Fighting Irish edge Hawks in Motown battle

The first midweek tussle of the season in United States Premier Hockey League-Midwest play saw the Detroit Fighting Irish winning an all-Motown battle 6-5 in shootout against the Motor City Hawks.

Hawks trailed most of the way as the Irish carried a 2-1 lead out of the first and doubled the margin to 4-2 with one period to go. But the Hawks came to live and led 5-4 after scoring three straight and it was the Irish needing the late tally from Michael Perry, 2o, from Brownstown, MI forcing the game into overtime and finally a shootout.

The shootout was over quick, as the Hawks missed its first two attempts while Chase Tackett, 19, from Gibraltar, MI and Austin McKibbin, 20, from Trenton, MI both scored clinch the extra point for the Irish.

Tyler Blackburn, 18, from Westland, MI; Tackett, Christian Ramage, 20, from Taylor, MI and Kyle Mayes, 19, from Trenton, MI had the other Fighting Irish markers and Austin Stefan, 17, from Ypsilante, MI stopped 44 shots and then two more in the shootout to nail down the win in goal.

Andrew Baxter, 19, from Clinton Twp, MI scored three times for the Hawks with others for Connor O’Doherty, 19, from Brighton, MI and Trevor Pode, 19, from St. Clair Shores, MI. Jacob Gorzelski, 19, from Macomb, MI made 35 saves in goal for the Hawks.

The Hawks will be back in action Friday (Oct. 2) hosting the Tri-City Icehawks and the next game for the Irish will be at home to Alpena on Saturday (Oct. 3).