By Don Finn, Special to The Review
Feb. 18 and 20 saw the Dragons play two tough Oakland Activities Association (OAA) opponents, Rochester Stoney Creek.
The Stoney Creek contest was a defensive battle resulting in a 1-1 tie.
Goaltender Shawn Horton backstopped the Dragons, turning away 18 shots and making tough saves when called upon. Lake Orion’s lone goal was scored on a snap shot by junior Corbin Rainey as he crossed the blue line and used the Stoney Creek defenseman as a screen.
The deadlock kept the young Dragons unbeaten in their last five games and moved them into a fourth place tie in the OAA Red Division with crosstown rival Clarkston, setting up the Saturday night show down.
But, the same strong defensive play that led to the teams recent success was absent in the first period. Saturday’s game was senior night for Clarkston and their senior starters quickly did damage to Lake Orion on the scoreboard.
It was 2-0 Clarkston before LO got one on the board midway through the period. The Wolves continued to apply pressure and scored two more goals in the last three minutes of the period.
Trailing 4-1 after the first period was not the way the coaching staff visualized the game going.
‘We seemed as though we so pumped up for the game, the players forgot their roles in our defensive scheme and were caught out of position early and often,?, said Coach Pat Cherry.
The Dragon’s lone goal in the second period was a result of Shane Stockwell converting a pass from Brent Cotter, finding the back of the Wolves net at the 8:12 mark of the period.
In between periods the coaching staff stressed the need for the Dragons to forget about the first period and focus on the next two periods, one at a time. The strategy seemed to resonate with the Dragons as they scored two goals to Clarkston’s lone marker, winning the period and closing the gap to 5-3. The Dragons got their scoring from
Danny Balscak and Nick Balavich. Blascak’s blast from the point was the finishing touch after a nice set up pass from Zachary Koonce. Brad Bogus got the puck to the net, allowing Balavich to bang home a rebound for the Dragon’s third goal on the day.
The two team’s traded scoring chances — but not goals — in the third giving the standing room only crowd at the Detroit Skating club plenty of anxious moments. Despite digging themselves a deep hole in the first period, the Dragon’s kept playing hard the entire game.
In the end, the deficit was to much to overcome.
The icer’s enter the final week of the regular season, playing Rochester United Thursday night at the Skating Club at 8 p.m., and will participate in OAA Day, Saturday, at the Troy Sports Center. Their opponent and game time are yet to be determined.
Earlier this month, the ‘never give up Dragons? found the back of the net seven times in the third period to beat the Utica Chieftains 9-2 and scored four goals in the third period to beat Macomb Dakota 6-5, despite a slow start in both games.
Against Utica, the Dragons peppered the opposition netminder with 51 shots. Scoring 20 seconds into the game was Junior Jesse Cameron. Cameron had help from line mates Brett Reed and Balavich. Despite the Dragon’s winning the territory battle, the first period ended 1-1.
The second period saw much of the same as the Dragon’s dominated the play, but again only scored one goal and ended the period tied at 2-2. This time Cameron scored on the power play with help from Blascak and Zachary Koonce.
The discussion between periods focused on the Dragon’s inability to finish their scoring chances and a change in mindset and strategy was needed. Coach Cherry changed the game plan, enabling more shots to be taken closer to the target and allowing for a more concentrated effort to convert the rebound opportunities.
The plan seemed to work as the icer’s scored seven times during the period. Scoring for the Dragon’s came from all lines, including recently added junior varsity call up Andrew Vanek. Vanek contributed a goal and an assist on the night. Also lighting the lamp were, Corey Hodge, Corbin Rainey, Cotter, Stockwell, Koonce and Cameron.
Saturday night’s contest against Macomb Dakota was had a different flavor. Dakota came out strong and put the Dragon’s on their heels.
The score was 4- 0 before the Dragons could catch their breath. However, Blascak’s wrap around goal with help from Koonce and Jake Kreutzer near the end of the period to make the score 4-1 to give the icers some life.
The teams traded goals in the second period and the buzzer sounded with Dakota leading 5-2. Rainey chalked up the LO marker with help from Ryan Liddicoat and Koonce.
What Dakota did not know is that this Dragon group has is a resiliency that many do not. The entire team collected themselves between the second and third periods and decided enough was enough.
The third period Lake Orion tsunami was started by senior Assistant Captain Hodge. Hodge converted a rebound opportunity started by Elliott Rinke and Koonce.
Next up was a laser wrist shot by Brent Cotter from the left boards beating the goalie’s glove and pulled the Dragons within one. Daniel Chapie’s wrist shot from the slot tied up the score and set the stage for the last second heroics.
With less than a minute to go, the physical play of the Dragon’s forced a Dakota turn over in their own zone. Captain Blascak picked up the loose puck and sent a hard slap shot into the back of the net, lifting the Dragons to their fourth victory in a row.
Tami Reed contributed to this story