Powers’ Undefeated Streak Ends
Flint Powers @ Howell Highlanders
Saturday 1/4/2024 @ 4:00pm
As of Saturday morning January 4, 2025, there were only two undefeated high school hockey teams left in the state of Michigan. Flint Powers being one, Detroit Catholic Central the other. On this night, the Chargers were challenged by the talented and highly ranked Howell Highlanders in front of a capacity crowd at the 140 Ice Den.
The action started as Howell took the puck deep into Powers’ zone right off the faceoff for an early opportunity. Powers goalie Hunter Clark froze the puck for a whistle. Seconds later in the Howell zone, Powers squarely hit a post. Landon Miller was called for roughing as he collided with the Howell tender. Powers continued their successful string of penalty kills as the penalty expired. At 10:51 the Chargers got their turn on the power play as Howell was called for holding. Facing off to the right of the Howell goal, Andrew Parmentier won the draw to Owen Perry who sent it to the net for a Parker Bendall redirect and goal at 10:37. Powers took the lead 1-0. Two minutes later Chase Stevens stole the biscuit for a one-on-the-goalie chance but was stopped. At 5:43 the power play squad got another chance as the Highlanders went off on a roughing call. This time the Chargers couldn’t capitalize. At the end of the period Powers led 1-0.
The game resumed as Powers maintained the momentum. At 12:26 Ethan Haley was crosschecked from behind and Howell received a two-minute penalty. BUT…almost unheard of in minor hockey, Haley was called for “embellishment” to make the penalties offsetting. During the penalties, the line of Logan Nanney, Jordan Davis, and Jack Johnson had a great shift keeping Howell on their heels. The Chargers penetrated the Highlander zone and Miller sauced a pass over to Bendal for a one-timer that was incredibly stopped by Howell’s senior netminder…a HUGE save that tilted the balance toward the home team. Seconds later Howell broke in two-on-one against Brody Neelands and sniped a top-corner tally over Clark’s glove to tie the game 1-1 at 9:16. The rest of the period saw back and forth on penalties – Harwood tripping (8:17), Howell roughing (6:15), Howell holding (4:37), Bendall unsportsmanlike misconduct (0:29). At the end of the 2nd period the game was tied 1-1.
Howell started the third period with 1:31 left in the Bendall penalty. A minute and nine seconds later Howell cashed in for a power play goal, 2-1 Howell. At 10:28 a Howell defenseman launched a shot from the blueline into the Powers net over the butterflying Clark. Powers trailed 3-1 with 7:15 remaining when Perry grabbed a loose puck for a clean break away on the Highlander tender but hit the post. 5:09 Howell took a penalty affording another man advantage for the Chargers. Andrew Burny gained possession in the neutral zone and made a pass to Ayden Cook who charged the Highlander zone directly to the net for the score at 4:47 - Powers second powerplay goal of the night. With the score 3-2, Chargers trailing, and 1:58 remaining, Howell was called for cross-checking providing for another Powers man-advantage. With the faceoff in Howell’s zone, Powers pulled Clark for a 6-on-4 advantage trying to get the equalizer goal. Unfortunately, miscommunication led to a shorthanded empty net goal for the Highlanders at 0:18. Before the contest ended, with three seconds to go, a Highlander took liberty on a Charger with a cross-check from behind but Andon Harwood returned the favor standing up for his teammate crushing the opponent (Kudos!) and a mele ensued. Howell was assessed a five-minute major and 10-minute misconduct. Harwood received a 2-minute unsportsmanlike misconduct and a 10-minute misconduct…and that’s how the game ended at 4-2. Howell handed Powers the first loss of the 2024-25 season (11-1-0).
Notable point getters – Goals: Bendall, Cook. Assists: Perry, Parmentier, Burny. Clark turned away 29 of 32 shots. Powers had 28 shots on the Highlander netminder. The power play produced 2 goals and the Chargers successfully killed all but one shorthanded situations.
Next up, SVL league game against Midland Dow at the 810 Sports Complex on Wednesday 1/8/25 @ 6:00pm.
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