By Mike Stechschulte
Assignment Writer

Once again the Oxford hockey team split this past week.
The Wildcats played three games, winning twice by blowout scores, and dropping the third to a divisional rival. The icers only have one game left in the season.
On Monday, the Wildcats played Flint Southwestern Academy and came out on top by a score of 8-0. Goaltenders Mark Ganey and Mike Stechschulte combined efforts for the shutout. The Wildcats had played Flint Southwestern once before at the beginning of last season, and won that contest 9-1.
Wednesday’s game featured Oxford going head to head with Lakeville and ultimately winning the game by a score of 12-2.
Brian Beaupied got the win in net for Oxford. Beaupied also picked up an assist on the last goal of the game, the first and only point by an Oxford goalie this season. Forward Mike Szabo also picked up his first point of the season with an assist on Johnnie Thompson’s goal in the second period.
The game ended at 2:42 left in the third period with Glen Gagnon’s second goal of the game to enforce the league’s mercy rule, which grants any team with a ten-goal lead an automatic victory. Oxford also scored four short-handed goals in a row, the first time this has been accomplished since the team was founded.
On Saturday, Oxford played division rivals the Lapeer East Eagles.
The Wildcats were looking to set a precedent for the first round of the playoff season, in which the Wildcats will meet Lapeer East once again, but were unable to carry through.
Oxford came out strong in the first period, allowing only 8 shots on goalie Marty Maier. As the game wore on, it became more closely contended, until Brandon Stevens scored a last second goal in the second period to give Oxford the 3-2 lead.
In the third, however, Lapeer East outshot Oxford 17-6 and pulled out the 5-4 victory, proving that they would not be a pushover when it comes time for divisional competition.
The Wildcats have just one game left on Saturday, February 22 against Lake Orion before they must prepare themselves for the state playoffs and a rematch against Lapeer East.
Mike Stechschulte is a sophomore at Oxford and a goalie for the OHS team.