This past Saturday on a blistering afternoon, the Flint Powers Catholic Chargers (19-4-1) hosted the D2 #3 ranked Livonia Stevenson Spartans (19-5) to wrap up the regular season. The Spartans possessing one of the top 10 forwards in the state already tallying up 50 pts and one of the top netminders with a remarkable save % of .940. Despite the Spartan ammunition, the Chargers balanced roster brought its own horsepower to the rink as they sent off their seven seniors in a respectable final contest at Flint Iceland arena.

Both teams went head-to-head right from the start laying some pounding hits on one another. A very fast pace and physical game. The Spartans had the first great scoring threat that was prevented by junior goaltender Nick Kurtiak with a quick right leg pad reaction keeping it knotted at 0. Then at 5:13 left in the first period, a 3 v 2 ensued just before the Spartans blueline as the puck originated from Nolan Salayko’s stick, over to Nolan Berner and then to Mason Czarnecki where “Czar” pulled the netminder one way to slide a backhand in for the go ahead.

The Spartans were dominated by the Charger high powered offense for majority of the 2nd period. The Charger powerplay gained traction very quickly when senior Brenden Tarpening furnished the Chargers a 2-0 lead on a follow up rebound goal. Then once again taking advantage of the Spartans undisciplined emotions, silky puck movement developed by Czarnecki and Gerhardt setting up junior Kyle Barbour. While in close proximity, Barbour launched the puck top shelf over Spartan netminder Zach Waldo. The Chargers rolled right back at 2:02 when Jacques Lavrack notched his 14th goal on the season with the helpers coming from Gerhardt and Sly. Moments later, the Spartans took advantage of Tarpening’s tripping penalty when Charles Ward threw the puck to the net trickling through traffic passing by Kurtiak to end the period 4-1.

The 3rd period was much of the same physical play. At the 11:11 mark, netminder Kurtiak was called for a trip sending the Spartans forward to the ice when he skated through the crease. With the Spartans on the powerplay, the Chargers uncharacteristically let in back-to-back goals. The Spartans were then called for a 5-minute major for head contact that put the Chargers on the powerplay to close out the game. The Chargers are now 20-4-1 heading into the playoffs as they travel north to the home of Ferris State University to take on the Big Rapids Cardinals in the Regional Semifinal.

Total Shots: Powers 22 Livonia 20

Final: Powers 4 Livonia 2

Next game: Regional Semifinal

Big Rapids Cardinals, Thursday, February 24th, 5:30pm R.L. Ewigleben Sports Complex