Traverse City Record-Eagle

Hockey

February 20, 2010

West wins, to play for share of BNC title

from staff reports

TRAVERSE CITY -- Nick VandeKieft scored two third period goals Friday to power Traverse City West to an 8-4 win over Gaylord in a key Big North Conference hockey game.

The two teams play again tonight. The Titans (13-9, 7-2) need a victory to tie Cadillac for the league title. West is seeking its fourth straight championship.

Friday night's game was tied at 4-4 in the third period when VandeKieft tallied twice. Jake Gillis and Frank Gilbert assisted on both goals, which came four minutes apart. Shane Totten then added a pair of empty-net goals in the final 1:30. Gilbert drew assists on those goals as well.

West could not shake the Blue Devils in the first two periods. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead less than five minutes in on goals by Luke Gerding and Totten, Gaylord responded with two power-play goals. Brennan Borowiak and Nick Shear did the damage.

West regained the lead 2:27 into the second period on a Gillis goal. Four minutes later, though, Gaylord's Joe Zaborowski tied it again.

The Titans went up 4-3 11:40 into the period when Alex Grizzel scored.

It stayed that way until the Blue Devils tied it again early in the third period.

Nate Wilson started in goal, stopping 11 of 15 shots. Dylan Snider came in with the score tied at 4-4 and settled things down.

Gilbert finished with five assists in the game.

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