The Chargers (10-2) traveled to the Cleveland area to compete with some of the top tier talent in the state of Ohio while bonding with their fathers in the annual Father/Son trip. Unfortunately, the result was the Chargers went 0-2 facing two very competitive teams in #2 St Ignatius Wildcats (8-3-2) and #5 Upper Arlington Golden Bears (18-3).

In Friday night’s opener, Cooper Gerhardt struck first giving the Chargers the lead over the Wildcats early in the first period, displaying great patience on a 2 v 1 with Jacque Lavrack assisting. This turned out to be the Chargers sole goal. At the 11:37 mark, St Ignatius countered with a goal beating Nick Kurtiak over his glove side. The Wildcats charged back closing out the first with a turnover in the slot for the go-ahead goal to end the period 2-1. Midway through the 2nd period, the Wildcats capitalized on another turnover that originated in the neutral zone making it a two-goal game. The Chargers had multiple powerplay opportunities in the 3rd period but simply could not generate any real threats. Total shots Wildcats 25 to Chargers 18. Final: St. Ignatius 3 Powers 1

Saturday afternoon, it didn’t take long as Upper Arlington went the length of the ice on the opening shift notching the first of the contest. Chargers Peyton Lenger came up big stopping the Golden Bears on two different occasions with one being a breakaway and the other a nice led pad save stretching across the crease denying the back door attempt. At 6:52 remaining in the first, Golden Bears Max Robbins intercepted a Chargers outlet pass and made them pay going up 2-0. Brendan Sly countered back by redirecting Weston Reinig’s slapshot with his skate. The 2nd period was won by the Bears as senior Sam Burns skated in untouched knocking his own rebound past Lenger for the first of his two. The Chargers were down 4-1 entering the 3rd period until Mason Czarnecki provided his own deflection goal from Trey Carlock’s shot. As the physical play ensued amongst both teams, Nola Salayko positioned the Chargers within one when he executed the wrister from the top of the circle past Bears Preston Bernard. With just two minutes left in regulation, Sly scored the equalizer, his second of the afternoon when he took a dish in down low from Tarpening going short side off the netminder’s shoulder. The Chargers carried their momentum into overtime playing the 3 v 3 format until it abruptly ended, when Kyle Barbour was called for a questionable check from behind five-minute major. The Chargers were able to escape the shorthanded situation forcing a shootout. The Golden Bears first shooter made no mistake snipping it 13” off the ice under Lenger’s glove that resulted in the only goal giving Upper Arlington the 5-4 win. Total shots Golden Bears 32 to Chargers 28.

All in all, the Chargers competed very well facing some of Ohio’s top tier talent closing out a great Father/Son weekend!

Next 3 January Home Games: @ Flint Iceland Arena/ Lapeer, Wednesday,19th, 6pm/ East Grand Rapids, Friday, 21st, 5:30p / Detroit Country Day, Saturday, 22nd, 3:00