Seniors left the ice with a smile on their faces and bragging rights after defeating Lake Orion in their last face-off against their rivals.
The Dragons had kept the game tied up until the third period.
With nine minutes remaining in the game, the Wolves found themselves in close proximity to the net and a chance to score. Lake Orion’s defense crowded around the net.
Michael Fiteny passed the puck away from the goal and to defender David Cannons.
As Lake Orion’s icers moved forward, Cannons swung his hockey stick. Goalie Joe Janiga moved out of the net to block the shot and the puck hit the back of the net.
The Wolves kept Lake Orion from tying the score and continued shooting to keep the lead.
One minute remained in the game when Lake Orion pulled Janiga from the net and put in a sixth man.
Fiteny grabbed control of the puck and shot it into the empty net with 19 seconds left, ending the game, 4-2.
Fiteny finished the game with a hat trick, scoring one goal during each period.
‘It’s a big rivalry. We were just trying to get the win,? he said. ‘Getting a hat trick is exciting especially in this game.?
Besides the win, the night was also special because both teams hosted the Second Annual Youth Hockey Night.
‘It was great to see the youth hockey players here from Clarkston, from Lake Orion and from surrounding areas,? said Clarkston Coach Bryan Krygier. ‘It was nice to play in front crowd like this with the rivalry with Lake Orion. I think it’s very important. It is healthy for the program and gets people in the stands. It’s good to see where we are at.?
Krygier mentioned the rivalry did bring more intensity from the boys to the game.
‘Even though they outshot us, I think we took it to them physically. We had some nice shots on net. Fiteny played really good, he had a hat trick and Garrett kept it out of the net,? he said.
Connor Lyons assisted on two goals. Luke Connor and Cannons assisted on one against the Dragons. Garrett Knappe saved 28 shots and the boys made 19 shots on goal.
Scott Fabbri and Dave Johnson scored for Lake Orion.
The Wolves had beaten Farmington on Wednesday, 5-4.
Fiteny scored the winning goal with only a few seconds remaining in the game. It was his second goal in the game.
Cole Schaffer and Jack Schlau scored their own goal. Matt Campbell, Adam Frank and Lyons assisted on two goals.
‘Our program is starting to turn and getting more momentum and it’s starting to help us,? said Krygier. ‘Out of our 11 losses only eight of those were one goal games and two were overtime with another being an empty net.?
This week the boys play in the Trenton Showcase.
They will play Traverse City Central and Sault Ste. Marie.
‘It’s going to be very tough teams down there. Sault Ste. Marie has only lost one game all year and Traverse City Central is very competitive. They are well-coached so we are going to be tested again,? said Krygier.
The boys play Traverse City Central on Friday at 12:20 p.m., and Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday at 10:40 a.m.
Both games are played at Kennedy Ice Arena in Trenton.
‘We just got to play hard and keep the winning streak going,? said Fiteny.