Icers split last week with a win over Walled Lake Northern and a lost to Salem in the Michigan Public High School Showcase in Chelsea.
The boys opened with a 3-2 win over Walled Lake Northern last Wednesday, scoring a goal in each period. Joe Smith started the scoring on his power play goal in the first period with an assist from Garrett Polish.
Walled Lake Northern scored next to tie the game but A.J. Kowal put the Wolves ahead again with less than a minute left in the second period and Matt Denny sealed the game for the Wolves seven minutes into final period.
“It was a good win,” said Clarkston Hockey Coach Bryan Krygier.
The Wolves made 28 shots on the net and goalie Jack Viazanko made 26 saves.
“He played well,” Krygier added. “He kept us in the game. They almost tied it. He had a couple of key saves for us.”
The boys lost to Salem on Thursday, 6-2.
“We didn’t play up to our potential. We kind of got exposed in the game,” Krygier said. “It is from the carry over from the last 3-4 games. We haven’t met the team expectations for one reason or another.”
Polish scored the first goal with an assist from Chase Wiedemann and John Foust. Eric Matynowski scored the second goal. He was assisted by Adam Johns and Carter Rea.
“Matynowski got his first point,” Krygier said, adding he is coming back from a collarbone injury. “He is starting to get back to the way he was playing last year – carrying the puck, shooting the puck and making a difference. It takes time coming back.”
The boys made 35 shots on the goal and Nick Surovec made 29 saves in the game.
The Wolves are currently tied for second place with Stoney Creek in the OAA Red. They head into the league playoffs this Friday and Saturday to battle for the top position before they prepare for the MHSAA playoffs.
“We have to get back to the basics,” Krygier said about the next few weeks. “The basics are working hard, being disciplined, and executing our game plans. I definitely think they can do it. It’s not can they do it, it’s do they want to put the effort in. It’s not easy winning – it takes hard work to win. We have to change our mentality and our attitude to a winning one which is we are going to work hard at all costs and we are going to do those things that make a difference.”
The Wolves (11-9-2) take on Farmington on Friday at Farmington Ice Arena, 35500 West 8 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, at 8:30 p.m..
The Saturday game is yet to be determined.