Bourdeau Scores Four as Warhounds Open Preseason With 9–3 Win

GAYLORD, Mich. — The goal horn got a workout Saturday night as the Northern Michigan Warhounds returned to the Otsego County Sportsplex and defeated the Alpena 45ers 9–3 in their preseason opener.

Cody Bourdeau led the way with four goals, while Cameron Pfeiffer and Cooper Schroder scored twice each. Matthew Heim added a power-play goal in a strong first outing for a Warhounds lineup featuring both new and returning players.

Northern Michigan set the tone with four goals in the first period. Bourdeau scored twice, Pfeiffer added his first of the night, and Heim connected on the power play to give the Warhounds a 4–1 lead at intermission.

Schroder scored twice in the second, with Bourdeau adding his third to stretch the lead to 7–2. Pfeiffer struck again in the third before Bourdeau capped his four-goal performance. Alpena added a late goal, but the Warhounds finished with a 9–3 win and an early reason for the Pack to get loud.

Goaltenders Andy Peck and Dominik Benvenuti split time in net, giving both an opportunity to see preseason action as the team continues to build chemistry ahead of the regular season.

For Warhounds owner Megan Hacker, the energy inside the Sportsplex was as memorable as the score.

“The Otsego County Sportsplex was electric tonight. You could feel how excited everyone was to have hockey back in Gaylord,” Hacker said. “The team looked strong. We still have work to do and chemistry to build, but we have a great foundation.

“It was especially exciting to welcome new fans tonight. Several told us they plan to come back, and that means a lot. We’ve always wanted Warhounds hockey to be something fun that brings this community together. Seeing the support from Gaylord and the surrounding areas tells us we’re building something special.

“Thank you to everyone who came out and made so much noise. We can’t wait to hear that goal horn and our song again. And I have to recognize our volunteers. Putting on a game takes an incredible amount of work, and we couldn’t create nights like this without their time and effort.”

The Warhounds return to the Sportsplex on Saturday, October 10, to face the Muskegon Voyagers in their regular season home opener. Doors open at 5 p.m., with puck drop at 6 p.m.