Clarkston’s week on the ice of the OAA Division I was a bit bi-polar.
The Wolves began the week’s action with a 4-0 rout of Stoney Creek, at the Detroit Skate Club on Dec. 8.
But the positive vibrations did not last as Troy came back to win a 3-1 contest on Dec. 10 at the Troy Ice Arena.
‘We saw some improvements in the Stoney Creek game, but we gave up those improvements against Troy,? Clarkston Coach Bryan Krygier said after the Wolves loss.
Clarkston held an early lead against the Colts as senior Kyle Chartrand won a faceoff in the right circle. After getting the puck back from junior Ryan Kenerson, Chartrand deposited the puck in the net just :55 into the first period.
Troy equalized the score before the end of the period though, as a turnover during a Clarkston power play in neutral ice let Troy’s Mike Manetta go one-on-one with Clarkston goaltender Adam Richards. Manetta proved the winner of the game within the game as he deked and flipped the puck into the net for the shorthanded goal. The Blackhawk’s Derek Ciminelli assisted on Manetta’s tally.
‘We started out strong but we faded … They beat us to the puck and when other teams beat you to the puck, bad things happen to you,? Krygier said.
Penalties marred most of the second period, stunting the game’s rythym. Troy served four two-minute minors to Clarkston’s three. The Blackhawks capitalized on one of their power plays though, as Tom Hamilton scored with 2:03 remaining in the second.
The two teams combined for 13 penalties in the game. The Wolves were whistled five times, while Troy fractured the rules eight times.
After assaulting the Troy zone for most of the first 10 minutes of the third period, Troy’s Kevin Blake scored with 4:56 remaining in the game to give his team a cushion and send the overstuffed home student section into an uproar. Ciminelli and Andrew Zimcosky assisted on the final goal.
‘Clarkston is a measuring stick. They are a perrenial power in the league as well as in the state,? Troy Coach Tim McCarthy said.
The Wolves record falls to 4-2 (3-1) after the loss to Troy, who is now 5-2 (4-0).
‘I don’t like to get behind in league games. I always want to win the first league game against a team. Usually, by the time we see a team later in the season, we have improved and we can beat them again,? Krygier said.
Clarkston also lost their first contest with Troy last season, but ended up tying the Blackhawks for the league title with a 9-2-1 OAA I record.
The Wolves outshot the Blackhawks 30-24.
Against Stoney Creek, Richards turned away 18 shots to record his second shutout of the season. Scoring for the Wolves were senior Ricky Spano (assist: senior Matt Prasil), Kenerson (senior Scott Cooley), Mike Medonis and Chartrand (Prasil).
The Wolves league matchup at Birmingham United finished too late for this edition of The Clarkston News.
The Wolves host their annual holiday tournament Dec. 16-17 at the Detroit Skate Center.
Clarkston faces Cranbrook at 5 p.m. on the 16th. Davison and Stevenson play at 7:30 p.m. The winners will meet at 2:30 p.m. on the 17th, with the consolation game being played at noon.