Wolverines Too Much for Cougar Hockey in Closely Played Series

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougars hockey team went toe to toe with one of the top teams in the WHAC, and a nationally ranked team, but couldn't come away with any victories as the Michigan-Dearborn Wolverines swept the Cougars in a two game weekend series.

In Game 1:  Michigan-Dearborn was able to score first just six minutes into the game to take an early 1-0 lead.  It would stay 1-0 until Wes Smith scored his first goal of the game, assisted by Dalton Cummings and Zack Wiener, to tie in the final minute of the opening period.  Just two minutes of game time later, Ben Gledhow gave Cleary the lead when he was set up on a one-timer shot, assisted by Erik Wafer and Jonny Gardiner, to give Cleary a 2-1 lead.  Five minutes later, after the Cougars committed a penalty, Michigan-Dearborn would equalize to tie the game at 2-2.  Later in the period, with the Cougars short-handed once again, Wes Smith was freed open for a breakaway to give Cleary a lead once again, and the goal was assisted by Cam Thomas and Dalton Cummings.  Michigan-Dearborn would tie the game in the final minute of the period, and both teams would head to the locker room with three goals on the scoreboard.  Dalton Cummings would give Cleary the lead in the opening minute of the third period, as he scored with assists from Gledhow and Gardiner to make the score 4-3.  Another power play goal for the Wolverines tied the game, and it looked like it would be heading to overtime when some controversy struck.  With just over two minutes to play, Michigan-Dearborn slotted the puck past Cougar goalie Tyler Krasofsky, but it appeared that the puck went in off the Wolverine player's skate.  After the referees huddled to discuss the situation, it was deemed a good goal.  On the ensuing faceoff, and with the Cougars trailing 5-4, a penalty was called against Michigan-Dearborn.  With the man advantage from the power play, Cleary decided to pull Krasofsky for the extra skater, but the Wolverines would cleary the puck into the empty net to give the visitors a 6-4 advantage.  
Tyler Krasofsky made 47 saves on 52 shots faced.  Wes Smith netted two goals, and Jonny Gardiner and Dalton Cummings each posted 2 assists.

In Game 2:  The two teams would trade goals just 13 seconds apart in the first period, with Cleary scoring off a Ben Gledhow goal (unassisted) to allow both teams to head into the first intermission tied at 1-1.  Michigan-Dearborn would strike first in the second period, but Dalton Cummings answered three minutes later, assisted by Gardiner and Gledhow, to tie the game.  The Wolverines would strike twice later in the period in just under 30 seconds to take a 4-2 lead with plenty of time remaining for a Cougar comeback.  Ben Gledhow would score his second goal of the game, assisted by Jonny Gardiner, to narrow the deficit to 4-3, but the Wolverines would score one more goal with just over five minutes left in the second period to take a 5-3 lead.  Neither team would score in the third period, and the Cougars' comeback would not happen.
Tyler Krasofsky made 32 saves on 37 shots in goal.

Cleary drops to 7-19, 0-16 in WHAC play.  Cleary earns the #6 seed in next week's WHAC Tournament.  They will take on #3 seed Aquinas College Saints at 2:00 PM on Friday, February 18 in Fort Wayne.