The Wolves varsity hockey team was a little too accommodating while hosting the Clarkston Christmas Tournament on Dec. 17-18.
Clarkston lost 7-3 to Cranbrook in the first round on Dec. 17 and dropped the consolation game to Davison 5-3 the next day.
‘We are playing passive hockey right now. We need to get back to those basic things of hard work and discipline,? said Clarkston Coach Bryan Krygier.
Senior Forwards Chris Degan and Mike Fogg, and Junior forward Kyle Chartrand scored for Clarkston on Dec. 17 against Cranbrook. Even though Cranbrook (10-0) is a Division III school, they are considered to be one of the best teams in the State.
Clarkston fell victim to another State power from a lower division on Dec. 18 falling 5-3 to Davison, a team currently ranked second in Division II.
Much like the Cranbrook game, the Wolves scored first against Davison, but could not hold the lead in the end.
Senior forward Bryan Morin scooped up a rebound at 10:38 in the first period and was able to flip it by the blocker of Davison goalie Cory Maguire. Junior forward Kyle Cummings and Degen assisted on the goal.
Clarkston seemed to be on their way to a win early in the Davison game: winning 16 of 18 first period face-offs and playing tough physical hockey.
Perhaps too physical as a boarding penalty with 4:16 left in the first led to a Cardinals power play goal.
Two consecutive penalties at the start of the second period left the Wolves sucking air, and soon after Davison’s Marc Thompson jarred the puck loose in front of the net and pounded it back for a 2-1 lead.
Clarkston was able to tie the game up on a wrist shot from the point from junior defenseman Mark Brady, which hit a stick in front and caromed past Maguire. Fogg found Maguire alone at the top of the left circle as he skated along the backboards and gave him a nice crisp pass to set up the goal.
‘We’re able to (play) in Flint and skate and unfortunately there is not much competition there,? said Davison Coach Doug Towler ‘I’d love to have this competition all year long.?
Davison and Clarkston traded goals again at the end of the second and beginning of the third period. Clarkston knotted the game at 3-3 on a deflected shot from the point by Junior Defenseman Scott Cooley with assists from senior forward Eric Paddison and junior forward Mike Medonis.
A win was not in the cards for the Wolves however as Thompson scored his second goal of the day on a breakaway, beating Clarkston goaltender Michael Brach high on the glove side.
Davison added an empty net goal to finish the scoring and officially put the Wolves on a three game losing streak.
‘We are three games short of the half way point (for the season), it’s good to have some of these games once in a while; but if we are not going to be consistent, be disciplined and outwork our opponents, we’re going to have more losses,? said Krygier.
Cranbrook beat Livonia Stevenson 4-2 in the tournament championship.
The Wolves play next on Dec. 6 against Farmington High School at the Detroit Skate Center.