Alpena Hockey Wins 10th Straight, Rallies to Beat Saginaw Heritage
TRAVERSE CITY, MI- For the first time in over eight games, the Alpena Wildcats found themselves losing a hockey game. A little more than an hour later, they had won their 10th game in a row.
Rallying from a 2-1 second period deficit, Alpena rallied for a 3-2 victory over Saginaw Heritage. The fourth ranked team in Division Two.
It capped off quite the week for the Wildcats. On Monday they cracked the Michigan Super 10, ranked 9th. They followed that up by making the loudest statement of anyone at the North/South Showcase. A 4-0 win over fourth ranked Flint Powers on Friday put everyone on notice. They followed it up with their 10th straight win over Heritage.
It was a youth movement for the Wildcats, freshman Luke Miller stepped into the top defensive line alongside Brody Thompson. Ian Lightfoot missed the game due to an injury suffered in the Powers victory. His classmate Gavin Winterstein scored one of the biggest goals of the season. He took a pass from Jaden Marchlewski, who had three assists on the night and scored to tie the game at two. The goal was the first of Winterstein’s varsity career.
Heritage got the scoring started as Owen Gohm tipped home a shot from the blue line. Alpena’s Jack Steinke tied the game up minutes later with his third goal of the season.
The game was tied at two after the second periods, Alpena led in the shot department 21-11 after the second frame.
The Wildcats dominated play in the third but could not find a way past Heritage goalie Trevor Selk. After killing a penalty, the Wildcats finally got the game winner, as Reid Meinhardt found Marchlewski who fed a wide open Anden Marceau who gave Alpena the lead.
“Everyone touched the puck on that play and I had the easiest job back post to just put it in, said Marceau. The Wildcats are a perfect 14-0 with their captain in the lineup.
Heritage kept the puck in the Wildcat zone late, but Schultz along with a strong defense effort preserved the 3-2 victory.
Winners of 10 in a row, the Wildcats return home next Friday to take on BNC rival Petoskey.
