The Power traveled to Blaine, MN for the NA3HL Showcase December 14-16 at the Super Rink and came away with three wins, picking up six points in the standings
The Power entered the Showcase in first place in the Central Division and improved to 23-2-1-1 with 48 points. The victory on Tuesday was win number 100 in franchise history, an accomplishment achieved in just two and a half seasons. The Central Division performed the best overall in the league showcase, coming away with a record of 16-2.
Game 1 – Sunday, December 14
The Power opened up the showcase with the Texas Brahmas of the South Division on Sunday and it took a period of extra hockey to secure the win. Adam Sexton started the game’s scoring at 15:41 of the first period off a Jace Fitzgerald assist. Texas responded with a power play goal at 3:43 for a 1-1 score after the first period of play. The Brahmas scored twice in the second period, one shorthaded goal for a 3-1 lead after two periods of play. The Brahmas added on at 14:41 of the third period to go ahead 4-1 The Power, then down three goals with under 10 minutes remaining, in a bold move, pulled goaltender Ben Knutson to fuel the comeback. Scoring three times in two minutes, the Power was able to storm back and tie the game. Danny Jurcich scored an unassisted goal at 8:51, Jackson Hoem scored at 7:42 off assists from Brody Josselyn and Jurcich and Blake Kohnen tied the game at 6:51 off an assist from Adam Sexton. There was no more scoring in the period, forcing the game to overtime. With just a minute remaining in overtime, Jackson Hoem fed a beautiful pass to Jace Fitzgerald and he buried the game winner past the Brahmas goaltender. The Power outshot the Brahmas 28-12. Ben Knutson earned the victory in the Power net while keeping the Power momentum alive in the third period after stopping a pentaly shot. Knutson split the game with Peter Burke in the victory
Game 2 – Monday, December 15
The Power faced the Frontier Division Helena Bighorns in Sunday’s match up and came away with a 7-1 victory. Adam Sexton again started the scoring for the Power with a goal at 9:54 of the first period off assists from Drew Sparacino and Hunter O’Neal. Evan Burchardt scored twice in the first period to give the Power the 3-0 lead after the first period. Burchardt was assisted by Sexton at 5:32 on the game winning goal and by Michael Maillette at 1:42. The Power added two power play goals in the second period. Jackson Hoem scored off a Brody Josselyn assist at 17:41 and Drew Sparacino scored at 16:21 off assists from Jace Fitzgerald and Quinn O’Connor. The Bighorns got on the scoreboard in the third period at 10:29 but the Power repsonded with a Jackson Hoem goal at 9:53 off assists from Danny Jurcich and Quinn O’Connor and Jace Fitzgerald finished the scoring on the day with a goal at 4:15 off assists from Adam Sexton and Blake Kohnen. Sam Ahl earned the victory in the Power net, stopping 29/30 Helena shots on goal. The Power had 32 shots on goal in the victory.
Game 3 – Tuesday, December 16
The Power took on the West Division Granite City Lumberjacks in game three of the showcase, and won 4-2 for a clean sweep at the event. There was no scoring in the first period by either team. The Power struck three times in the second period. Blake Kohnen started the scoring with a power play goal at 17:17 off an assist from Brody Josselyn. Armani Fisher scored the Power’s second goal at 5:32 off assists from Hunter O’Neal and Michael Maillette and Adam Sexton scored at 4:00 off a Blake Kohnen assist for the 3-0 lead after two periods of play. Granite City got on the board at 14:41 of the third period to cut the lead to 3-1. Blake Kohnen answered with a gaol at 10:33 off assists from Adam Sexton and Brody Jossely to give the Power a 4-1 lead. Granite City’s Ty Smith scored his second on the day at 5:37, but the Lumberjacks couldn’t pull any closer as the Power came away with their 23rd win on the season. Ben Glaseman earned the victory in the Power net, stopping 22/24 Granite City shots on goal. The Power had 30 shots on goal.
UP NEXT
The Power will travel to St. Louis to take on the Jr. Blues Saturday and Sunday before heading into the Christmas break. Saturday’s game is at 5:45pm and Sunday’s puck drop it at 12:00pm. Both games are at Affton Ice Rink and will be broadcast on NA TV. The Power will return to home ice at Kettle Moraine Ice Center on Friday, January 2 to take on the Wausau Cyclones for SKATE WITH THE POWER night.