Clarkston skated in the High School Hockey Weekend Showcase at Kennedy Ice Arena in Trenton, hoping to build on the team’s moderate success in its non-league schedule this season.
The 32-team tournament featured all division I teams ranked in the top 10 by the Associated Press, 18 state-ranked teams in all.
The Wolves (6-11-3) blanked Utica Eisenhower 3-0 on Friday, the Wolves? second win over the Eagles this season.
Garrett Knappe had 22 saves for his second shutout win, fifth overall, of the season. Clarkston out-shot Eisenhower 38-22.
‘We were defensively responsible and we got the puck on net,? Clarkston coach Bryan Krygier said.
‘When our shots on goal go up, an increase in the percentage of those shots going in the net is likely, and that’s what happened.?
Adam Frank and Chris Salo scored for Clarkston, and Jeremy Voelker had a power-play goal for the Wolves.
Their second game on Saturday was not as kind, as they fell to Northville 4-0, allowing three power-play goals and a shorthanded goal.
Krygier was impressed by the Mustangs? forwards.
‘They move the puck well and they can shoot well, their guys can fire the puck,? he said.
The Wolves? troubles came in their own end, Krygier said.
‘We couldn’t get it out of our zone. We broke down defensively,? he said.
The Mustangs out-shot Clarkston 25-12 on the night.
This was the Wolves? sixth year in the tournament, one Krygier feels gains all the players excellent attention from scouts.
‘It exposes them to our level of play, so they can see they don’t always have to go to minors (for recruits),? he said.
‘It good to see some of the best teams in the state you wouldn’t normally see,? he added.