#14 Calvin Gives Pair of Defeats to Cougars on Opening Weekend

#14 Calvin Gives Pair of Defeats to Cougars on Opening Weekend
September 23, 2023

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar ACHA hockey team opened up the 2023-24 campaign with a home and home series vs. the #14 ranked Calvin College Knights this weekend.

In Game 1 at Calvin:  The Knights scored once in the opening period, and twice more in the second period to take a 3-0 lead into the final twenty minutes of action.  After Calvin scored early in the third to extend their lead, Cleary would get on the board when Jonny Gardiner scored, with an assist from Billy Simms, to cut into the deficit.  Calvin added another pair of goals to take a 6-1 lead later in the period.  While killing a power play, Cam Thomas intercepted a pass and beat the goalie, to make the score 6-2, and scored his first goal of the season.  Late penalties allowed the Knights to score two more goals, and the game ended with an 8-2 scoreline.

Tyler Krasofsky suffered the loss in goal, allowing 5 goals on 43 shots.

In Game 2 vs. Calvin:  Calvin scored a pair of goals in the first period, and added two more in the second to take a 4-0 lead.  Cleary's Ben Gledhow would score his first goal of the season, with assists from Jonny Gardiner and Wes Smith, to cut the deficit to 4-1.  Cleary cut into the Knight again on a power play, when Jonny Gardiner scored his second of the season, with assists from Wes Smith and Billy Simms, to make the score 4-2.  With Cleary pushing for another goal, the Calvin defense stood tall, and added the insurance goal they needed, taking a 5-2 lead and the game.

Liam Kocur suffered the loss in goal, allowing 5 goals and making 33 saves.  

Cleary drops to 0-2 on the season.  The Cougars will be back in action next Friday and Saturday, when they take on the Kent State Golden Flashes.  Friday's game at KSU will begin at 8:00 PM, and Saturday's game at 140 Ice Den will begin at 7:30 PM.