Mattawan 4 Kalamazoo Blades 3

Make up games in the middle of a league tournament seem to be anticlimactic, but the Mattawan Wildcats were determined to prove a point tonight as they defeated league rival Kalamazoo Blades, 4-3. Austin Pence started the scoring for Mattawan when he chipped in a rebound shot from Steve Beaudet. Blades goalie John Lloyd appeared to have the puck covered but it squirted between his pads and the Wildcats were up 1-0. Zach Sonnevil put Mattawan ahead 2-0 when he deked Lloyd and buried the second goal of the game. Austin Avery and Josh Davidson were credited with the assists.

Scotty Simmons decided to put the brakes on the Mattawan scoring machine when he netted two consecutive power play goals in the second period. Dan Merkle and Tyler Hatfield assisted on both of Simmons goals. With the score tied 2-2 late in the second period, Drew Reenders put Mattawan back on top with a wrister over the shoulder of Lloyd. Cameron Berry and Pence were credited with the assist.

Simmons, the Blades' leading scorer, put his team on his back to begin the 3rd period by completing the Hat Trick at the 14:48 mark of the period. Dan Merkle set up the goal and earned his 3rd point of the night. Mattawan's Devin Talcott answered right back and scored the game winner for Mattawan. Berry forced the play deep in the Blades zone and appeared to score the winner. But Talcott's tip of the puck beat Lloyd and the Wildcats earned a very good victory. Brody Cavanaugh stopped 13 of 16 shots for Mattawan. Lloyd stopped 10 of 14.