First Place Showdown Ends in Hockey Splitting Series with Indiana Tech

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar hockey team took on the #21 ranked Indiana Tech Warriors in a weekend series battle that could determine the WHAC's regular season champion.

In Game 1 at Indiana Tech:  The Warriors would strike first, scoring a goal almost nine minutes into the game to take a 1-0 lead.  Jared Salminen would tie the game four minutes later after he scored, with an assist from Braeden Bzovey and Bailey Ewonus.  Indiana Tech would answer four minutes later with another goal, and the two teams went into the first intermission with the score 2-1.  Cleary would tie the game just one minute into the second period, when JC Garbacik scored, with an assist from Tristen Bear.  The Warriors answered less than one minute after to reclaim their 3-2 advantage.  Cleary would respond, scoring twice to finish the period, and taking a 4-3 lead.  Tommy Madden scored the team's third goal, with assists from Jared Salminen and Bailey Ewonus.  Blairk Krawchyk would score the eventual game-winner after intercepting a pass and scoring on a breakaway to make it 4-3.  Neither team would score in the third period, as the Cougar defense was up to the task.

Nick Meyering earned his 12th win of the season, making 34 saves on 37 shots faced.  The win moved Cleary into first place for the evening, after jumping over Indiana Tech by two points.

In Game 2 vs. Indiana Tech:  Bailey Ewonus would score the game's opening goal, with assists from Jared Salminen and Tommy Madden.  Indiana Tech answered nineteen seconds later, tying the game 1-1.  The Warriors would take the lead midway the first period to take a 2-1 lead.  Bailey Ewonus would score his second goal of the game moments later, with an assist from Tommy Madden.  Indiana Tech struck once again later in the period, putting the Cougars behind by a 3-2 score through one period of play.  JC Garbacik tied the game three minutes into the second period, with an assist from Collin Kerchoff.  Blair Krawchyk gave the Cougars the lead when he scored midway through the period, with an assist from Zane Rydel.  Indiana Tech would score a power play goal to tie the game at 4-4, then took a 5-4 lead with three and a half minutes to play in the period.  Blair Krawchyk would score his second goal of the game with two minutes left in the period, with an assist from Bennett Sheppard.  The Warriors would score twenty-five seconds later to take a 6-5 lead going into the third period.  Cleary would push forward in the final stanza, but were unable to find the tying goal.  The Cougars would pull goalie Nick Meyering with 0:45 seconds left in the game, and had shots on goal, including one by Dylan Tammadge with 0:01, but the shot was saved.

Nick Meyering would suffer the loss in goal, making 38 saves on 46 shots faced.

The loss drops Cleary's record to 19-3 (15 regulation wins, 3 regulation losses, and 4 overtime/shootout wins), with an 11-3 record in the WHAC (9 regulation wins, 3 regulation losses, and 2 overtime/shootout wins)  The Cougars now sit on 31 points, and are one point behind first place Indiana Tech for the season championship.  The Cougars will need help from the other members of the WHAC if they are to jump the Warriors with six conference games remaining.  The Cougars will return to action next Friday and Saturday, when they take on the Rochester Christian Warriors.  Cleary will honor this year's seniors prior to their game on Friday, which is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM.