Those who have been around the Flint area ice hockey scene, know the battles, triumphs and defeats between the two storied programs (Flint Powers and the Davison Cardinals) more recently known as the Genesee County Generals.

The leadership of both programs has remained stout with the most tenured coach in the state, Genesee Generals’ Doug Towler, whose coaching debut started in 1979 at Flint Northern. Towler is within arm’s reach to become the winningest high school ice hockey coach in the state’s history, only trailing Mike Turner (Trenton) who holds 629 victories.

The same year Towler debuted, a young lad by the name of Travis Perry was born. Fast forward 44 years later after having embraced the torch passed along from Dave Durkin and Court Benson, you have a seasoned (top 20 all time) coach, leading another talented Powers squad in his 18th season. Perry currently has 348 victories averaging an impressive clip of 20+ wins for the past 17 years and most recently the county’s only hockey coach to win a state title.

With much history in hand amongst the schools and coaches, the players of these two specific teams date back a decade interwoven as teammates on the Lapeer Storm, Flint Firebirds and off the ice on travel baseball teams. The perfect mix for an emotional lift and bragging rights.

The undefeated Genesee County Generals put up a solid fight Wednesday evening (Dec.13th) at the Dort Financial Center against the visiting Flint Powers Chargers. The SVL matchup in the old barn brought back a nostalgic feeling for many as a surprising number of spectators filled the stands.

Immediately into the first period, senior Nolan Berner and sophomore Parker Bendall didn’t waste any time getting Powers first scoring attempt, racing to the opposing end just after puck drop. The Chargers pounced on their first power play opportunity at the 14:01 mark, Brendan Sly knocked in the loose puck (helpers: Parmentier/Bendall). At 11:29, Powers freshman Ethan Haley was called for interference. Berner snuck in on a shorthanded breakaway but denied by the right leg pad of the Generals’ netminder Andrew Van Camp. Moments later, Berner gave the Chargers a two goal lead when he circled his own net and went coast to coast untouched snapping his wrist, lifting the puck over Van Camp’s shoulder.

A quick strike and tic tac toe sequence was executed by Bendall, Berner and finally Cook to lift the Chargers by three to start the second period. At 14:12, great awareness by sophomore Gavin Vorwerk, served Burny with the dish, who stepped up in the rush for the finish. At 11:20, the Generals jumped onto the board when their senior Brady Byrnes caught the Chargers goaltender Blake Zloto shortside to make it 4-1. With 2:55 left in the second, senior Dru Wendlend netted his first varsity goal in the Powers uniform (assists:Miller/Burny). Vorwerk closed out the period notching his 3rd goal of the season in powerplay fashion (assists: Doll/Wendlend).

Senior Alex Rinoldo who arguably has the hardest snapshot in the state, opened the floodgates sniping Van Camp in the upper ninety at the 14:18 mark. The Generals quickly countered drawing within five (7-2). With the game in hand and the Chargers on the penalty kill, senior Sly

forced a center ice turnover, entered the Generals zone and buried it past Van Camp. At 9:55, Cook lit the lamp for the second time of the stanza. Parmentier placed the icing on the cake making it 10-2 with 32 clicks on the clock (Assists: Neelands/Cook). Netminders Blake Zloto and Gavin Stutts-Miller shared the duties in goal with Zloto earning his 5th win..

Final: Powers 10 Genesee 2

Next game: Wednesday, Dec. 20th v East Grand Rapids, 7:30pm at Patterson Ice Center, Patterson Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids