For the second time in as many seasons, the West Bend Power has won the Central Division Playoff Championship and are headed to the Fraser Cup in St. Louis. The Power faced a tough Rochester team and won two games in the best of three series to punch their ticket.
The series opened Friday night in front of a packed house at Kettle Moraine Ice Center, but the scoreboard was all visitors, as the Grizzlies came away with a 4-0 victory. Two of the goals were scored in the empty net, as the Power pulled goaltender Adam Prokop for the extra attacker in the last 5 minutes of the game. Prokop had 26 saves in the loss. The Power had 36 shots on goal.
Saturday the Power hit the road to Rochester and for the ninth time this season, came away with an exciting overtime victory to even the series. Jackson Hoem got the Power on the board first at 16:31 of the first period off assists from Andrew Browe and Brody Josselyn. Rochester answered at 14:17 to tie the game through one period of play. Rochester scored the only goal in the second period. Brody Josselyn tied the game with 5 minutes to go off a Mike Sobaski assist to tie the game and send it to overtime. Danny Jurcich was Saturday’s overtime hero, firing past Rochester goaltender Joey Bertram at 17:17 of overtime for the win sending the series to game three. Jurcich was assisted by Jackson Hoem and Brayden Graning. Adam Prokop stopped 30/32 Rochester shots on goal. The Power had 25 shots on goal.
Sunday back at Kettle Moraine Ice Center the Power faithful got their money’s worth and more, as the Power claimed the Central Division Playoff Championship for the second year in a row. Blake Mitchell got the Power on the board first at 10:07 of the first period for the only scoring in the first. Rochester tied the game on a power play goal at 15:48 of the second period. Jozef Silhar put the Power ahead at 6:13 off assists from Trace Shumlas and Jace Fitzgerald, but Rochester answered on another power play goal to tie the score at 2 through two periods of play. Quinn O’Connor scored what proved to be the winning goal at 12:51 of the third period off assists from Odin Klebba and Drew Sparacino. The Power was able to hold off Rochester for the remainder of the game and with the extra attacker in the closing minutes and came away with the 3-2 win and back-to-back Central Division Champion titles. The Power outshot the Grizzlies 28-26.
UP NEXT
The Power head to St. Louis for a chance at a Fraser Cup Championship. Watch for full Fraser Cup preview details for all information.
