Twenty-three varsity hockey teams throughout the state with a high concentration of Northern teams, assembled in Traverse City, the home of the Bay Area Reps on Jan 12th-14th. An annual showcase honoring the legacy of the late Rick Deneweth, attracting high caliber teams to compete in a three-day event.

Kicking off the event Thursday night, the Grand Rapids Christian Eagles and the Flint Powers Chargers provided a contest that was not short of emotion for either fan bases. GR came out gunning for the highly ranked Chargers, pocketing a 2-0 lead before sophomore Andrew Burny executed a quick snapper from the slot making it 2-1. Within 22 seconds remaining in the first, senior defenseman Jack Dawley kept the lead within one as he sacrificed his body, laying out to break up the Eagles 2v1.

The Chargers evened it up two apiece at the 14:16 mark of the second period, when sophomore Andrew Parmentier slithered in all alone after receiving a pass up the gut from sophomore Brody Neelands. Subsequently, the Eagles countered back, ringing home a nasty rebound to once again steal the go-ahead goal. Coincidently, the Chargers rallied four consecutive scores shortly after making a netminder change. The 4th goal of the game came when the Chargers leading scorer Mason Czarnecki sniped a rebound past sophomore netminder Cole Butler. Then, with only 12 seconds left, Michael Tucker was dished by assist leader Kyle Barbour, collected in stride blazing his way to the house lifting the Chargers back up 4-3. Tucker (2nd of the night) nearly cloned the same play to start off the 3rd period. This time, it was senior Jakob Malenich getting the helper as “Turbo” Tucker flew in all alone placing it in Butler’s five-hole. Closing out the evening, Chargers Burny standing inside the blueline, earned his first two goal game, tossing a wrister just inside the blocker of Butler. Powers senior goaltender Nicholas Kurtiak secured the win.

Shots: Powers 34 GR 20

Final: Powers 6 GR 3

The Chargers second game of the Showcase was an eye opener to say the least, as they were handed only their second loss of the season ending an eight-game winning streak. The #2 Division 2 team in the state, the Alpena Wildcats hit the ice with authority! They came to play bringing urgency and energy on every shift. The Wildcats sit atop the Big North conference at 13-2 with a strong (11 win) netminder in Aiden Shultz (.915%).

It was as if the Wildcats brought the whole town of Alpena to the arena Friday afternoon. With the fans rooting in harmony, the Wildcats and Chargers skated to a scoreless first period. The Chargers who were missing a couple of players due to injuries and their leading scorer out from a questionable prior game misconduct did not help matters.

Early into the second is when the Alpena Wildcats had their way with the Powers Chargers. The wildcats rattled of three consecutive goals and one to cap off the afternoon midway through the

third period. Chargers senior netminder Nicholas Kurtiak played well despite the scoreboard. Had it not been for Kurtiak’s athleticism, the Chargers would have seen a much uglier result. As the Chargers (11-2) look to bounce back this coming week, the Wildcats will continue to make noise in the north and down south come March.

Shots: Powers 19 Alpena 29

Final: Powers 0 Alpena 4

Next Home Games:

Wed, Jan 18th 6pm v Lakeland

Fri, Jan 20th 6pm v Tri-Valley