Icers went for their second win against South Lyon Unified within a week. This time, they did it on the Wolves’ home ice last Friday in the Thanksgiving Showcase, 5-3.
The first Friday contest between the two was at the Novi Metro Invitational where junior goaltender Jack Viazanko turned away 37 shots, giving up just one goal to earn the Wolves a hard fought 2-1 victory.
The rematch last Friday was equally a see-saw battle with the Wolves going on the board in the first period with a smooth pass play from sophomore Drake Gentile and junior Alex Propson to junior Carter Rea to light the lamp with 11:09 left in the first period.
South Lyon responded when Alex Hudgens knotted the score at 1-1 a few minutes later.
Junior Garrett Polish broke the tie when he scored on a power play less than five minutes into the second period. With an assist from senior Joe Smith and senior Adam Johns, he took his long score putting it in the top of the net.
South Lyon only tied the score with a shot from Thomas Cam with 12:36 left in the second period.
It took 59 seconds for the Wolves to pull back into the lead. Smith moved the puck back and forth on the ice as he headed to the net. He took his shot and put it in the net. Senior A.J. Kowal and junior Roman Reiner assisted on the goal.
Reiner made his own goal with 8:36 left in the period to drive Clarkston more into the lead.
Junior Jacob LaPorte scored the last goal for the Wolves with 9:39 left in the final period.
Viazanko stopped 26 shots from South Lyon Unified. The Wolves made 22 shots on the net.
The showcase continued on Friday night with two 2012 state champions clashing. Brighton, the Division 1 champs from last season, brought their “A” game to shutout Division 2 champs, University Liggett, 6-0. Luke Morgan and Joe Borst each contributed two goals and an assist to lead the Brighton scoring. Jimmy Milletics earned the shutout in the net for Brighton.
The Wolves faced off against Brighton on Saturday afternoon. They hung in and staged a late surge of scoring to pull within one goal of Brighton. A late Brighton tally took down the Wolves by a 5-3 margin.
“It was costly mental defensive mistakes that resulted in turnovers that cost us most,” said assistant coach Ralph Humphlett. “We will be working on that in practice this week.”
LaPorter, Kowal and Polish scored for the Wolves. Junior Kyle Hogarth added three assists and junior goalie Nick Surovec was in the net turning away 27 Brighton shots. South Lyon faced off against Liggett and turned on the scoring early to end the first period with a comfortable three goal margin. It held up to give South Lyon netminder, Justin Zabinski a 6-4 win over the icers from Liggett. Forward, Cam Thomas had two goals and Alex Hudgens added two assists to pace the SL Unified scoring.
The Wolves host OAA rival Birmingham Unified on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Detroit Skating Club. They are home again on Saturday against Waterford United, 8 p.m.. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Contribution from Jack Leech