Corsairs get back on track with win over Western

It was a tough week for the first-place team in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) North Division, as Waterford Mott went 1-2 against opponents from the KLAA West.

The Corsairs (13-4 overall, 8-2 in the KLAA North) began the week with a 6-4 loss to Howell, last year’s Division 1 state runner-up, on the road on Monday, Jan. 24.

The Highlanders led 1-0 after the first period and outscored the Corsairs 4-2 in the second period. Mott tried to mount a comeback in the third period and outscored Howell 4-1, but fell two goals short in the end.

Colin Larkin scored two goals and had two assists for Mott. JD Clemence had two goals and an assist.

Jon Furon and Myles Grix combined for 24 saves for Mott, who was outshot by Howell, 30-24.

Mott then faced another road contest, this time against Pinckney on Thursday, Jan. 27, and fell to the Pirates 4-2.

The Corsairs led 2-1 at the first intermission, but Pinckney scored two goals in the second period and one in the third to come away with the win.

Clemence had a goal and an assist for Mott, while Larkin scored a goal and Scott Furton and Grix combined for 27 saves in net, as Mott was barely outshot by the Pirates, 31-30.

Mott then returned to the comforts of Lakeland Ice Arena on Saturday, Jan. 30 and took out its frustrations on Walled Lake Western in a 12-4 victory.

The Warriors led 3-2 at the first intermission, but then the Corsairs exploded for 5 goals each in the second and third periods to end a rough week on a high note.

Larkin had 5 goals and an assist. Clemence had 2 goals and 6 assists for Mott. Alex Bruce also had a hat trick, while Tyler Vaughan and Christian Corona each scored a goal.

Max Vancil, Stephen Price, Scott Cuthrell and Emmett Smith each had 2 assists for the Corsairs, who outshot Western, 50-15. Furton and Grix combined for 11 saves in net.

The Corsairs will travel to Clarkston on Thursday, Feb. 3.

Mott’s Wednesday, Feb. 2 game against rival Waterford Kettering has been moved to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5 due to inclement weather. The rescheduled contest will be a rematch of the Jan. 22 meeting that Mott won 6-4.