Another great weekend of phenomenal high school hockey where teams competed in the Eighteenth Annual MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase hosted by the city of Trenton, MI. A showcase that is known as the premier high school hockey event featuring 42 top ranked teams from Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. The one event centralized, where high school players receive exposure to both college and Junior A scouts.

The Flint Powers Chargers faced-off against the #2 Ranked D3 Gabriel Richard Pioneers on Friday and the top ranked St. Ignatius Prep hockey club (Wildcats) out of Ohio Saturday. The time of the season, nearing the final stretch, as players and coaches gauge where their play stands.

Just 12 seconds into the first period vs Gabriel Richard, the Chargers senior captain Kyle Barbour broke open the scoring on a shot from the blueline slipping it by goaltender Ryan Rainey. The Pioneers struck back minutes later on a powerplay goal by Brenden Paden. Netminder Nicholas Kurtiak kept is netted at 1-1, nullifying a couple solid Pioneer attempts to end the first. The Chargers grabbed the next two goals of the 2nd period, both coming from the powerplay units. First one: Cooper Gerhardt steering Mason Czarnecki’s rebound in past Rainey and then Czarnecki executing a nice slot dish from Barbour to boost Powers 3-1. Barbour’s assist placed him in the 100th career point category as a Charger. The Pioneers countered back on a powerplay goal of their own during a scrum in front of Kurtiak to only trail by one. Early into the 3rd period, senior Greg Feamster gave the Chargers a shot in the arm, diffusing the Pioneer attack with his tenacious penalty kill forechecking. At the 5:59 mark, a Charger defender was caught trying to dangle in his own zone and the Pioneers made them pay, tying it up at 3 apiece. With the game tied and the Chargers shorthanded once again, Michael Tucker tapped his nitrous button at the red line and was gone for the races. Tucker sealed the deal beating Rainey 5-hole lifting the Chargers 4-3. However, before the victorious emotions could commence, Kurtiak wanted to put his final stamp on the contest. With only 20 seconds remaining, Kurtiak performed consecutive monster saves, sprawled out on his stomach with right leg pad anchored to the post cementing the win and his 11th on the season.

Final: Powers 4 Gabriel Richard 3 Shots: Powers 29 Gabriel Richard 27

In the Saturday matchup versus the St. Ignatius Wildcats, a scoreless first period was the result despite a 4-minute powerplay given to the Chargers. Netminder Nicholas Kurtiak arguably had his strongest first period of the season turning away 10 shots. At the 14:26 mark of the 2nd period, a killer attempt by Kyle Barbour blasting a snapper attempt upper right side of netminder Nolan Francis, to only be denied by his swift moving blocker. The Wildcats penalty kill unit never laid back as they brought immense pressure with their forechecking, disrupting the Charger breakout. At 9:00, the relentless forechecking of Cooper Gerhardt and his ability to gain puck possession behind the Wildcats net paid dividends. Coop found Czar (17th on the year) parked out front to snipe it home 1-0. The horsepower this kid (Gerhardt) manufactures is mind boggling. Perhaps the Big 3 in Detroit should take notes. With just over five minutes remaining in the 3rd period, junior Caleb Doll rose to the big stage, using speed to steal the biscuit just inside the offensive blue line, ripping off a shot and capitalizing on his own rebound to bump the Charger lead 2-0. As the Powers spectators and teammates/coaches were looking to close out the weekend with two strong back-to-back victories, the Wildcats from Ohio had other plans. You do not become recognized as a top tier prep school in the Midwest to not finish strong! That is what the St. Ignatius Wildcats did. Just under a minute, the Wildcats left Charger nation stunned with two quick goals to send the game to shootouts. And then in shootouts, the Wildcats executed that one more opportunity to get the “W”. Game MVPs were award to Nicholas Kurtiak and Sam Elwell. A very well represented showcase by both the Chargers and Wildcats!

Final: Powers 2 St Ignatius 3