Battlers Hit the Road to Face Summit City Distillers This Weekend!

KALKASKA, MI – The Kalkaska Battlers (5-5-0) are heading to Fort Wayne this Saturday to take on the Summit City Distillers (5-6-0) in what promises to be a tightly contested APHL matchup. The last time these two teams clashed, the Battlers came out on top with a 6-4 victory, but this weekend’s rematch comes with added challenges for Kalkaska.  

The Battlers will be without their Captain Cam Hofstetter, who sustained a hand injury during a second-period fight in last Saturday’s thrilling win over the Flint Lumberjacks. Hofstetter, sidelined for the foreseeable future, will be supporting the team in other ways until hes ready to hit the ice!

Stepping up in Hofstetter’s absence will be Assistant Captain Will Holden, who leads the Battlers in scoring with 21 points this season. Known for his speed and scoring touch, Holden will be relied upon to spark Kalkaska’s offense. Joining him is Assistant Captain Matt Heim, a versatile and gritty defenseman who will play a key role in keeping the team focused and motivated on the road.  

“This is a big test for us,” said Battlers owner Andrew Dibble. “Losing Cam is tough, but we’ve got an incredibly strong leadership core in Will and Matt, and I know they’ll have the team ready to compete. We’ve already shown we can beat this team, and I believe in our guys to do it again.”  

The Distillers, currently sitting just below the Battlers in the standings, are coming off two big wins against the Iron City Forge  and will be eager to even the season series. Kalkaska will need a complete team effort to secure the win, particularly from their defensive core and goaltending, as Summit City boasts a dangerous power play that has given opponents trouble all season.  

With both teams looking to gain momentum in the standings, fans can expect a hard-fought battle in Fort Wayne. Puck drop is set for 7:30 PM. Follow the Battlers on social media for live updates and highlights from the game.