MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Squires Chiropractic, Smith & Eddy Insurance, and VanderHaag Car Sales & Rentals.
CADILLAC — The Lakeshore Badgers won their first round of regionals Tuesday defeating the Cheboygan Chiefs 5-4.
The game was tightly contested with three lead changes in the contest. The Chiefs jumped out to an early lead, scoring 88 seconds into the game on a goal from Daniel Harke. The Badgers responded 2 minutes later with a goal from Mason County Central junior Cyric Jabrocki to even the game at 1. The Badgers added another goal from Cyric Jabrocki with 6 minutes remaining in the period, a tally that came on the power play.
The Chiefs came out of the intermission with intensity, scoring just 92 seconds into the period on a goal from Hunter Belmas. The Chiefs weren’t done there, adding another goal just a minute and fifteen seconds later on a tally from Kaden Pellenz, taking the score to 3-2 in favor of the Chiefs. The teams traded chances for much of the rest of the period until the Badgers evened the score at 3 on a goal from MCC senior Levi Young with six and a half minutes remaining in the period. MCC senior Lukas Schade added another with about 4 minutes remaining in the period, taking the teams to the locker rooms for the second intermission with the Badgers leading 4-3.
The third period saw the Badgers carry play for much of the first half of the period. The Chiefs were able to capitalize on a mistake and tied the game on a shot from Brody McGovern with about 7 minutes remaining in the game. The Badgers dug deep and were able to grind out another goal from Lukas Schade to take the lead with five and a half minutes to go in the contest. Those remaining minutes were high tempo with action at both ends of the ice. The Badgers got key saves to preserve the win from goalie Joel Knobel who earned the win, stopping 13 of the 17 shots he faced on the night.
The Badgers named Knobel as the player of the game.
The Badgers next game in the playoffs will be on Thursday, February 19 at 5 p.m. Their opponent will be the Bay Reps, a co-op team hosted by Traverse City St. Francis. The game will be played at the Wexford County Civic Arena in Cadillac.
The Lakeshore Badgers is a cooperative team hosted by Manistee Area Public Schools and consisting of high school players from MAPS, Ludington, Mason County Central, Mason County Eastern, Pentwater, Shelby and Hart. The team’s home is West Shore Community Ice Arena on the campus of West Shore Community College.
We welcome submitted photographs. Deadline is 10 p.m. the evening of the event: sports@mediagroup31.com.
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Mission Graphics, 113 S. Blaine St., Scottville, 231-845-7030, mymission.graphics
Quick-Way, Inc., 1004 Conrad Industrial Dr., Ludington, 231-845-6520, qkwa.net
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Squires Chiropractic, 414 W. US 10, Scottville; 231-757-3356, squireschiropractic.com
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