Powers Earn Split at MIHL Showcase   

 By: DJ Shubeck:  Powers Hockey Writer

Weekend Recap- Powers vs. Forest Hills (FH) Central  and Byron Center (BC) 2-7 & 2-8-2020

The Powers Catholic Chargers Varsity hockey team traveled to Trenton to compete in the MIHL Challenge Tournament, splitting the weekend games with a loss Friday to Forest Hills and followed up on Saturday with an exciting come from behind shoot-out win vs. Bryon Center.

The Friday afternoon tussle with Forest Hills saw an aggressive, back and forth battle as each team traded power play opportunities with FH converting 1st on its man advantage with just under 6 minutes left in the 1st period. Mason Kelly scored his first of three goals from the right faceoff circle, beating Powers net minder Senior, Brent Zloto, far side.  FH was then granted a 5-3-man advantage, which they took only 20 seconds to convert; Mason Kelly snapped a wrist shot by Zloto making it 2-0. The parade to the penalty box continued for Powers, however, they fended off back to back penalties and escaped the first period down only 2 goals.  The one offensive bright spot for Powers came on the man advantage just 2 minutes into the second period as Powers Senior Joey Carpenter’s hard snapshot beat FH net minder, Gavin Brady, to cut the lead to 2-1.  Each team traded quality chances the remainder of the period, with Powers having two additional power plays, but they failed to convert. Each goalie made several quality saves that kept the game 2-1 entering the 3rd period. FH’s Mason Kelly would score his 3rd of the game on the power play 2 minutes in extending the lead to 3-1. Powers could not close the gap- and Forest Hills added two more goals to finish in a 5-1 victory.  Shots for the game favored FH slightly 27-25.

Saturday afternoon saw a much different type of contest as Powers battled the 10th ranked division I team in the state, Byron Center.  Powers glorious chance to take an early lead in the game fizzled as BC took back to back penalties to start the game. Powers failed to get organized and registered just 1 shot on BC goalie, Levi Sall. BC took the 1-0 lead 10 minutes in as Carson Vincent picked up a loose puck at the Powers blue line, skated in and tucked a backhand shot between the wickets of Senior, Brennan Churchill.  Powers ended the period shorthanded on a  5-minute major call that carried over into the 2nd period. Unfortunately, Powers aggressive penalty kill only produced another penalty, giving BC the 2-man advantage.  BC’s Jack Collard’s hard point shot found the net high glove side making it 2-0 just 2 minutes into the 2nd frame.  Powers killed the rest of the major penalty and would get the favor returned as BC took a 5-minute penalty 4 minutes later. BC killed off almost 4 minutes of the penalty, then Kyle Barbour picked up the puck behind is own net and went “coast-to-coast”, eluding a body check at center ice, streaked in and sniped Sall, blocker side, cutting the lead to 2-1!  Powers had a 5-3-man advantage for a full minute later in the period but failed to convert. The 3rd period would see Powers tie the game shorthanded six minutes in as BC had 4 players caught by the Powers net. Brenden Tarpening picked up a loose puck off the wall and broke up ice as a 2-1 developed. Tarpening fed Tim Washburn a beautiful pass and Washburn made no mistake as he ripped it by Sall, high glove side, to tie the game!  Powers had the momentum and carried the play for a majority of the final 10 minutes, having numerous chances to win the game. Powers out-shot BC 37-23 for the game.

The exciting shoot-out victory for Powers landed on the stick of Senior, Tommy Shubeck, as each team scored 2 highlight reel goals sending it to the 5th and final shooter.  Shubeck glided in on Sall and with a forehand deke, switched to a backhand and roofed the winner!  Powers players poured onto the ice, mobbing Shubeck, and to celebrate a much deserved win!

Coach Perry comments that “we didn’t play our best game on Friday, but we turned it around on Saturday and dug deep to win. A great victory for our guys!”