The Flint Powers Chargers (5-1) traveled east to take on the Port Huron Northern Huskies (4-6) who compete in the tough Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League-North, at the historic McMorran ice arena. Huskies have arguably one of the top goaltenders this year in senior captain Logan Sheffer.

The first handful minutes of play was concentrated in the Husky end of the ice. At 12:41, the first penalty of the game was called on Huskies’ senior Jerimiah McCue for tripping. The Chargers had no real threat to speak of as the Huskies burned it off. Then it was the Chargers turn to sit in the box as Mason Czarnecki was delivered with an interference penalty. While shorthanded, Powers’ Lavrack generated a turnover in the neutral zone skating into the Husky zone as Sheffer turned away the snapshot blocker side. The first period concluded scoreless as the Chargers outshot the Huskies 8-2.

Early into the 2nd, Czarnecki picked up the loose puck racing in the slot demonstrating great patience backhanding it over Sheffer’s glove to give the Chargers a 1-0 lead. The Huskies felt considerably more pressure poured on by the Chargers than in the first period. At the 5:42 mark, Port Huron drew a bench minor penalty for too many men on the ice. The Chargers best powerplay scoring opportunity came when junior Reinig teed up a pass to Czarnecki, rocketing a slapper from the left faceoff circle once again being stopped by netminder Sheffer. Soon after, Chargers’ Gunnar Birmingham was called for tripping that resulted to be costly when senior McCue beat Nick Kurtiak short side over his right shoulder-shot originating between goal line and faceoff dot. The second concluded at 1-1 with Chargers leading in shots on goal 9-3.

Senior Luke Cramer continued to exhibit great hustle at both ends of the ice as he helped the Chargers exhaust the Huskies early powerplay into the 3rd period. The Chargers had an onslaught of shots both short and long range that couldn’t break the great vision and concentration of Huskies’ netminder Sheffer. The greatest scoring threat from the Huskies came on a 2 on 1 with one minute remaining in the game when junior Jack Dawley sacrificed his body laying out breaking up the passing attempt.

End of regulation tied at 1-1 with Chargers dominating in shot total 35-8.

Quickly into overtime, Sheffer’s .971 save percentage wasn’t enough to keep the Chargers’ Nolan Berner from stretching out, sliding into the crease, slamming home the rebound, stealing the “Sudden Death” victory. Powers are now 6-1 on the year.

Next game: Jackson Lumen Christi, Wednesday, Dec 22nd, 6pm @ Flint Iceland arena

Teddy Bear Toss Night to benefit Catholic Charities.