Senior Jack Schlau led the hockey team with a hat trick against Stoney Creek.
‘It was a great start to the season,? he said, after the boys beat the Cougars, 8-3, on Nov. 19. ‘We will celebrate this one and stay focused for the next.?
The game started out with a goal by Stoney Creek’s Matt Zuelch. Clarkston picked up the pace in the second period. Senior Jon Graham put the Wolves on the board with 6:48 remaining in the second period. Connor Hughes and Adam Johns assisted on the goal.
Less than two minutes later, Adam Frank rushed the puck and passed it over to Schlau. He hit it towards the net and it went off the post and in. Adam Bruderick also assisted on the goal.
Graham capitalized on a power play at the end of the period and struck to bring Clarkston into the lead, 3-2.
Adam Frank initiated the final period with Clarkston’s fourth goal. After Stoney Creek narrowed the lead, Travis Hargett immediately snuck one into the net.
A goal from Connor Hughes and two more from Schlau finished off the game, 8-3.
‘I thought we played great the first period even though we were down,? said Boys Hockey Head Coach Bryan Krygier. ‘This year, we have to be patient, play how we know and consistently get better every period ? that is what we did this game. We consistently got better and closed the door in the third period.?
The boys tallied 48 shots on the Cougars net and goalie Jonathan Williams saved 12 shots for the night. Also, adding assists during the night were Nick Heinrich, Chad Wotton, Austin Morse, Luke Connor and Sean Hancook.
‘We played pretty well,? said Krygier. ‘The power plays went well. We settled the puck and played it well, scoring three power play goals.?
Two of the power play goals came from Schlau.
‘I was just in front of the net in the right spot and the defense did a good job moving it up top and getting some shots,? he said.
The boys scored another win against Birmingham Unified on Saturday, 5-3.
Hargett led the team by scoring two. Frank, Graham and Schlau scored one.
The boys were down, 2-1 and scored two goals to take the lead. Birmingham scored one more and the Wolves pulled out all the stops to make sure Birmingham didn’t score again.
Frank assisted on two goals and Matt Harrington, Schlau, Wotton, Morse and Hancook each had one assist.
The boys made 34 shots on goal and goalie Alec Gildner saved 11 shots.
‘We played well and worked hard,? said Krygier. ‘We had a few defense mistakes in our zone that cost us a couple goals we need to work one.?
The boys play in the Annual Cranbrook Thanksgiving Tournament this week, starting with Brighton on Friday.
‘They are always a good team,? said Krygier. ‘They won the tournament three years ago. It is always a good game. They play a little bit more solid than we do, but the game could go either way.?
They play at 5 p.m. on Friday. The tournament continues on Saturday at 12 p.m. The championship game is set for 2 p.m.
‘We are going to go in there and dictate play,? said Krygier.