One down, one to go.
Last October, the Wolves hockey team set two goals for this season: win the OAA league title and return to the state finals.
On Feb. 20 the team achieved the first goal by handing West Bloomfield a 10-0 mercy loss to finish the season with 21 points (10-1-1). Birmingham Unified has 19 points (8-0-3) with one league game remaining against Waterford Mott on Feb. 28 at Cranbrook at 8 p.m.
If BU wins, the Wolves will have more victories but will share the title.
The Wolves beat Farmington Unified 5-1 on Feb. 18, which was essential if they were going to have a shot at the title. It is doubtful FU will forget their games against the Wolves this season.
The first meeting on Jan. 8 ended in a 10-5 victory for Clarkston. FU then went on to win 10 straight and move into a three-way tie for first with Clarkston and BU. But the Wolves ended their winning streak and title hopes by beating FU Feb. 18.
The line of Steven Morin, Mike Fogg and Chris Degen led the team to both wins by combining 11 goals and eight assists.
Farmington took the early 1-0 lead on a power play, but when Trevor Johns was hauled down the Wolves tied it up with a power play goal of their own as Steven Morin blasted a slap shot from the point. Johns and Griffin Cummings assisted.
Forty-eight seconds into the second period Adam Peters was called for interference. The Wolves penalty kill has been strong all season and it produced again as Alex Handley sent a perfect pass to a just-on-side Steven Morin, who slipped one 5-hole for the team’s sixth shorthanded goal of the season.
Clarkston’s Aaron Catanese (23 saves) made some huge stops late in the period to hang on to the one-goal lead.
The Wolves came out in the third period with attitude.
‘Coach gave us a motivational speech after the second period,? Kyle Buzzo said. ‘It was a wake-up call. If we wanted to finish first (in OAA), we had to pick it up.?
Less than two minutes into the third period Steven Morin fed a pass to Fogg, who sent one top shelf. On their very next shift, the two were at it again as they passed to linemate Degen, who crashed the net and put his team up 4-1.
Frustrations built up late in the third as the Flyers started throwing punches and running at Catanese. FU ended up with a 6-on-4 with a minute left in regulation. However, Steven Morin hit the empty net to send the Wolves to West Bloomfield for the deciding game.
‘It’s a game we had to win,? assistant coach Ralph Humphlett said. ‘It took a lot of discipline by our guys at the end to stay out of the scrums.?
At West Bloomfield, Wolves players and fans expected to win. In hockey, one never knows. Last March it took a dramatic overtime goal by the Wolves to beat WB in the state quarterfinals.
The boys in blue had a little extra motivation this night as winger Bryan Morin was back in the lineup for the first game after being out for eight weeks with an injury.
Clarkston got down to business quickly, scoring twice in the first three minutes to chase goaltender Zach Lederer from the game.
When Buzzo scored from the right crease at the 2:30 mark on passes from Kyle Cummings and Ricky Spano, no one had a clue this would be the game winner.
Fifteen seconds later defenseman Griffin Cummings scored his first of the season on assists from Buzzo and Johns.
Fogg then welcomed replacement goalie Jacob Bishop with a shot top shelf between the circles. Steven Morin joined the fun, scoring a power play goal on assists from Fogg and Degen.
With 30 seconds left in the first period, Fogg sent a perfect shot inside the right post which sent Bishop to the showers and Lederer back in net.
The Wolves continued the attack in the second period. Peters scored five-hole after Bryan Morin threaded a pass into the high slot.
Fogg made it 7-0 as he took a center ice pass from Degen, flew by everyone, and backhanded a shot for a hat trick.
Less than two minutes later Peters scored again on the power play, with Griffin Cummings and Johns assisting.
Steven Morin scored his second of the night on a pretty shot to the top right corner. Brother Bryan and Peters got the helpers.
With 4:14 left in the period, Fogg crashed the net scoring his fourth of the night and giving the Wolves a 10-0 lead and a running clock.
‘The shots just went my way tonight,? Fogg said.
Degen got his fourth assist of the night and Alex Handley received his first.
Catanese was in goal and recorded his third shutout of the season. He faced just five shots in two periods of play.
The Wolves (15-4-4 overall) had one non-league game remaining against Brother Rice (9-3-3) on Feb. 25.
Regionals begin March 1 when the Wolves take on Gladwin at 7 p.m. If victorious, Clarkston will meet either Bay City John Glen or Traverse City St. Francis on March 4 at 5 p.m. Regional finals are March 6 at 7 p.m.
All games will be played in Bay City at the Bay County Civic Arena.