The West Bend Power continued their impressive start to the season, earning two commanding victories over the weekend while outscoring their opponents 13-1. The Power defeated the Fox Cities Forge 5-1 in a Friday afternoon matinee at Kettle Moraine Ice Center before hitting the road Sunday and shutting out the Wisconsin Woodsmen 8-0 in Tomah.
With the weekend sweep, the Power improved to 9-0-0-1 with 19 points, maintaining their hold on first place in the NA3HL Central Division.
FRIDAY: POWER DEFEATS FOX CITIES FORGE 5-1
The Power welcomed the Fox Cities Forge to Kettle Moraine Ice Center for a Friday matinee and dominated the action from start to finish, firing 54 shots on goal en route to a 5-1 victory. Despite outshooting the Forge 26-6 in the opening period, the Power managed just one goal against Forge netminder Flip Kaczmarczyk. Adam Sexton (7) broke the scoreless tie with just over a minute remaining in the period, converting assists from Blake Kohnen (6) and Wyatt Church (3) to give the Power a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
The Power broke the game open in the second period, finding the back of the net three times. Elias Holan (4) extended the lead to 2-0 off assists from Braylon Jansen (1) and Luca Doremus (6). Newcomer Kinnick Kehoe made an immediate impact in his Power debut, scoring his first career NA3HL goal at 10:35 to put the Power ahead 3-0. Tomas Kobela (3) added to the offensive surge at 8:40, with assists credited to Reece Beckwith (5) and Tristan Hearley (3). Fox Cities’ Wesley Loxley answered at 6:15 with the visitors’ lone goal, sending the teams into the second intermission with the Power leading 4-1. Reece Beckwith capped off the scoring with a power-play goal at 2:21 of the third period, assisted by Drew Sparacino (4) and Blake Kohnen (7), securing the 5-1 final. Robin Sejba earned the victory between the pipes for West Bend, stopping 11 of 12 Forge shots.
The BEEKS JOINT Three Stars of the Game: First Star: Kinnick Kehoe, Second Star: Reece Beckwith, Third Star: Blake Kohnen. The Versi-foam Hard Hat Hardest Worker of the Game was Drew Sparacino.
SUNDAY: POWER SHUTS OUT WISCONSIN WOODSMEN 8-0
The Power traveled to Tomah on Sunday for their first meeting of the season with the Wisconsin Woodsmen and delivered another dominant performance. Behind a 20-save shutout from goaltender Jacob Iallanardo and an explosive offensive attack, West Bend cruised to an 8-0 victory.
The Power wasted little time establishing control, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the opening period. Cole Craft (2) opened the scoring off an assist from Luca Doremus (7). Blake Kohnen (4) followed with a goal of his own, assisted by Shaun Paulson (9), giving West Bend a two-goal advantage after 20 minutes. Adam Sexton took over the scoring duties in the second period, finding the back of the net twice to extend the Power lead to 4-0. Shaun Paulson (10) and Josh Graves (13) were credited with assists during the period.
The Power offense erupted for four more goals in the final frame to put the game well out of reach. Kinnick Kehoe (2) continued his impressive debut weekend, scoring at 10:27 off an assist from Reece Beckwith (6). Zach Halling (3) followed with a goal assisted by Cole Craft (4) and Luca Doremus (8). Shaun Paulson added his eighth goal of the season, converting assists from Blake Kohnen (8) and Nathan Antti (9). Kehoe put the finishing touches on the victory at 2:56, scoring his second goal of the night and third of the weekend, assisted by Reece Beckwith (7) and Tomas Kobela (2). Kehoe’s three-goal debut weekend highlighted an impressive offensive showing for the Power, who have continued to demonstrate their scoring depth throughout the early season.
Iallanardo was perfect in net, turning aside all 20 Woodsmen shots to earn the shutout. The Power finished with 35 shots on goal.
Blake Kohnen and Reece Beckwith have been named the Culligan Water of West Bend Power Players of the Weekend. Both players were instrumental in the Power’s two victories, contributing offensively and helping drive the team’s dominant performances against the Forge and Woodsmen. Kohnen recorded a goal and three assists over the weekend, while Beckwith contributed a goal and three assists of his own.
UP NEXT: THREE-GAME ROAD TRIP
The Power will look to keep their momentum rolling as they embark on a three-game road trip next weekend, with stops in Peoria and St. Louis.
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Friday, October 30: at Peoria Mustangs — 7:00 PM at Owens Ice Center
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Saturday, October 31: at St. Louis Jr. Blues — 5:45 PM at Affton Ice Rink
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Sunday, November 1: at St. Louis Jr. Blues — 2:00 PM at Affton Ice Rink
The Power return home on Friday, November 6, when they host the Fox Cities Forge at Kettle Moraine Ice Center for Salute to Veterans/Military Appreciation Night, sponsored by Titletown Brewing Company. The evening will also feature the rescheduled Halloween Costume Contest and Trick-or-Treat Night, giving fans another opportunity to enjoy some Halloween fun at the rink.
All Power games can be streamed live on NATV.