Sheppard's and Ewonus' Hat-Tricks Helps #20 Hockey Sweep Lawrence Tech

(Howell, MI)-- The 20th ranked Cleary Cougar men's hockey team extended their winning streak to eleven games Friday and Saturday, as they earned a sweep over the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils.

In Game 1 at Lawrence Tech:  After spotting the Blue Devils a lead, Bennett Sheppard would score the first of his three goals to tie it up, with assists from Tommy Madden and Bailey Ewonus, on a power play goal.  In the second period, captain Dylan Tammadge gave the Cougars the lead, with another power play goal, also assisted by Tommy Madden.  Lawrence Tech would tie the game, and the teams would head into the second intermission tied 2-2.  In the third period, Bennett Sheppard scored his second goal of the game, with an assist from Ethan Lindle, to give Cleary a 3-2 lead.  Sheppard would get his third hat-trick of the season eight minutes later, when he scored an unassisted goal to make it 4-2.  Bailey Ewonus would then finish things off with an empty net goal, with an assist from Braeden Bzovey, to make it a 5-2 final score.

Nick Meyering would earn the victory in goal, and improved to 7-0 oin the season (5 regulation wins-0 losses-2 shootout wins) on the season.

In Game 2 vs. Lawrence Tech:  After a back and forth first period with limited chances, neither team could find the back of the net, and the first intermission came with a 0-0 score.  In the second period, Bailey Ewonus would get the Cougars on the board when he scored a power play goal, with assists from Tommy Madden and Bennett Sheppard.  The Blue Devils would tie things up three minutes later, and the two teams went into the second intermission tied 1-1.  Blair Krawchyk would give the Cougars the lead in the third period, with assists from Avery Byron and Tommy Madden.  With ten minutes to play, Bennett Sheppard scored, with assists from Bailey Ewonus and Billy Simms, to give the Cougars a 3-1 lead.  Lawrence Tech would score two goals in less than a minute to tie things up, and with the score at 3-3, both teams played on.  After Brett Woolcott was called for a penalty, Cleary would force a turnover while on the penalty kill, and Bailey Ewonus would net his second goal of the game short-handed, with an assist from Austin Bailey, to give the Cougars a 4-3 lead.  LTU would pull their goalie, and the Cougars made them pay, as Bailey Ewonus would get his hat-trick goal, with an assist from Bennett Sheppard.  Blair Krawchyk would score another empty net goal, with an assist from Brett Woolcott, to put the nail in the Blue Devil coffin, and the game would end with a 6-3 score.

Nick Meyering would earn his 8th win of the season (6 regulation wins, 0 losses, and 2 shootout wins) while making 31 saves on 34 shots faced.

The Cougars improve to 13-1 on the season (10 regulation wins - 1 loss - 3 shootout wins).  Cleary will be off through Thanksgiving, and will return to action on Friday, December 5, when they host the Aquinas College Saints at 140 Ice Den.  The game is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM.

*Picture Courtesy of Bad Cat Media*