The Flint Powers Chargers punched their ticket to advance to the Frozen Four this coming Friday, by knocking off the Detroit Country Day Yellow Jackets in the state quarterfinals this past Saturday. The Yellow Jackets were hoping to write a different ending to their 22/23 season. However, the Chargers have plans of their own .

The Chargers and Yellow Jackets skated to a scoreless first period. The Charger powerplay unit had difficulty creating shape and organization in the Yellow Jackets zone. The near Charger strike came on a great Caleb Doll backhand opportunity until DCD netminder’s last second reaction, robbed Doll with the end of his stick. The Charger goaltender Nick Kurtiak countered with his own cat like reflexes glove side to end the first. Under three minutes into the 2nd period, the Yellow Jackets made the Chargers pay on their defender miscue. As the Chargers found themselves tied up in the penalty box, their robust PK unit bailed them out of a 3 v 5. Once again, Kurtiak was on high alert, using his trapper to snag a close-range missile. At 9:47, the Charger powerplay did not disappoint! Cooper Gerhardt who has made a living the last couple of years setting up his teammates. All too familiar was the Gerhardt backhand dish to Mason Czarnecki blasting it by Talon Garn to even it up 1-1. Then Michael Tucker known for his breath-taking speed, flew down the right side, tossing the puck to the net bouncing it off the DCD defender to steal the lead. Not long after, the Yellow Jackets took advantage of their own powerplay, sliding one by the screened Charger Kurtiak. With the game tied at two, the Chargers again were on their heels playing a man down. The Yellow Jackets Matt Jenkins sniped the go-ahead tally from just inside the goal line. The Chargers Tucker said not so fast, as he again went blazing down left side of ice, sauced the helper through the goal mouth for the sophomore Andrew Parmentier to put the finishing touch on it. Gridlocked at three apiece, senior defenseman Jack Dawley, stepped up on the Reinig drop pass, ripped a slapper to the net deflecting off a Yellow Jacket’s stick, finding the upper 90 to close the deal.

Final:

Powers 4 DCD 3 Shots: Powers 24 DCD 25 The Frozen Four will take place at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, comprising of the following D3 semi-final match ups: East Grand Rapids v Houghton 11am and Riverview Gabriel Richard v Flint Powers 1:30 pm, Friday, Mar 10th. The finals will take place Saturday, March 11th at 3:05pm. Game tickets are only available for purchase at Gofan.com