West Bend, WI – The West Bend Power match up against the St. Louis Jr. Blues this weekend for the first time season. This two-game set is First Responder’s Weekend, where all First Responders get in free all weekend. Both games on Friday, November 3, and Saturday November 4 start at 7:30pm CST. The players will be wearing custom jerseys sponsored by the Great Outdoors Supper Club that will be auctioned off to benefit the Boltonville Fire Department. The auction link is: https://fans.winwithdash.com/auctions/westbendpower.
IAAF West Bend Local #2025 is the Game Day sponsor. Additionally, Gavin Wohlmacher is the Kundinger Power Player of the weekend for his play in last weekend’s sweep over the Wisconsin Woodsmen.
Sweeping out the sawdust
The Power continued their winning ways, sweeping the Wisconsin Woodsmen this past weekend. Andrew Butler ended the 3-2 game on October 27 in overtime, while Wohlmacher stopped 32 of 33 shots the following night in 2-1 victory.
West Bend Head Coach Jason Woods wants to continue the trajectory that won them the weekend. “We’re happy that we were able to come away with 4 points last weekend,” said Woods. “We want to continue to elevate our play consistently for 60 minutes of hockey.” Woods expressed the team’s confidence in themselves and that they need to continue to implement the lessons he is teaching them. “Our team is building confidence in each other,” said Woods. “That ultimately will help us execute on our concepts and God-willing good things will happen.”
Across the Aisle
The St. Louis Jr. Blues are looking for a bounce back year after a disappointing 2022-23 season. The Jr. Blues went 8-39-0 with 16 points and finishing 6th in the central division. Their ambitious new Head Coach and St. Louis native Matt Ocello has started the Jr. Blues on that journey.
Key returning forwards Connor Westbrock and captain Ryan Callahan will lead the charge on offense. Westbrock is in his second season with the St. Louis Jr. Blues and led the team with 217 penalty minutes in 40 games played while tallying 17 points (7 goals, 10 assists). Ryan Callahan takes over as captain for the Jr. Blues in his fourth NA3HL season, and has been with St. Louis since 2022, after he came over from the Peoria Mustangs. Callahan’s notched 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) in 35 games played in 2022-23.
On defense, Kenneth Henning is expected to take the next step in his 200-foot game. Henning has nearly surpassed his 9 points in 42 games last season already, having 7 points (5 goals, 2 assists) in 12 games played. Also, in his second season on Jr. Blues blueline, Matthew Mahoney returns as an alternate captain. The Rochester, MN native has a sandpaper style of defense while producing points. Mahoney earned 16 points (11 goals, 5 assists) in 44 games played.
The biggest question for St. Louis is in goal. The Jr. Blues have four different goaltenders on their roster, which includes their tandem from last year. Jordan Behnen and Ian Zeumer shouldered most of the workload last season. Behnen suited up for 27 games during 2022-23, with a record of 3-20-0, a .883 save percentage and 5.80 goals allowed average. Zeumer played in 21 games with a 4-12-0 record, .882 save percentage and 6.33 goals allowed average. St. Louis has supplemented this pair with Wilmer Brundin, who played third tier professional hockey in his native Sweden with Boo Hockey Club. Rounding out the quartet in net is Czech born Matyas Bajgar, who also played tier three professional hockey in Sweden with Helsingborgs Hockey Club.
Broadcast Information
Frank Zawrazky is on the headset for both home games this weekend. The games on Friday November 3, and Saturday November 4, start at 7:30pm. All games this season are streaming on www.nahltv.com. https://nahltv.com/
