Hockey Shuts Out Rochester Christian Twice to Earn Weekend Sweep

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar hockey team won their sixth and seventh consecutive games this weekend, as they swept the Rochester Christian Warriors in a pair of games.

In Game 1 at Rochester Christian:  Cleary jumped out to a six goal lead in the first period, thanks in large part to a Bennett Sheppard hat-trick in the first twenty minutes.  Bennett Sheppard would score the opening goal, with assists from Blair Krawchyk and Avery Bryon.  Less than two minutes later, JC Garbacik scored, with assists from Tyler Ward and Mason Blow, making the score 2-0. Bennett Sheppard scored his second goal in the game's 8th minute, with assists from Blair Krawchyk and Billy Simms.  Ethan Lindle made it 4-0 with assists from Tyler Ward and Mason Blow.  The score would stay at 4-0 for almost seven minutes until Sheppard scored his third goal, with assists from Blair Krawchyk and Dylan Tammadge.  The period's final goal came with 1:30 to play when JC Garbacik scored with an assist from Brayden Goddard.

The Cougars would add three more goals in the second to expand their lead.  Less than two minutes into the period, Bennett Sheppard scored his fourth goal, with an assist from Dylan Tammadge.  Blair Krawchyk would score the team's eighth goal with an assist from Zane Rydel, and Bailey Ewonus scored the team's ninth goal with an assist from Steven Miller.  One goal was scored in the third period, when Bailey Ewonus scored an unassisted goal.

Cleary's defense was stellar, keeping the Warriors off the scoreboard, earning a 10-0 shutout victory.

Vincent Parent would earn the win, making 22 saves on 22 shots faced en route to his third win on the season.

In Game 2 vs. Rochester Christian:  The game was scoreless for almost fifteen minutes before the Cougars scored to take the lead.  Braeden Bzovey would get Cleary on the board, with assists from Ethan Lindle and Bailey Ewonus.  Less than a minute later, Tommy Madden scored, with assists from JC Garbacik and Peter Houston, to make it 2-0 heading into the first intermission.  In the second period, Cleary scored a trio of goals.  Dylan Tammadge would score, with an assist from Blair Krawchyk, to make it 3-0.  Two minutes later, Ethan Lindle scored, with assists from Bennett Sheppard and Bailey Ewonus.  Peter Houston would snipe a goal almost two minutes later from near the blue line, with an assist from Matthew Cunningham, to make it 5-0.  In the third period, Cleary added two final goals to take the game 7-0.  Tommy Madden would score the sixth goal, with assists from Blair Krawchyk and Bennett Sheppard, and Dylan Tammadge scored the final goal, with assists from Blair Krawchyk and Bennett Sheppard.

Ryan Nickerson would earn the shutout in his season debut, making 25 saves on 25 shots faced to earn his first victory as a Cougar.

Cleary improves to 7-1-2 overall, 5-1-2 in the WHAC, where they remain in first place with 19 points.  The Cougars will jump back to non-conference play next weekend with a home and home series against the Rockets of the University of Toledo.  Cleary will host the Rockets on Satuday, November 8, at 8:00 PM.

*Picture Courtesy of Bad Cat Media*