On a night honoring Brandon’s senior hockey players, Mike Cybulski and Kyle Jackson reminded Blackhawks fans the future is bright for the team.
Cybulski and Jackson, both juniors, each netted a hat trick as the host Blackhawks routed Flint Metro League rival Oxford 9-2 in a Feb. 20 contest.
Mike Ross added two goals and Brendon Moquin one goal for the Blackhawks, while Joel Pappas contributed three assists.
Four days later, the Blackhawks continued their winning ways, defeating visiting Lake Fenton 10-0 in a game halted by the mercy rule. Brandon improved its season mark to 16-4-2.
Pappas scored two goals for the Blackhawks, while Jackson, Ross, Phil Liquia, Scotty Steudle, Moquin, Craig Skidmore, Alex Hockey and Tony Kraydich added one goal apiece.
Before the Oxford game, a ceremony was held for Brandon’s five senior hockey players. Four of those players ? Pappas, Steudle, Brian Quarrella, and Liquia ? have been with the Brandon program all four years of its existence, while the other senior, Matt Ruppert, has been with the program three years.
‘Joel was the only one that had ever played before joining the program,? Brandon coach Brian Moore said. ‘Their growing pains were our growing pains. As they got better, our team got better. They just worked hard to become good hockey players. Our recent success has been due, in large part, to their efforts.?
The Blackhawks blew the game open right from the onset. Just 1:45 into the contest, Cybulski scored on an assist from Ross to give Brandon a 1-0 lead. The Blackhawks later scored at 3:34 of the first period (Ross, from Pappas and Cybulski) and at 5:51 of the first (Jackson, unassisted) to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
Jackson’s second goal of the game at 13:33 of the first (on assists from Quarrella and Stephen Tallman) put the Blackhawks up 4-0 as the first period came to a close.
The Blackhawks continued their offensive onslaught in the second period, as Moquin scored at 4:11 of the second on assists from Scott Thurman and Ruppert, and Cybulski followed that up with his second goal of the game on assists from Pappas and Ross at 4:48 of the second.
With the Blackhawks up 6-0 after Cybulski’s goal, the Wildcats pulled starting goaltender Mike Stechschulte in favor of backup Kyle Geiger.
After the goalie change, Mike Lawrence put Oxford on the scoreboard at 6:14 of the second. However, Cybulski and Jackson both completed their hat tricks toward the end of the second, giving the Blackhawks an insurmountable 8-1 lead after the second.
In a game shortened to two periods due to the mercy rule, the visiting Blackhawks routed Mt. Morris 10-0 on Thursday, Feb. 19.
Jackson scored two goals for the Blackhawks, while Ross, Cybulski, Ruppert, Brandon Newman, Tallman, Pappas, Brad Erlandson and Thurman all scored one goal apiece.
The Blackhawks scored four goals in the first period and six in the second.
Brandon had a tougher time against the Bay City Thunder Feb. 18, but still pulled out a 4-2 win. Cybulski notched a hat trick in the game, while Ross contributed one goal and three assists.
Ross scored the first goal of the game with 11:08 left in the first period, as Quarrella assisted. Cybulski gave Brandon a 2-0 lead with 5:28 left in the first, as Ross assisted on the goal.
Bay City scored with 4:54 left in the first to trim the Brandon lead to 2-1.
Cybulski put Brandon up 3-1 with 13:24 left in the second, as Ross and Tallman drew the assists. Cybulski then capped off his hat trick at 8:37 of the third, with Ross assisting.
The Blackhawks kick off postseason play against LakeVille Tuesday, March 2 at the Flint IMA Arena. If Brandon wins that game, they will take on the winner of the March 2 Goodrich-Fenton playoff game on Thursday, March 4 at the Flint IMA.
Moore said he is optimistic about the team’s chances. ‘We’ve been playing well recently,? he said. ‘I like where we’re at.?