A clash of two top five teams in Division 3 high school hockey, took place between the Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Eaglets (11-6-1) and the Flint Powers Catholic Chargers (13-3) Friday evening. A neck and neck low scoring game that consisted of twelve penalties with the Eaglets earning nine visits to the box. Two potentially dangerous teams that could very well see each other squaring off in the state playoffs come March.

The first period was a series of plays with no real execution as each team was sizing the other up. The best scoring opportunity for the Chargers came when junior Matt Lavoie rung the puck off the crossbar after intercepting an errant pass from the Orchard Lake defender. The “wall” in senior Nicholas Kurtiak, extinguished a couple threatening 1v1 attempts by the Eaglets. Then, with only 40 seconds remaining, the Eaglets won the draw and senior Matthew Waring let one rip from the point, deflecting off the butt end of the Charger defender’s stick and past Kurtiak. The Charger penalty kill unit was tested early into the second period and stood strong as it has throughout the season. On the other hand, the Chargers powerplay not so much. The Chargers had a handful of power play situations and could only muster one goal. That lone goal came on the unassisted execution of team leading goal scorer (14) Mason Czarnecki. At the two-minute mark of the second in the Eaglets zone, Czarnecki gained control, patiently skated the perimeter of the faceoff circle, then sniped a blistering wrister into the top shelf tying it at one apiece. The solid netminding of Kurtiak presented itself again just inside the third period, when he stretched out with his left leg pad denying the Eaglet forward. Momentarily later, Kurtiak was left out to dry as Brennan Morgan, pounced on the rebound slipping it between Kurtiak’s legs. Incrementally speaking, the Eaglets put away the game with just one more executed opportunity. The Chargers out shot the Eaglets 32 to 25. Final:

Powers - 1 St. Mary’s - 2

Next Game: Wednesday, Feb 1st, 6p v Midland Dow at Flint Iceland arena