A highly anticipated matchup between two hockey clubs that have been known to take it down to the wire. The #2 D1 Hartland Eagles (15-5) hosted the #4 D3 Flint Powers Chargers (15-4), providing Wednesday’s packed house with another memorable barn burner. Unlike last years 2-1 victory for the Chargers at Flint Iceland arena, this year the Eagles found themselves with the last laugh.

If the Powers Chargers are going to make a deep run in the state playoffs, they will need to find a way to close out games. The Chargers led the Eagles in both the first and second periods by two goals to see the lead dissipate.

The Chargers netminder Nicholas Kurtiak slid across the goal mouth to stone the Eagles forward just two minutes in the contest. The first period was all Powers when it came to lighting up the scoreboard. Senior, team leading goal scorer Mason Czarnecki notched his first two of four goals on the night by receiving dimes from both Andrew Parmentier and Cooper Gerhardt. The Chargers displayed quick puck movement through the neutral zone putting the Eagles on their heels.

It appeared as soon as the Zamboni left the ice to start the second period, the Eagles came out of the locker room with a renewed purpose eliminating the Chargers lead. The Eagles first score transpired when they got a nice deflection off a wrister from the point and their second came from forward Jack L’Esperance when he walked into the slot sniping Kurtiak over his blocker. Then, the Chargers answered right back on a rebound buried by Michael Tucker. To close out the period jumping back up by two, Czarnecki executed a jaw dropping toe drag to net the hatty (3).

As the Chargers headed into the 3rd period 4-2, the Eagles nearly duplicated their entrance into the second period by notching the first two goals tying it at 4-4. At 8:59, Czarnecki beat the Eagles goaltender Colin Babcock in his five-hole, securing his 4th goal (20th) of the evening. With 7:01 in regulation, the Eagles captured the equalizer on another shot from the point with thick traffic in front of Kurtiak. As the Charger fan base has seen too many times this season, the game being decided by one goal favoring their opponent. The Eagles made no mistake grabbing the OT game winner on a shot from the top of the circle. Final:

Powers 5

Hartland 6

Next game: Saturday, Feb 11th, 6:45p vs Saginaw Heritage at Bay Ice Arena