For the first time in Coach Bryan Krygier’s four-year tenure, the Clarkston hockey team is heading to the state quarterfinals.
Junior forward Adam Peters and sophomore forward Trevor Johns notched a goal and an assist each as the Wolves defeated Walled Lake Central 4-1 in a regional final Saturday at Flint IMA Arena.
Senior defenseman Ron Knoebel added two assists for Clarkston (15-8-4), who will take on Oakland Activities Association Division I rival West Bloomfield in the quarterfinals at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Flint IMA. The winner of that game advances to the state semifinals Friday at Compuware Ice Arena in Plymouth.
The regional title is the second in Clarkston’s history; the first came in 1998.
“I think it definitely gives us a little bit of recognition,” Krygier said of the team’s regional win. “We had a little bit of an up and down year, but the players have started to adjust. To get a win against Port Huron Northern to get to the regional finals was special for the team and for the seniors who have been here for four years. To play in the regional finals and win was special for the program.”
The Wolves opened the scoring in the first period with a goal from junior forward Kyle Buzzo on assists from Knoebel and freshman forward Kyle Cummings.
After the Vikings scored with seven minutes in the second to tie the game, the Wolves answered with goals by Johns (unassisted) and junior forward Steve Morin (on assists from Peters and Knoebel) to take a 3-1 lead at the end of the second period.
Peters capped off the scoring in the third period with a power play goal on an assist from Johns.
On Feb. 26, the Wolves were able to overcome an obstacle that had stood in their way for some time – the Port Huron Northern Huskies, who had eliminated the Wolves from the state playoffs the past three seasons.
The Wolves eliminated the third-ranked Huskies from the state playoffs with a 4-1 win in the regional semifinals at the Flint IMA. The Huskies had defeated the Wolves 2-0 on Jan. 4 at Port Huron.
Northern took an early 1-0 lead before the Wolves answered later in the first period on a goal from junior forward Steve Morin.
After the Wolves and Huskies battled to a standstill in the second period, Clarkston broke through for three goals in the third period to put away the Huskies. Senior defenseman Jim Lattanzi, sophomore forward Trevor Johns and senior forward Myles Purdy (empty net) did the honors for Clarkston.
Junior goaltender Aaron Catanese earned the win in net for Clarkston.