Balavich, Galasso shine as Lake Orion ousts Clarkston
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Come through in the clutch in the postseason, and the friend requests might increase through various social media networks.
That could be the scenario for Nick Balavich and Drew Galasso over the next few days.
Balavich scored the game-winning goal with just 5:19 left in the third period and Galasso was brilliant between the pipes as Lake Orion turned back Clarkston for the third time this season, this time in 2-1 fashion in a Division 1 regional semifinal contest at the Detroit Skate Club.
FIREPOWER: Lake Orion’s Brad Bogus celebrates scoring a second-period goal with teammate Jordan Stross (No. 15) during Thursday’s 2-1 regional semifinal victory over Clarkston at the Detroit Skate Club. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
“That could happen,” laughed Balavich of the potential attention. “I’m just trying to help my team win. I think we had a really big crowd here tonight. That’s the type of support that we need.”
With the win, the state-ranked Dragons (16-7-3) will advance to Saturday’s 7 p.m. regional final at the Mt. Clemons Ice Arena against fellow state-ranked opponent Utica Eisenhower.
Lake Orion defeated Eisenhower, 10-2, in a regional opener last year and went on a run to the Final Four for the first time in program history. This will mark the fifth time in six seasons the Dragons will play for the regional trophy. The Dragons won regional crowns in 2011 and 2007.
BOARD MEETING: Lake Orion’s Trevor Knight (left) and Clarkston’s Adam Johns (No. 15) battle for the puck in the corner during Thursday’s Division hockey regional semifinal. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
Lake Orion and Clarkston have had plenty of history when it comes to close games the past few years and this meeting was no exception. The two teams first played on Jan. 28, with Lake Orion holding a 2-1 overtime win, while the Dragons edged Clarkston, 3-2, Feb. 25 in the Oakland Activities Association Red Division tournament championship game.
Lake Orion is now 5-0-1 in its last six games overall and captured its third straight win, although they have not come easy. The Dragons edged Lapeer Unified, 4-3, in double overtime Tuesday despite holding a 51-20 shots advantage.
“We played three one-goal games we were fortunate to come out on top every time,” Lake Orion head coach Nick Field said. “We’re going to take it. They didn’t give it to us. We earned it, so we’re going to take it. Now, we have a 24-hour rule, where we’ll celebrate this for a short time and we’ll come to practice (Friday) evening and prepare for Eisenhower.”
Against Clarkston (11-11-3), Lake Orion had to dig deep to oust the Wolves, who were in a separate region last season and also won a regional championship along with the Dragons.
It was Lake Orion that drew first blood, when Brad Bogus unleashed a slap shot from the boards just inside the blue line that connected with the upper 90 of the net with 14:07 left in the second period. Daniel Chapie and Ryan Szydlowski picked up the assists.
Clarkston finally knotted the score with 3:29 left in the second period immediately after killing off a Dragons’ power play. Adam Bruderick tapped in a close-range shot in front of the next off quick passes from Chase Wiedemann and Adam Larkin.
Clarkston outshot Lake Orion 11-5 in the third period, but it was Balavich who came through with the late game-winner.
Dylan Rosen and Shane Stockwell picked up the assists on the game-winner, slotting the puck in front of the net to Balavich, who tucked in a five-foot shot to put the Dragons up for good.
“I think Shane did a nice job of getting the puck over to me and I was able to put it in,” said Balavich, who has 22 goals this season. “It was a good team goal. The goalie slid way over and I had plenty of space to score.”
Clarkston outshot Lake Orion 26-24, but Galasso turned aside 25 shots for the Dragons, including an acrobatic stop inside two minutes on a slap shot by Johns.
“He’s played great for us all year long and he came through again for us tonight,” said Balavich of Galasso.
On a power play with 1:50 to go, Clarkston pulled its goalie, sophomore Jack Viazanko, who notched 22 saves, and skate with a 6-on-4 situation down the stretch, but could not net the equalizer.
Wolves coach Bryan Krygier, whose team has won seven regional championships in 15 years, opted not to comment.
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