Hounds U-18 Sweep Lansing Capitals in Home / Home Series

The West Michigan Hounds U-18 team faced off with their inner state and league rival Lansing Capitals. This was a home / home exhibition series that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.  It was refreshing to see Dean Dixon back on the bench for the Capitals both games given his recent medical struggles.

Saturday’s game was a very fast and physical game.  Captain Logan Hudson and Alternate Captain Michael Wood started out the game taking the body, and this lasted throughout both games really taking a toll on the Caps.  The scoring was opened up in the first period with a goal by Zander Sorenson, assisted by Michael Wood.  Lansing responded in the first period as knotting it at 1-1 after the first.  Lansing then jumped out to a 2-1 lead 1:10 into the second period.  The Hounds stuck to their game plan and Zander Sorenson nets his second goal of the night to tie the game, helpers by Michael Wood and Kyle Berry.   Again in the second, Logan DeJong –Seniff finds a lane from the point and takes the lead, assists by Nate Viberg and Devin Farkas.  The third period was a scoreless one which tested first year Hound, and Birthday Boy, Ben Coopes, having to fend off some late game penalty kills to record the win.

“Hudson and Wood dominated the physical play of the game.  Those guys really wore them down and opened up chances for us to capitalize on.  We have a high level of respect for Dean and his team.  It’s always a battle when we play Lansing, the games can go either way with our two teams.  All I can say, the boys were up for the challenge today.”  - Rex Trott, Hounds Asst. Coach

Sunday’s game moved to Lansing where the same pace and physical play carried on.  The first period was scoreless much to the help of the Lansing net minder.  The Hounds had the Capitals hemmed in their zone for the better part of the first and could not crack the Lansing goaltender.  Lansing was first on the board in the second period making it 1-0.  It took until the third period to get the scoring going for the Hounds.  The Hounds tied up the game with 11:41 left in the third period with Zander Sorenson scoring his third in two games.  The assists were from Nate Viberg and E.J. Blakeslee. Lansing responds with 3:17 left in the third period taking a 2-1 lead.  The Hounds did not quit.  The Hounds pulled goaltender Hunter Vorva at the end of the game and P.J. Heger was able to score the dramatic goal to tie the game with just 0:36 seconds left in the game, assists by Zander Sorenson and E.J. Blakeslee.
The Hounds were victorious in shootout fashion, scoring three goals by Zander Sorenson, Nate Viberg, and Kyle Berry.

This much anticipated home / home series really lived up to the hype.  There were two very close and hard fought hockey games.  The Hounds go back to work heading north to Grand Rapids, next weekend.  The Hounds will play two games with the Michigan Nationals, and one with the Madison Capitals in another exhibition weekend.  Hopefully the Hounds can carry on this past weekend and take that play into Grand Rapids.

Go Hounds!