Chargers Slide by Titans

Jackson Lumen Christi Titans (3-2) hosted the Flint Powers Catholic Chargers (6-1) in a midweek match up that provided suspense to the finish. Not sure if the Chargers miscalculated the Titans or the Titans are stouter than their record reflects.

The first period was scoreless despite the Chargers controlling possession in much of the Titans end of the ice. Senior WALL award prospect Nicholas Kurtiak demonstrated why he has been in the early season conversation for top performing goaltenders in the state of Michigan. Kurtiak’s strong performance was the common denominator keeping the game netted at zeros until the 3rd period.

At 15:32 of the 3rd period, senior Charger Michael Tucker received a slot pass from linemate Andrew Parmentier (assist Berner) to break open the scoring. The Titans answered back within the next two minutes to notch it up at one a piece. Shortly after, the Powers Chargers senior defenseman Jack Dawley scooped up the puck near center ice, blasting down the left side of the ice, burying it top shelf past the Titan netminder. Dawley’s clutch snipe would end up being the last strike of the night giving Powers their 7th win on the season and netminder Kurtiak his 5th. Final: Powers-2 JLC-1

Chargers Stomp Huskies

As with any athletic sports program in high school, college or even professional, cyclical times are inevitable. Not too many programs/teams/clubs stay on the top every year or become perennial power houses. With the landscape in high school hockey continuing to change locally and regionally, the Flint v Port Huron contests are not what they once were consistently speaking. Despite Port Huron Northern most recently landing in the 2013 final four of the state playoffs, their stretch of perpetual dominance ran from 1989’ to 2002’. Last year the Huskies were loaded with upperclassmen when they battled the Chargers to a draw in overtime 1-1. With only four seniors on the Husky squad, their inexperience became exploited by the #2 ranked D3 Powers Chargers this past Saturday afternoon. Nothing early in the first period transpired for either team. The first score of the game came on a powerplay goal at the 5:17 mark by Chargers senior Cooper Gerhardt. Weston Reinig entered the PHN zone skating the puck deep to the right corner then dishing it to Cooper Gerhardt, who was cutting through the high slot, then fired it by the freshman Husky netminder Evan Alcomo. With only 4 seconds remaining in the first, Reinig the team leading scorer connected on one of his own to bump the Chargers lead 2-0 (assist Andrew Parmentier). At 12:07 of the 2nd period, Mason Czarnecki backhanded his 4th of the season (assists Jack Dawley/Tom Lavoie). Moments later, Reinig connected on his 2nd of the game from Parmentier, making it 4-0. Then, a nice attempt pursued by sophomore defenseman Andrew Burny, blasting a high circle ripper, which was snagged by the trapper of Huskies Alcomo. The final goal of the 2nd period came when junior Alex Rinoldo standing in the slot, one timed a pass from the corner by Greg Feamster, earning himself his first varsity goal of his high school career (Siwek assist). Early into the 3rd period, with the Czarnecki penalty spilling over, Gerhardt took a dish from Kyle Barbour going in 1 on 1 with the goaltender, juking his way to his 2nd on the afternoon and 6th of year. Husky Kyren Bruno spoiled the Kurtiak shutout with a goal of his own to make it 6-1. Closing out the Charger scoring fest was senior Michael Tucker netting his 5th goal of the season (assists Dawley/Czarnecki).

Nicholas Kurtiak entered the contest yielding a .927 save percentage and earned his 6th win between the pipes.

Final:

Powers-7

Port Huron Northern-1

Next Home Games:

Wednesday, Dec 21st, 6pm v Bloomfield Hills at Flint Iceland arena

Friday, Dec 23rd, 6pm v Clarkston at Flint Iceland arena