The Clarkston hockey team played their best hockey of the season last week, but walked away with a 3-1 loss to #4 ranked Port Huron Northern on Thursday and a 3-2 loss to #7 Birmingham Unified on Saturday.
The Wolves would like to erase 36 seconds of the 90 minutes they skated, as both opponents scored back-to-back goals in a span of less than 20 seconds.
In Thursday’s game, both teams came out strong but PHN scored first as Wolves goalie Mike Brach was screened on the shot.
Clarkston tied it at 1 when Adam Peters redirected a Griffin Cummings slapshot from the point. Steven Morin also assisted.
With one minute left in the first period, Northern scored two quick goals to take a 3-1 lead.
The Wolves dominated the second and third periods, outshooting Northern 26-6, but goaltender Andrew Smith stood on his head making some impressive saves.
‘This was our best effort of the year,? Clarkston coach Bryan Krygier said. ‘We played well. We made two mental errors in the first period but their goalie was the difference. He won the game for them.?
Saturday’s game against Birmingham Unified was the biggest of the season, as both teams are battling to win the league. The Wolves hold a slim one point lead, but Birmingham has a game in hand.
The first period was evenly matched. Birmingham drew first blood, as Ryan Tomaro sent a shot top shelf. CHS netminder, Aaron Catanese, made some huge saves, one on a breakaway, to keep it a one goal game at the first intermission.
The Wolves came out strong in the second period, scoring two unanswered goals. Morin tied the game at 1 as he stole the puck at center ice and skated in for an unassisted goal.
The Wolves took the lead on a bang-bang play as Mike Fogg got the puck behind the net from Kyle Cummings and sent a perfect pass to Mike Medonis, who was at the crease with his stick on the ice.
Four minutes into the third period, Birmingham tied the game at 2. On the very next face-off, Birmingham shot the puck into the Wolves zone. Catanese came out to play the puck. The Wolves lost possession, and before Catanese could get back in net, Brian Walsh flipped the game winner into the empty net.
While Clarkston dropped to 10-3-3 overall, they are still ahead of last year’s start of 7-5-4 after 16 games.
The Wolves play next at Royal Oak Thursday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. and at home on Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. against Grosse Pointe North.