Hungry like the Wolves: Clarkston cools Oxford to remain in OAA-Red title chase

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

TROY — In the midst of a league title chase, Clarkston knew it faced a must-win situation against Oxford Wednesday night.

The Wolves built a 4-2 lead after two periods of play and exploded for six goals in the third frame to ice the Wildcats, 10-2, in an OAA Red Division boys hockey contest at the Troy Sports Center.

SPACE EATER: Clarkston's Zach Gotee (front) holds off Oxford's Stephan Fritz during Wednesday's OAA Red Division hockey game. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

Clarkston, which lost most of its team to graduation or junior leagues and has eight sophomores and one freshman on the roster, is 8-1-1 in its last 10 games after starting the season 0-4-0. The Wolves (8-5-1, 5-0-1) maintained its co-league lead with rival Lake Orion in the division and will play the Dragons (5-0-1) for the regular season title on Jan. 29 at the Detroit Skate Club in Bloomfield Hills.

“We have, I believe, eight sophomores on our team. It took us a while to get on the same page,” said veteran Clarkston coach Bryan Krygier. “We had to stay focused, get a system in place and have those players to work together. I think that all contributed to our success.”

Stuck in a 2-2 draw after the first period, Clarkston tacked on two goals in the second period. Junior Zach Gootee scored of a rebound with 14:45 to go in the frame for what proved to be the go-ahead goal. Junior Adam Larkin added the fourth goal with 12:31 left in the period.

Senior Josh Stowers scored just 41 seconds into the third stanza to kind of break the Wildcats’ back, while junior Nate Lowell pounced upon back-to-back goals to make it 7-2 with 13:44 still to go.

In all eight different players scored goals and nine different players drew at least one assist for the Wolves.

It took Clarkston only 27 seconds to cash in for the first goal of the game. Senior Gabe Comos scored on a breakaway to put the Wolves in control. Adam Bruderick scored four minutes later for Clarkston for the quick two-goal advantage.

Oxford tied it up before the first period came to a close with goals by Dean Couwlier and Nick Hocker. The Wildcats’ offense was stymied the rest of the night by sophomore Nick Surovec, one of two sophomore goaltenders on the Wolves’ roster who gained a rare start.

COVER UP: Oxford's Jamison Monroe (left) and Clarkston's Zach Gotee both have their stick on gthe puck during Wednesday's contest at the Troy Sports Arena. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

Surovec finished with 21 saves for Clarkston, which outshot Oxford 13-6 in the third period and 29-23 for the game.

“We were forcing their (defense) to make turnovers and on those turnovers our second guys were able to hop onto the puck and put it into the net,” offered Krygier. “We got plenty of shots and almost every shot seemed to (go) in. That’s an extra bonus. Our defense is also contributing to our offense.

“We played well. We got away from Oxford a little bit and pulled away in the third period. Until the point, Oxford was right there even with us,” continued Krygier. “It was one of those nights where everything (went our) way. Oxford just didn’t have things go their way. That’s what happens sometimes. It’s unfortunate for Oxford. They still have some very good players and they are well-coached. They just didn’t get the bounces.”

Oxford skated into the game with a 9-2-1 record, its best start in program history. The Wildcats (9-3-1, 1-2-1), playing in its first season in the OAA Red Division after winning the OAA White Division last winter, had lost only to Wisconsin state-ranked Fond du Lac (9-7) and to Division 1 seventh-ranked Lake Orion (6-4) this season.

Oxford’s defensive collapse in the third period — the first time in four seasons the Wildcats were mercied — was unexplainable.

“It’s strange. We held a 17-16 shots edge after two periods and we were down 4-2. It was a very even game at that point,” sighed Oxford coach Dave Hague. “We have played really good all season and in our other two losses, they were both close games. I don’t really know what happened. It was just one of those nights. We’ll just go back to the drawing board, learn from this and go on to the next game.”

Bruderick and Lowell were the only Clarkston players to score more than one goal for the Wolves, as the duo combined for four of the 10 goals. Gootee was quite active with a goal and three assists, Larkin had a goal and two assists and senior Jordan Henney and sophomore Jacob LaPorte also tallied for the Wolves.

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Tags: boys hockey, Clarkston Boys Hockey, featured, high school boys hockey, hockey, OAA Boys Hockey, Oxford Boys Hockey, prep boys hockey

Category: Clarkston, High School, High School (M-Z), Oxford, Prep Wraps