Special Teams Helps Hockey to Shootout Victory Over Concordia

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar ACHA hockey team had an up and down Friday evening, but ultimately came away with a shootout victory over the visiting Concordia Cardinals at 140 Ice Den.

After a 5-minute major was called against Cam Thomas, Cleary would score three goals on the ensuing penalty kill to take a 3-0 lead.  Bennett Sheppard scored the first goal, with assists from Erik Wafer and Justin Reddy.  Just thirty seconds later, Zack Wiener scored the first of his two goals, with an assist from Bennett Sheppard.  Levi Herauf would score the third, with assists from Jonny Gardiner and Zach Eakes.  Concordia would get one back on the same power play, and the score would be 3-1 for most of the opening period.  Late in the period, Zack Wiener would score his second goal of the game on a power play, with assists from Wes Smith and Jonny Gardiner, to give the Cougars a 4-1 lead through the first period.

Concordia narrowed the gap with a pair of goals in the second period, but another power play goal for Cleary, this time by Erik Wafer, with assists from Levi Herauf and Brendyn Galloner, gave the Cougars a 5-3 lead with just twenty minutes to play.  The third period was all Concordia, as the Cardinals stormed back not only to tie the game, but take the lead by a 5-6 margin.  After a Cleary timeout, Wes Smith scored the tying goal, with an assist from Jonny Gardiner, with just under two minutes remaining in regulation, and ultimately forcing overtime.

In OT, Zack Wiener drew a rare penalty shot with 4:01 left in the game, but was unable to earn his hat-trick, and the game continued, and ended with no more goals from open play.  In the ensuing shootout, Cleary got goals from Jonny Gardiner and Billy Simms (GW), to beat the Cardinals 2-1, and earning their second WHAC victory.

Liam Kocur got the win in goal, making 29 saves on 35 shots.  Zack Wiener scored twice, while Jonny Gardiner added 3 assists.  Wes Smith and Levi Herauf each had a goal and an assist.  Five of Cleary's six goals were scored on special teams in the game, not including the penalty shootout game-winner.

Cleary improves to 3-6 overall, 2-3 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will hit the road today to take on Concordia in game two of the weekend series.  The puck drops at 4:30 PM at Arctice Edge Ice Arena.  Tickets are $5, and can be purchased online by going to: https://concordiacardinals.com/tickets/ticket_page