The Lakeshore Badgers — a Michigan high school co-op varsity hockey program operated by the Lakeshore Area Hockey Boosters Association (LAHBA) and associated with Manistee High School — delivered a gritty 3–2 overtime win over the Kalamazoo Eagles (Richland Gull Lake) on December 6 at Wings Event Center. The Badgers call the West Shore Community College Ice Arena home, and the victory pushed their season record to 5–6.
Both teams played a cautious first period, trading a few quality chances. Lakeshore’s starter Joel Knobel (Hart junior) was sharp early, stopping the five shots he faced to keep the Eagles off the board. With about a minute left in the opening frame, Owen Adair (MCC sophomore) buried his second goal of the season to give the Badgers a 1–0 lead heading into intermission.
The Eagles found momentum in the second, striking with a shorthanded goal about five minutes in and then taking the lead late in the period. Despite a physical back-and-forth stretch where both teams generated opportunities, Lakeshore couldn’t break through in the middle frame and entered the second intermission trailing 2–1.
Lakeshore answered in the third by making a key move in net, bringing in Brockton Jabrocki (MCC sophomore) as the Badgers leaned into a more aggressive push. As the period wore on, the Badgers began tilting the ice, and with four minutes remaining in regulation Adrian Lundberg (LHS sophomore) continued his hot season by scoring the tying goal — his sixth of the year — to make it 2–2. The closing minutes of regulation were fast, heavy, and largely played in the Eagles’ zone.
Overtime belonged to Lakeshore. The Badgers carried play and kept Kalamazoo from registering a shot in the extra session. The game ended just 1:46 into OT when Jacob Bielski (Manistee freshman) finished a rebound for the winner, igniting a celebration after a hard-earned comeback.
As a co-op built to bring area student-athletes together under one banner, the Lakeshore Badgers have developed into a consistent Michigan high school hockey presence. Public coverage indicates the program has been established at least since the 2015–16 season, underscoring a track record of building competitive teams over time.
Up next
The Badgers return to action December 12 at the Mid Michigan Raptors (co-op host Mt. Pleasant).
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