The Power traveled to Blaine, MN for the NA3HL League showcase at the Schwan’s Super Rink and came away with 6 points going 3-0 on the week.
DAY 1, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18
The Power opened Showcase play Sunday against the East Division Danbury Jr. Hatricks grabbing a 6-3 victory. Max Erstad started the scoring for the Power at the 10:25 mark of the first period. Danbury tied it up at the 11:54 mark but Blake Keller answered just 12 seconds later to give the Power a 2-1 lead. Danbury was able to get another past Power goaltender Adam Prokop to tie it up at the end of the first.
The Power had a 3-goal second period with Colin March tallying 2 goals (assists from Erstad and Klebba) and Luke Nemeth scoring with assists from Mike Dalaly and Tommy Kundinger to make it a 5-3 game after 2 periods of play. The third period remained scoreless until Patrick Toomey sealed the victory with an empty net goal at the 19:50 mark.
Adam Prokop got the win in the Power net, stopping 25 of 28 shots on goal.
DAY 2, MONDAY, DECEMBER 19
Day two the Power faced the Butte Cobras of the Frontier Division and came away with a commanding 6-2 victory.
Owen Drake scored the only goal of the first period at the 13:42 off an assist from Colin March giving the Power a 1-0 lead after the first. The Power offense was on target scoring 4 goals in the second period. Jack Wojnowski scored at the 2:33 mark from Mike Dalaly and Blake Keller. Butte got on the board at the 5:44 mark but the rest of the scoring was all Power. Patrick Toomey added one from Blake Keller and Odin Klebba. It was then Keller grabbing a goal at the 10:48 mark off a beautiful feed from Liam Fraser. Patrick Toomey struck again scoring his 23rd goal of the season at the 12:06 mark off an assist from Luke Nemeth. The Power added on at the 2:05 mark when Mike Dalaly scored to make it a 6-goal game for the Power off assists from Blake Keller and Max Erstad. Butte scored once more at the 8:49 mark to make it a 6-2 final. Brett Holmer got the win in the Power net stopping 29 of 31 Butte shots on goal.
DAY 3, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20
The final day of the showcase proved to be a defensive battle as the New Ulm Steel of the West Division grabbed a goal in the first period and it remained 1-0 through two periods of play. The Power finally found the back of the net at the 2:30 mark of the third period when Max Erstad took a feed from Blake Keller to tie it 1-1. Mike Dalaly was able to quickly answer just 12 seconds after New Ulm again took the lead and brought the game to a 2-2 tie. He was assisted by Liam Fraser and Max Erstad.
Tommy Kundinger scored what proved to be the game winning goal at the 9:29 mark when he shot from long range off assists from Owen Drake and Connor O’Neal to make it a 3-2 Power lead. Kundinger then sealed the game with 2 minutes to go in the game on an empty net goal assisted by Patrick Toomey. Adam Prokop picked up the win for the Power, stopping 25 of 27 Steel shots on goal.
The Kundinger Power players of the weekend go to our 2002 players who showed their leadership and were critical to the balanced scoring effort throughout the week: Max Erstad, Mike Dalaly, Patrick Toomey, Blake Keller, Luke Nemeth and Jacob Renbarger. Also receiving recognition for 2-goal games are Tommy Kundinger and Colin March.
A LOOK AHEAD
The Power now stands tied for third place in the Central Division with the Peoria Mustangs with 35 points. They open 2023 on the road to face the Minnesota Loons of the West Division on January 6-7. Both games are at 7:30pm and will be broadcast on HockeyTV.
The Power returns home Saturday, January 14 and Sunday, January 15 to take on the Wausau Cyclones at Kettle Moraine Ice Center. The January 14 game is at 6:00pm and is Skate with the Power night sponsored by The Barton House West Bend. Sunday, January 15, a 12:15 afternoon matchup is Citizens Advocate Day.
Be sure to get your Power 10-ticket packs and catch all second half home games at Kettle Moraine Ice Center. Buy here on-line or email kris@mkepower.com.
