Mott victorious on ice, 7-6, in game

Huron Valley Lakeland and Waterford Mott squared off on the ice at Lakeland Ice Arena while benefiting a good cause on Friday, Jan. 14.

The Corsairs defeated the Eagles, 7-6, in a Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) North Division thriller in which proceeds from the game went to benefit the family of Kyle Brown, a 7-year-old student at Huron Valley’s Lakewood Elementary School who was just diagnosed with lymphoma.

Mott (11-2) remains in first-place in the KLAA North with a 6-0 record

Lakeland (5-6-3, 2-2-1) took an early 2-0 lead in the first period on two goals by Jordan Blanzy.

James Unsworth would then score to make it 3-0 in favor of the Eagles, and Mott goalie Myles Grix was taken out and replaced in net by Jon Furton.

Scott Cuthrell would then score Mott’s first goal on a 3-on-1 break, and Colin Larkin’s goal pulled the Corsairs to within one at the first intermission.

JD Clemence would tie the game at 3-3 early in the second period for Mott before scoring again on the power play to give Mott its first lead of the night.

Kyle Zunich then answered for the Eagles to tie the game at 4-4 with 9:30 left in the second period before Nate Friend scored 21 seconds later to give Lakeland a 5-4 lead.

Furton was then pulled from Mott’s goal and Grix was put back in.

Max Vancil scored on the power play with 7 seconds left in the second to tie the game at 5-5 at the second intermission.

Clemence gave the Corsairs a 6-5 lead in the third and then added his fourth goal soon after to increase the lead to two goals.

Colin Johnson scored with just over 3 minutes left for Lakeland to cut the deficit to one goal, but that’s as close as the Eagles would get.

Mitch Leist had 37 saves for Lakeland while Grix and Furton combined for 22 saves for Mott.

Mott began the week with a 4-2 win over Hartland on Wednesday, Jan. 12. The score was tied at 1-1 after the first period and the second period was scoreless. Mott scored three goals in the third.

Cuthrell had 2 goals and an assist, while Clemence and Emmett Smith each scored for Mott.

On Saturday, Jan. 15, Mott defeated Detroit Country Day 6-3. The Corsairs led 1-0 after the first period before taking control with 4 goals in the second period.

Clemence had 2 goals and an assist for Mott while Larkin, Cuthrell, Smith and Austin Sereno each scored a goal.

Kettering will next take on rival Waterford Kettering on Saturday, Jan. 22 at Lakeland Ice Arena before traveling to Howell on Monday, Jan. 24.