WEST BEND SWEEPS DEFENDING CHAMPION GRANITE CITY IN THRILLING FASHION
Timeouts by Head Coach Jason Woods at the eight-minute mark of the third period both games helped the Power stay the course.
West Bend, WI – The West Bend Power won both games versus the defending Fraser Cup Champion Granite City Lumberjacks in a dramatic weekend series. Despite being outshot in the first period Friday night 13-7, West Bend scored the only goal of the period nine seconds into their opening power play. Tegan Scheurer buried a shot from Odin Klebba and Zach Wolverton at 11:48. During the middle frame, despite taking two additional penalties, Granite City scored an equalizer at 7:29, evening the game 1-1. In the third the Lumberjacks pulled ahead 2-1 at 11:50, prompting Power Head Coach Jason Woods to use his timeout. After an emphatic speech on the bench, the tide of the game turned in West Bend’s favor. When he was released from the penalty box, rookie Carter Daul led the forecheck for majority of the third. This push paid off at 16:46, when Daul scored his first career NA3HL goal, once more tying the game 2-2 and sending Friday’s contest to overtime. Both teams played a patient yet persistent style of offense throughout overtime, but with no scoring, the game went to a shootout. The shootout went six rounds, until offensive captain Connor O’Neal scored the game winner over the shoulder of Granite City’s goaltender to win 3-2. Gavin Wohlmacher played with poise, stopping 30 of 32 shots on goal.
The Palermo’s Screamin’ Sicilian three stars of the game for Friday were Bryce Garber at No. 3, Gavin Wohlmacher at No. 2, and Connor O’Neal at No. 1. The Versi-Foam hard hat hardest worker of the game was awarded to Carter Daul.
Veteran goaltender Adam Prokop returned to West Bend from the NAHL’s Lone Star Brahmas. During his return debut on Saturday, Prokop saved 36 of 37 shots on goal. West Bend came out of the gates with more emphasis than Friday, only being outshot 16-13. The Power once again scoring the opening goal of the game, this time with five seconds remaining on the man advantage at 4:26, courtesy of a Liam Fraser point blast. Immediately following West Bend killing off three consecutive minor penalties in the second period, Granite City broke even at 4:10. Following more pressure from the defending champions in the third period, Head Coach Jason Woods called the Power’s timeout with eight minutes to go in regulation the for second night in a row. This again spurred the bench to rally, as O’Neal played hero for the second time in as many nights, scoring at 17:50 in the third period, securing the 2-1 win.
The Palermo’s Screamin’ Sicilian three stars of the game for Saturday were Connor O’Neal at No. 3, Liam Fraser at No. 2, and Adam Prokop at No. 1. The Versi-Foam hard hat hardest worker of the game was awarded to Owen Drake.
The Kundinger Power Players of the Weekend are Gavin Wohlmacher and Connor O’Neal.
The West Bend Power have a home-and-home series with the Oregon Tradesmen this week. The home game Friday, Oct. 6 at 7:30pm is IIHF Girls Hockey Night in conjunction with the West Bend Lynx Girls Hockey program sponsored by Thrivent financial. West Bend travels for the first time this season on Saturday, Oct. 7 to Oregon Ice Center, where puck drop is also at 7:30pm CST.
Broadcaster Frank Zawrazky is off this week shadowing the broadcast team of the NHL’s Washington Capitals. He will return for the following home game versus the Wausau Cyclones on Friday, Oct. 13. All games this season are streaming on www.nahltv.com.
