Cleary Faces Defeat in Senior Night Sweep by Northwood, Prepares for WHAC Playoffs

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougars ACHA Hockey team took on the Northwood University Timberwolves this weekend in the last regular season series of the 2024-2025 season. The Cougars also honored its four Seniors Zach Eakes, Peter Houston, Devon Campbell, and Justin Reddy, on Friday night before the game. 

In Game 1 vs Northwood:

Northwood would come out of the gate looking to get the lead scoring just 51 seconds into the game giving the Timberwolves a 1-0 lead. The Cougars would settle in and goaltender Nick Meyering would get to work. Northwood would walk away with a 1-0 lead after the first period with the Cougars only putting up 5 shots on net in the period. The second period would look to flip the script for the Cougars. They would put 12 shots on net but none would pass Northwoods goalie. Nick Meyering would remain strong in net making 13 more saves and keeping the Cougars in the game. With confidence growing and momentum looking to shift, the Cougars would come out in the third period and tie the game at 1-1. Wes Smith would get a pass in front of the net from Ben Kozar and squeeze it past the right side of the goalie. Northwood would respond immediately however and take the lead back just 30 seconds after the Cougars were able to tie it. Northwood would roll from there scoring two more goals later in the period to spoil Senior Night and leave the Cougars with a 4-1 loss. 

Nick Meyering (11-8) would suffer the loss in net making 40 saves on 44 shots. Wes Smith's goal was his 20th of the season. 

In Game 2 at Northwood:

Once again Northwood would waste no time getting on the scoreboard as they would take a 1-0 lead just over two minutes into the game. Wes Smith was able to tie the game late in the period, however, Northwood would reclaim the lead with just 36 seconds left on the clock in the period. After Northwood would take a 3-1 lead, it would only take 20 seconds for the Cougars to respond. JC Garbacik would score with an assist from Wes Smith making it 3-2. After Northwood took a 4-2 lead early in the third period, the Cougars would fight back making it 4-3 with a Collin Kerchoff goal with just over 11 minutes to play. Northwood's defense locked down for the rest of the night not allowing the Cougars to score. The Timberwolves would go on to score two more goals in the period (one empty net goal) making the final 6-3 in favor of Northwood. 

Vincent Parent (7-9) suffered the loss in net. Wes Smith would pick up 3 points in the game with one goal and two assists. 

Cleary finishes the 2024-2025 regular season with a record of 19-17 on the season and finished 14-10 in WHAC Conference play. It is the best regular season and WHAC Conference record to date for Cleary. The Cougars will play next Friday, February 21st in the first round of the WHAC Conference Hockey Playoffs. They will take on the Aquinas College Saints at 5:00 PM in the first round.