By: DJ Shubeck:  Powers Hockey Writer

Game Recap- Powers vs. Alpena 12-13-2019

The Powers Catholic Chargers Varsity hockey team traveled to snowy Gaylord for the first of 2 games this weekend at the D3 Hockey Challenge in the Ostego County Sportsplex. Powers would face the Alpena Wildcats at high noon Friday and would have to settle for a 2-2 tie. Powers would dominate the game with 46 shots vs just 15 for the Wildcats. Wildcat Junior netminder, Colin Lightfoot, was very impressive for Alpena, making save after save on several point-blank shots from Powers.  The Chargers would take the lead 6 minutes into the contest when Powers Senior, Tim Washburn would beat the Wildcat goalie Lightfoot. Sophomore, Brenden Tarpening would assist on the Powers goal. The first Period would end 1-1, when a Wildcat point shot deflected off a Charger defenseman and bounced right on the stick of Wildcat Senior, Tanner Orban, who easily deposited the puck into an open net tying the game with just over 2 minutes left in the first frame.  Powers outshot the Wildcats 11-9 in the first period.

The second period was dictated by Powers and Wildcat netminder Lightfoot as he knocked away 21 of 22 shots. The Chargers had the play in the Wildcats end, seemingly for the entire period. But could only sneak one shot past the Wildcat netminder. After Chargers, Brenden Tarpening, drew a tripping call on Alpena, 6 minutes into the 2nd period, Powers would take the lead with a power-play goal from Freshman, Eddie Barbieri who was assisted by Juniors Tyler Lawrence and Alex Washburn. This gave Powers the 2-1 lead. Powers had several other great opportunities to extend the lead, but Lightfoot closed the door.

Powers kept the pressure on for most of the 3rd period but could not extend the lead. Brenden Tarpening stole the puck 3 minutes into the period and went in on partial break-away but Lightfoot stood his ground and stopped him. Alpena would tie the game with just under 12 minutes left on a power-play goal when Powers Senior, Tim Washburn, was in the sin bin for interference. Alpena’s Junior, Blaise Keller, would skate in and snap a shot that eluded Powers goalie Brennan Churchill, who faced 4 shots in the third period. Powers had 17 shots on Lightfoot, who had to stop several in the closing seconds of the game to preserve the tie.

Powers Coach, Travis Perry, commented that “It’s a game you should win when you outshoot a team that badly, we need to find ways to put the puck in the net."