It’s not quit a win, but it’s not a loss either. The Clarkston Wolves didn’t improve their record, but the record did not suffer after a 3-3 tie with Port Huron Northern at Detroit Skating Club on Dec. 7.
The Wolves went to the first intermission knotted at one goal apiece, then proceeded to tie the Huskies in shots 12-12 in the second period, and let Northern back into the game with two unanswered third period goals.
The Wolves (1-4-1, 0-2 OAA) had plenty to be ecstatic about after the second period, when Ryan Kenerson scored his second goal in as many minutes after winning a face-off in the Huskies zone with 0:02 left in the period and firing a quick slap-shot past Chad Kesner. Clarkston headed to the locker room with the momentum, but came out cold in the third period and allowing the Huskies (3-2-1, 0-2 MIHL) to dominate the time of possession.
Kenerson’s goal put the Wolves up 3-1, but a goal each by Jonathan Dewey (14:05) and Matthew Thompson (11:10) got Northern right back into the game at the beginning of the third period.
‘We thought that we were up two goals and we thought we could rely on that, but Port Huron Northern, they always have a good team,? Clarkston Coach Bryan Krygier said.
‘We played not to lose that game instead of playing to win that game. All we had to do was come out even (in the third period) and we would have had the game.?
The Wolves are showing signs of better times on the horizon.
‘It’s a sure sign of some improvement? Krygier said.
‘We’re showing signs of certain things during the course of the games we’re doing well, but now we have to start putting full periods of hockey together. We’re doing things sporadically right throughout the game, but now we have to be more concentrated on individual periods.?
Krygier said the team’s shots on goal (18) are directly linked to how hard the players are working or not working.
The third period the shots were uneven and we were too busy trying to get the puck out of our zone, he said.
The disadvantage facing the Huskies in the third period actually helped them fight back, Northern Coach Bill Warren said.
‘Unfortunately for our guys, we tend to work harder when we’re down a couple goals than when it’s even or we’re a couple goals up,? he said.
‘It’s early and hopefully we’re going to break that trend,? Warren added.
Clarkston scored first in the game in the first period on Zach Rogers? goal (12:07) on a pass from Eric Salo when the two skated into the Huskies? zone on a two-on-one.
Northern answered back when Dustin Farr (10:59) caught Garrett Knappe out of position on a long rebound from a Joseph Mathews shot.
Knappe started in net for the Wolves and made 24 saves for Clarkston, including several early stops on good Northern scoring opportunities.