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Flint Powers Catholic 3, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 2 (OT): Chargers win Div. 3 hockey quarterfinal

By Aaron McMann : Mlive, 03/11/15, 11:45PM EDT

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DIMONDALE, MI — The Flint Powers Catholic withstood five penalties and got an overtime goal from Brendan Smith Wednesday, March 11, to beat Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 3-2 in a Division 3 quarterfinal.

Smith, scoring his eighth of the season, netted the game-winner 2:14 into the extra session to push Powers Catholic (20-8) into the semifinals, its second appearance there in three years. The goal came on a power play after Forest Hills Central’s Nick Allen was penalized for holding 1:42 in.

The Chargers play Houghton in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 13, at Compuware Arena in Plymouth.

Powers Catholic killed off five penalties in the game, including two ill-timed infractions from Ben Cislo and Conor Witherspoon in the third that allowed Forest Hills Central to control the puck for most of the third.

Ben Scholle scored 2:32 into the third for Forest Hills Central on an assist from Nick Allen to tie the game at two. The Rangers outshot Powers Catholic 33-29 for the game, played at the Summit Sports and Ice Complex in suburban Lansing.

Junior defenseman Brendan Walker gave Powers Catholic a 2-1 lead 2:48 into the second on a fluke goal, his second of the season. Walker, skating across the blue line, snatched up the loose puck unassisted and sent a slap shot over the shoulder of crouched Forest Hills Central goaltender Luke Gaudette.

Gaudette, a senior, stopped 26 of the 29 shots he faced.

Nick Withey scored 13:38 of the second for Forest Hills Central, streaking down the left side of the net and pushing the puck past Powers Catholic goalie Austin Kane. Kane (31 saves) was busy in the second and third periods, stopping a combined 16 shots.

Mike Forman scored his 31st of the season 13:52 into the first on an assist from Jeff Polakowski to give the Chargers a 1-0 lead. Forman, Powers Catholic’s top points guy (64) and goal scorer, skated past two defenders and placed the puck over the left shoulder of Gaudette.

Post-game notes

— Powers Catholic advances to its 19 state semifinal appearance in school history. The Chargers got here with a 10-0 win over Flushing on Thursday, March 5, and 7-0 win over Big Rapids on Saturday, March 7, in the regional final.

— Forest Hills Central was playing in its first quarterfinal round game since 1985. The Rangers clinched a regional title on Saturday with a 4-2 win over East Grand Rapids. Central also posted wins over Mattawan, 9-0, and Grand Rapids Christian, 4-0, en route to the quarterfinals.