Hockey: Chargers edge Freeland for 2-1 win

by Jason Wolverton

The Midland Dow and Freeland hockey teams combined for 27 penalties but just three goals Thursday as Dow picked up its sixth win of the season with a 2-1 victory over the Falcons at Midland Civic Arena.

Things started seemingly normal for both teams with Dow taking an early lead on a goal by Eli Rytlewski 3:34 into the game. But with a few minutes remaining in the period, Dow’s Michael Allen laid a ferocious open-ice hit on Freeland’s Ben Kitts that woke the Falcons up. And from there, things got chippy as Dow ended the game with 14 penalties while Freeland had 13.

The penalties became a big focal point of the game, as Dow coach Dick Blasy was unhappy with his team’s play despite the fact that they skated away with the win.

“It’s not really about wins and losses, it’s about how you play and how hard you work and how smart you play,” he said. “We didn’t play smart, we didn’t play disciplined.”

Freeland coach Terry Hanley was also unhappy about the penalties, but was pleased with his team’s performance overall considering most of his players were battling a nasty flu bug.

“I think my kids played a heck of a game,” he said. “I have half a team that is sick, and I think we came out and skated really hard and if it weren’t for the penalties it would have been a lot different.”

After Rytlewski scored to give his team a 1-0 lead in the first, Dow extended its lead on Cory Brzak’s first goal of the year. The Chargers had a chance in front of the net as the puck went through the crease and back out the other side before eventually finding its way to Brzak. Freeland goalie Drew Baxter was screened and the shot got past him to make it 2-0.

But Baxter would allow no more as he held off a Chargers’ barrage that saw Dow outshoot the Falcons 14 to six in the period.

“Drew is a great goalie,” Hanley said. “He keeps us in every game and I never have to worry about that.”

One thing Hanley did have to worry about, though, was where his team would find scoring as Dow’s Ben Nowak was tested very little in the first two periods as he stopped all 11 shots he faced.

But that would change 4:23 into the third when Sean Burdo scored a power-play goal for the Falcons to pull Freeland within one. Burdo’s goal came on one of Freeland’s 13 shots in the third period.

Dow, however, managed only seven shots and missed on an open-net chance with about a minute to go in the game that would have sealed the win. Still, the Chargers fought off Freeland’s charge with Baxter on the bench to improve to 6-4-1 on the season.

“We’re just really inconsistent right now,” Blasy said. “There are some games we play with good discipline and then other games like tonight there is no discipline. Come playoff time, we have to play a lot better or our season will be over pretty quickly.”

Allen finished with two assists, while Alex Bank and Zach Stidham also had helpers. Nowak stopped 23 of 24 shots.

Baxter finished with 27 saves for Freeland.

Freeland’s record now stands at 6-5. They will be in action again Saturday when they play the Bay Area Thunder at the Dow Event Center.

The Chargers will take the ice again Jan. 9 when they host Saginaw Arthur Hill. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

For more photos from Thursday’s game click on “Photo Slideshow” in the top right corner of this article.

Photos by Jason Wolverton