Alpena Hockey Season Opening Comeback Halted 3-5
ALPENA, MI – The Alpena hockey season is officially underway. The Wildcats took on M-1 United at Northern Lights Arena in Alpena’s first game of the year with new head coach Ben Henry.
Starting in the first period, the M1 offense would fire out the gate first. Anderson Brien fires a wrist shot and gets it right past the goalie to get on the board first.
Same period and Jake Domzalski takes a shot that’s saved off the pads. However James O’Connor comes in with the second chance shot and Alpena is now down 2-0.
It was a rough first period for Alpena who had zero shots on net throughout the entire period. Griffin Murray of M1 gets the slapshot goal and we head into the 2nd period 3-0.
Going into intermission, it seemed like Ben Henry really fired up his team because the Wildcats came out fighting in the second. Alpena on the power play and Anden Marceau working around the net finds an opening and takes it. Alpena is on the board now with the score at 1-3.
Next freshman Garret Hamp would get an insane goal as he chases down M-1’s Ethan Utych for the puck. Utych tries to clear it but the puck bounces off of Garret’s skate and ends up in the back of the net. An incredible goal for Alpena, now only down by one.
Less than six minutes in the period now. The puck is passed around until the captain Matthew Thompson lobs the puck over the goalie. This one is tied going into the 3rd period.
Both teams fighting for the puck against the boards. Ethan Utych though would get it and fire a shot that’s saved. Then Anderson Brien puts it back in and M-1 United retakes the lead in this one 4-3.
With time running low, the Wildcats go with an empty net trying to get another comeback in this one. However stealing the puck in the back of the ice is Anderson Brien and he gets the empty net goal to wrap this game up.
The Wildcats fought hard to stay in this one and performed exceptionally, but just come up short against M-1. Final score in this one is 5-3 and Alpena looks for revenge against M-1 Saturday at 2.
