The Lakeshore Badgers headed north on Saturday, January 24, to take on the Cheboygan Chiefs and came away with a strong 7–4 road victory in a physical, penalty-filled contest.
The game opened as a tight, evenly matched battle, with both teams trading chances throughout the first period. Lakeshore was able to capitalize early, taking a 2–1 advantage into the first intermission.
Momentum continued to swing back and forth in the second period as both teams found the back of the net. The Badgers added three goals in the frame while Cheboygan responded with two of their own, sending the teams to the locker room with Lakeshore holding a 5–3 lead.
In the third period, the Badgers stayed composed and extended their advantage, scoring twice more while allowing just one Cheboygan goal. Strong defensive play and disciplined execution sealed the 7–4 final in favor of Lakeshore.
The contest was a rugged one, featuring numerous penalties on both sides. The Badgers’ special teams were a difference-maker, successfully killing off all five Cheboygan power-play opportunities. Offensively, Lakeshore made the most of their chances, converting three power-play goals on the night.
While the Badgers were effective at capitalizing on Cheboygan mistakes, they acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly in board battles, which led to some of the Chiefs’ scoring chances.
Between the pipes, Brockton Jabrocki earned the win, stopping 21 of the 25 shots he faced to anchor the Badgers’ effort.
Offensively, Lakeshore received goals from MCC seniors Levi Young (2 goals) and Lukas Schade, LHS junior Ryan Higley (2 goals), MCC junior Cyric Jabrocki, and LHS freshman Bradey Lawler, who recorded the first high school goal of his career.
The Badgers now prepare for a busy stretch on the road next week, traveling to Grand Haven on Wednesday night, Gladwin on Friday night, and Manistique on Saturday night as they look to build on this strong performance.
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