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Warriors Break into Win Column

November 13, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Michigan Warriors News Release


FLINT, MI - The Michigan Warriors headed into action this weekend with a league worst home record of 0-8. They looked to change that against a team they have had success against this season. The Warriors were 1-1 against Port Huron in two games played at McMorran Arena this season. The Warriors came off a weekend in which they grabbed one point from first-place, Jamestown after two one-goal losses. Riding that confidence into Friday night, the Warriors sent Trevor Gorsuch between the pipes after a brief stint in Battle Creek (3HL) Port Huron started Lapeer native Max Milosek, who single handedly beat the Warriors in the playoffs a season ago.

Both goalies shined in the first period, Friday night. Michigan Tech commit, Mark Evan Auk gave Port Huron a 1-0 lead in the late stages of the first. The rush was lead by former Warrior, Zach Badalamenti. He dropped a pass to Auk who fired a shot from in close that was stopped by Gorsuch. A mad scramble ensued and Auk came away with the rebound. He fired a turnaround shot that snuck through Gorsuch to give Port Huron a 1-0 lead at 18:20. 1:26 later, Martin Gruse scored his first goal of the season on an end-to-end rush. The play started in the Warriors zone when Trevor Gorsuch rimmed the puck around the boards on the near side. The puck hit Connor Lyons and went right to Marty. He went coast to coast and beat Milosek on a deke to his forehand. It was 1-1 after one.

In the second, the Warriors broke through for three goals. Levi Erkkila, Brock Labelle, and Shawn Badali all scored for the Warriors in the second. Port Huron got a tally from Ian Miller and the Warriors lead 4-2 after two. The shots in the second were 13-5 in favor of Michigan.

The teams played to a scoreless third. The Warriors played shutdown hockey and every time Port Huron got a chance, Trevor Gorsuch was equal to the task. He made 29 saves in 4-2 Warriors win. It was the first win of the season for the Michigan Warriors in eight tries at home. First star Brock Labelle notched the game winning goal.

On Saturday, the Warriors were looking to notch back to back wins for the first time this season. Dillon Kelley got his first start of the season at home and Warriors got him some offense at the 11:50 mark. Corey Schueneman fired a shot from the point that was redirected by Jake Hopfner and got behind Max Milosek to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead. Port Huron tied the game 1:17 later on a goal from Daniel Rehnstrom. He worked off the check of Brad Pizzey and came out front. He beat Dillon Kelley with a shot from in close to tie it. The teams went to their respective locker rooms tied at one.

In the second, Port Huron took the lead at 2:25 on Mitch Maloney's fifth of the season. His pass from the right circle deflected off the skate of Brock Labelle and went behind Dillon Kelley. Port Huron added to their lead at 10:26 when the Warriors had a 4 on 1 go without a shot and Kody Polin breezed by everyone and fird a shot over the right shoulder of Kelley. The Warriors pulled within one with :22 to go in the second. Brock Labelle scored his 4th goal of the season on a goal mouth scramble. It was 3-2, Port Huron after two.

The Warriors played, arguably the best period of hockey of the season in the third. They out shot Port Huron, 15-3 and would tie the game at the 15:00 mark on a goal from Marty Gruse. The goal for Gruse was his second in two nights after not scoring in the previous 18 games. We were headed to overtime.

After a scoreless overtime, the two teams headed to a shootout. Both teams boasted 2-1 shootout records coming into the game so something had to give. Port Huron scored the only goal of the shootout in the second round when Easton Powers deked Dillon Kelley and put it home. The Warriors took three out of four points and now trail Janesville by only seven points in the North Division. The Warriors host Kalamazoo on Wednesday night before heading to the Soo for games on Saturday and Sunday.



North American Hockey League Stories from November 13, 2012


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