Icers split their week in two non-league games in a loss to Port Huron Northern and a win over West Bloomfield.
Coach Bryan Krygier saw the only thing he wanted out of the team – to keep playing hard no matter what the score was.
‘They showed a lot of heart,? said Krygier after the boys lost to Northern, 3-2.
‘We had guys in position to win it. Overall we showed great effort. We out shot our opponent which showed we were working hard and that is all I want from these guys. For the remainder of the year we need to work hard even when things don’t go our way.?
Clarkston pushed towards the Huskies? net when the puck was dropped. Port Huron captured control of the puck and took it into Wolves? territory to put it into the net two minutes into the first period.
Jeremy Messing took a shot on goal at the beginning of the second period and the puck slid into the back of the net to tie the score. Cole Schaffer and David Cannons assisted on the goal.
Northern added two more goals by the time the second period wrapped.
Jon Graham scored one more goal for the Wolves in the third period.
With a minute remaining and a chance to tie, the Wolves pulled Garrett Knappe out of the net and put a sixth man on the ice. They kept the puck in Northern’s territory and took one final shot on goal as the game ended.
Clarkston out shot Northern, 31-29.
‘Yes we will lose a couple games like this along the way, but as long as you are working hard nothing bad comes from working hard. Only good things come when you work hard and that’s what we have to do the remainder of the season.?
The Wolves finished the week with a OAA crossover game against West Bloomfield.
While West Bloomfield was on the lower end of their league, the boys weren’t taking any chances.
‘You can’t underestimate a team,? said Krygier going into the game. ‘We determine what we do. We need to make sure we are working hard and playing to our potential.?
Adam Frank led the boys with a hat trick and the team won, 8-1.
Austin Morse, Connor Lyons, Nick Posawatz, Schaffer and Cannons added one goal each.
The boys out shot West Bloomfield, 58-15.
‘Things came together and we played as a team,? said Krygier. ‘Hopefully it will carry over to the rest of the games.?
Including this week’s league games against Farmington and Lake Orion.
‘We need to get that game against Farmington to hold onto our position in the league,? said Krygier.
The Wolves are in fourth place in OAA I with a league record 4-5 while Farmington is a few places behind them.
The game is at Farmington Hills Ice Arena on Wednesday and begins at 6:30 p.m.
The Wolves will take on rivals Lake Orion on Saturday night.
‘It will be a very tough game,? said Krygier.
Each team will play for bragging rights, especially when Lake Orion beat Clarkston in December, 2-0.The goal is to out shoot them just like last time.
The game begins at 6 p.m.