TRAVERSE CITY – The Traverse City Central Trojans swept the regular season series from rival Traverse City West, claiming the Jeff McCullough Memorial Cup with a 3-1 win on Wednesday.
The game was scoreless going into the third period despite T.C. West scoring what was originally signaled a goal in the second period, before the referees conferred and ruled that the puck was kicked in.
Traverse City Central got on the board first in the third period, when Tyler Cooper’s one-timer was re-directed in for the goal by Koen Burkholder.
The Titans responded about five minutes later on the power play when Brandon Meyers tucked the puck inside the post to tie the game at a goal apiece.
Just two minutes later the Trojans re-took the lead with a one-time blast by Owen Dawson. Burkholder would add an empty net goal in the final minute for T.C. Central.
“With [T.C. West Goalie] Mason West down there, we knew today was going to be the same. We didn’t come into this thinking that it was going to be any kind of a blowout because that’s not West. They don’t get blown out,” said Central Head Coach Chris Givens. “So we knew it was going to be like that. But, we just kept pushing and kept telling the guys just keep getting pucks to the net when you can, and see what happens. So, happy to get out of here with a win, for sure.”
Traverse City Central (9-5-2, 6-1 Big North) will play host to Big Rapids next Wednesday, while Traverse City West (3-10-1, 2-4-1 BNC) travels to Sault Ste. Marie on Friday to take on Port Huron Northern.
