Cougars Come Up Short in Sweep vs Wolverines

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougars hockey team played extremely competitive hockey, but came up just short in both games this weekend in a series against the UM-Dearborn Wolverines.

In Game 1:  The Wolverines would get on the board first, just a couple minutes into the game to take a 1-0 lead, which they would hold for the next 10 plus minutes.  Back to back UM-D penalties would give the Cougars a 5 on 3 advantage, and they would capitalize, when Ben Gledhow slotted it home, with assists from Cam Thomas and Wes Smith to tie the game.  That score would hold for the rest of the first period, and into the second, until Derry MacBeth was called for a penalty.  The Wolverines would score on the ensuing power play to make it 2-1.  Into the third period and Cleary still trailing, the Cougars would once again get a 5 on 3 advantage in the waning minutes, but could not find the equalizer as the Wolverines held on to win 2-1.  Koby Kebbe was excellent in between the pipes, making 37 saves on 39 shots.

In Game 2:  It started off as well as you could ask for the Clougars, when Alessandro Nicastro got things going just 7 minutes into the game, with assists from Wes Smith and Logan Porter.  After Erik Wafer was called for a penalty, Cleary would add another goal, this time short-handed as Wes Smith scored, the assist coming from Zack Wiener, to give the Cougars a 2-0 advantage.  Dearborn would inch back in the first period to make it 2-1 after the first 20 minutes.  After Dearborn tied the game in the early moments of the second period, Cleary's Ben Gledhow would score a power play goal, with an assist from Jonny Gardiner to make it 3-2.  The Wolverines would answer again to tie the game, but Cam Thomas found the back of the net on another power play goal, with assists from Dalton Cummings and Ben Gledhow.  Dearborn would score a late period goal to once again tie, and the game would go into the final 20 minutes tied 4-4.  Unfortunately for Cleary, the visiting Wolverines struck first, and then took control of the game with two more goals to take the win with a final score of 7-4.
Liam Kocur did well in goal as he was under pressure most of the evening, making 33 saves on 40 shots on goal.

The Cougars will have a week off to celebrate Thanksgiving, and then will be back in action on December 3 and 4 when they take on the Indiana Tech Warriors.  Friday's game on December 3 at 6:30 pm will also feature a Teddy Bear toss.  Any fan who brings in a teddy bear, or new children's pajamas for Jamar's Jammies, will receive free admission to 140 Ice Den.