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Cougars' Offense Explodes for 18 Goals in Weekend Sweep of RCU

Cougars' Offense Explodes for 18 Goals in Weekend Sweep of RCU
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December 6, 2024

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar ACHA hockey team picked up a pair of wins, as they easily took care of business against the Rochester Christian Warriors in this weekend's WHAC series.

In Game 1 vs. RCU: Collin Kerchoff scored just eight minutes into the action, and after Billy Simms scored a power play goal one minute later, Cleary had a commanding 2-0 lead.  Wes Smith and Brett Woolcott would add two more goals in the opening period, to give the Cougars a 4-0 lead.  RCU would get one goal back in the second, but Wes Smith added his second goal of the game, and Devon Campbell would score another, giving Cleray a 6-1 advantage with twenty minutes to play.  RCU scored twice to start the third period, but Wayne Taiman scored once and JC Garbacik twice to help the Cougars to a 9-3 game one victory.

Vincent Parent made 9 saves on 9 shots faced to start the game, and Nick Schittenhelm made 13 saves in the final 40 minutes of relief.  Wes Smith and JC Garbacik each scored twice, while Peter Houston and Dawson Smith each had two assists.

In Game 2 at RCU: Zane Rydel scored in the first minute, but the Warrios would tie the game up five minutes later,  The first of Collin Kerchoff's goals to give the Cougars back the lead was on the power play, and CU led 2-1 after the first period.  Wes Smith scored another power play goal, followed by a Dylan Tammadge goal, another Wes Smith Goal, and another Collin Kerchoff goal to help the Cougars take control of the game.  Cleary would add three more goals in the third period, when both Wes Smith and Collin Kerchoff scored their third goals for hat-tricks, and Luke St. Ledger added the ninth and final goal, helping the Cougars to a 9-1 victory.

Nick Meyering made 37 saves on 38 shots faced in the win.  Dylan Tammadge, Brett Woolcott, and Billy Simms each had two assists in the game.  Wes Smith's hat-trick was his second this season, while Collin Kerchoff's hat-trick was his first as a Cougar.

The Cougars are now 14-8 overall, 10-4 in the WHAC.  Cleary will wrap up their pre-Christmas schedule with a series next weekend against the Davenport Panthers.  Cleary will host DU on Friday, December 13, at 140 Ice Den for a 7:00 PM puck drop.