Senior Adam Frank kept his team in the game when he scored a power play goal in the second period on Saturday.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s held onto their lead, but the goal kept the Wolves from losing a shut-out game, 7-1.
‘We were a little bit unevenly matched,? said Clarkston Hockey Head Coach Bryan Krgyier. ‘They have a strong team and they are the top team in the state. It is very difficult to go into their rink and take a game away from them.?
The Wolves made 16 shots on goal and Alec Gildner made 28 saves.
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Clarkston lost a league game to Rochester United on Dec. 10, 7-5.
Jack Schlau made his moved on Rochester United’s net while the competition had one player in the penalty box.
He placed the puck into the net and put Clarkston on the board and in the lead.
Frank and Austin Morse followed suit and put to more in the net before the period ended.
‘We started off well,? said Krygier. ‘Then we kind of gave the game away.?
Clarkston kept the lead going into the third period with a goal from Dillion Draver, 4-3.
Rochester scored four in the final period, finishing with the win. Jon Graham made the fifth goal of the game. Clarkston outshot Rochester, 29-18 and Jonathan Williams was the goalie during the night.
After the two losses, Krygier saw what the team needs to keep working on.
‘We need to work hard every period,? he said. ‘We need to be consistent and we need to execute the things we do in practice.?
He also noted a few players already doing those things – Frank and Schlau.
‘They have been working hard and have been consistently putting us on the scoreboard.?
The boys host their annual Christmas Tournament before they go on winter break and play Cranbrook on Friday at 5 p.m.
Though the Wolves lost to the Cranes in November, 4-0, Krygier knows anything can happen.
‘I think from experience, watching game film and playing against some tough teams, hopefully we can respond and give them a little bit of a better game,? he added.
Novi and Davison follow. The tournament continues on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. , and the final at 2:30 p.m.