On January 24, at the Mike Modano Ice Arena in Westland, Michigan the Ocelots showcased a high-powered offensive performance, dominating Northern Michigan University 9-3 in a lopsided affair. The victory propelled Schoolcraft to a strong statement win, driven by an explosive second period that saw them net five goals, including two shorthanded markers.

The game opened with some back-and-forth action, but it was Schoolcraft’s LJ Sabala who drew first blood just 6:07 into the first period. Northern Michigan responded quickly, tying the game at 7:09 with a goal by Ethan Hockey, but the floodgates opened soon after. Dustin Fretter, already a key contributor for Schoolcraft this season, gave his team the lead once again at 7:44, and Townsend extended the advantage with a goal at 18:14, leaving Northern Michigan trailing 3-1 heading into the break.

The second period was where things truly unraveled for Northern Michigan. Just 5:10 into the frame, Fretter struck again, scoring his second of the night to make it 4-1. Moments later, Andrew Evans added another for Schoolcraft, pushing the lead to three at 8:49. The defensive zone seemed to collapse for Northern Michigan, as Joshua Boze capitalized on a breakdown to make it 6-1 at 11:54.

Northern Michigan did manage to respond with a power-play goal at 14:29 from Tyler Shore, but any momentum was short-lived. Andrew Elliott, notching his first of two shorthanded goals of the evening, struck at 17:10, and Jake Miron scored for Northern Michigan late in the period at 19:07 to keep some semblance of hope alive for his team. The score stood at 7-3 as the teams entered the third period.

The final 20 minutes saw more discipline problems for Northern Michigan, who were tagged for several penalties throughout the period. Schoolcraft capitalized on the man advantage as Elliott tallied his second of the night at 11:36, this time on the power play. Fretter then capped off his hat trick with a shorthanded goal at 14:58, making the score 9-3. Despite Northern Michigan’s best efforts, they couldn’t claw their way back, as Schoolcraft’s defense held firm and their goaltender, Lane Schroeder, did just enough to secure the win.

Shots on goal told the story of the night, with Schoolcraft peppering Northern Michigan’s goalie, Parraghi, with an eye-popping 68 shots, while Northern Michigan managed just 27. Ethan Parraghi, despite his best efforts, ended up with 59 saves on the night, a testament to the relentless offense he faced. Schroeder, on the other hand, faced far fewer shots but was efficient, stopping 24 of 27.

In total, Schoolcraft’s power play was effective, going 1-for-4, while Northern Michigan struggled on their chances, converting just 1-for-8 on the man advantage.

Key takeaways from the game:

• Fretter led the charge for Schoolcraft with a hat trick and an assist, while Elliott tallied two goals and two assists, both coming in shorthanded situations.
• The game featured a total of 16 penalties, as both teams got caught up in the physical play, but it was the Ocelots who took advantage of the opportunities while Northern Michigan failed to capitalize on their power plays.