The Northview Wildcats claimed a pair of league wins this past weekend to move into sole possession of 1st place in the NHC red division. Wins over Perrysburg 7-2 and St. Johns 5-2 moved the Cats to 18-9 overall and 8-1 in conference play. Northview controls their own destiny with 3 games remaining in the hunt for their 1st league title since 2012.
On Friday evening the Cats played a trap game versus Perrysburg. With a huge showdown for 1st place on the line Saturday Northview didn’t want to overlook a strong and upcoming program in the Yellow Jackets. After a sluggish start the Cats received a fortunate bounce as the 1st of Dougie Carter’s 3 goals bounced off a Perrysburg defender and into the net to give Northview the 1-0 lead after 1. A physical second period that saw the Jackets whistled for 4 minors and Northview 3 along with two 5 minute majors seemed to give the Cats a jolt. Jimmy Roberts and Carter scored power play goals, David Crandall scored a breakaway goal while the Cats were killing a 5 on 3 and Spencer Atkins collected his 1st of 2 as Northview took control 5-1. Carter hattrick goal and Atkins 2nd of the game pushed the lead to 7-1 before the Yellow Jackets scored a late goal for the final score.
Northview would take on St. Johns Saturday evening with both teams having just 1 loss in league play. In the 1st meeting of the year undisciplined play led to the Titans having 7 Power plays including 4 seperate 5 on 3 advantages while the Cats only earned 1 power play in a 3 to 2 OT loss. For the Cats to pull off the win they would have to control their emotions and play disciplined hockey. Following the strong leadership from the upperclassman that Cats did just that. Northview was undeterred by a Titans power play goal near the 5 minute mark of the 1st period and answered right back as Junior Braiden Otersen not only tied the game but scored a 2nd just a few moments later to give the Cats a 2-1 lead after 1 period of play.
Juniors David Crandall and Griffin Muir picked up a pair of assist each. It was the Cats turn to benefit from a power play opportunity and Crandall pushed the lead to 3-1 with a bar down shot off a pretty feed from Senior Captain Seth Orozco. The 3rd period saw the Cats whistled for back to back penalties that gave the Titans the opportunity they needed to close the game to a goal. Junior net minder Tyler Clem would have none of it. Making several quality saves he preserved the 2 goal lead and Senior Jeffrey Wood all but finished of St. Johns with his shorthanded breakaway goal moments later off a stretch pass from fellow senior Justin Beaverson for a 4-1 lead. With the line of Roberts, Wood and Carter clamping down with a strong defensive effort The Cats milked the final minutes off the clock. Though the Titans would score with just under 2 minutes left it would not be enough as Crandall hit the empty net to cap off a 4 point evening and the final score 5-2.
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