from the point by Clinton Bourbonais. Stanisz also earned a secondary assist on Kozlowski’s goal.
Not to be outdone, Clarkston ended the second period on an uptick as senior Shane O’Toole crashed the net and bullied the puck past the goal line to give the Wolves a 3-2 lead with 1:23 remaining before the break. Junior Taylor Turner and Cummings assisted on O’Toole’s goal..
‘We played with good effort and heart. We were proud of them,? Krygier said.
Clarkston finishes the season with a 12-12-1 (9-4-1) record.
Much like last year when the Wolves graduated 11 seniors, Clarkston will have to fill the gap left by 12 departing players this year.
Unlike last year, in which Clarkston’s entire roster was junior and seniors, Clarkston could return. four sophomores, two freshman and six juniors from this year’s team.