DIMONDALE, MI -- Flint Powers Catholic’s hockey team left familiar territory with a different result Wednesday night -- and a much-welcomed one at that. The Chargers beat East Grand Rapids, 2-1, in double overtime to advance to the semifinals of the Division 3 state tournament.

The previous two seasons have ended with heartbreaking quarterfinal losses for Powers.

Junior Derek Simon changed those fortunes with a laser long-distance slap shot that found the back of the net at the 1:15 mark of the second overtime. It was Simon’s first goal of the season after recovering from an ACL injury.

“It was long overdue, that’s for sure,” a calm and collected Simon said in the Chargers locker room as his teammates celebrated around him. “It feels like nothing can stop us right now and that luck is finally on our side this time.”

The Chargers needed a little bit of luck Wednesday, but also overcame their own misfortune.

Powers took a 1-0 lead on a goal from Jake Stone at the 10:02 mark of the second period. That lead lasted until 57 seconds left in regulation, when East Grand Rapids senior Travis Baranoski finally cashed in on the Pioneers’ relentless attack and found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Powers then fended off a hard-charging East Grand Rapids team in overtime, including a power play awarded to the Pioneers with 1:53 remaining at the end of the first overtime period.

“The hardest part about giving up that goal was trying to get the momentum back,” Powers coach Travis Perry said. “The clock was ticking down and we had all the momentum and then just like that it was gone. Our guys really battled back in overtime and (goalie) Casey (Korhonen) was fantastic.”

Korhonen finished with 33 saves and made eight over the two overtime periods. The senior goalie has been a major difference for the Chargers this season after missing most of last with two hip surgeries.

“The only goal they scored on us it was 6-on-5 right in front, Casey was just really clutch,” Perry said. “Killing the power play off (in overtime) was unbelievable. You never want to take a penalty in overtime but it was great to see the guys battle back like that and overcome that adversity.”

Powers advances to face either Houghton or Sault Ste Marie in the semifinals Friday, which will be played at 2:30 p.m. at Compuware Arena in Plymouth. A win there would put the Chargers into the Division 3 state championship game for the first time since 2010.

Contact Ross at rmaghiel@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter @Maghielse.