The West Bend Power have advanced to the Central Division finals after taking 2 of 3 games from the Oregon Tradesmen in the first round of the Fraser Cup playoffs. The two Power victories were on home ice at Kettle Moraine Ice Center, Friday 3-2 and Sunday’s win or go home game, 5-1. The Tradesmen took game 2 in Oregon on Saturday, 4-1.
Friday, the visitors got on the board first, scoring at 16:26 and 14:00 for the 2-0 lead. Riley Planey got the Power on the board with his 5th goal of the season at 2:28 to bring the Power within one at the end of the first period. Planey was assisted by Odin Kelbba (7) and Monte Goold (4). Jace Fitzgerald (16) tied things up at 12:57 off assists from Liam Fraser (5) Mike Sobaski (10) for the only scoring in the period. Connor O’Neal (17) put the Power ahead with wheat proved to be the game winning goal at 15:41 of the third period. He was assisted by Max Mudge (27) and Owen Drake (13). Ian Kangas earned the victory in the Power net, stopping 31/33 Oregon shots on goal. The Power had 27 shots on goal.
Saturday the Tradesmen took game two in Oregon with a 4-1 victory. The Power struggled to find their synergy or gain any real momentum all night. Oregon scored the first two goals of the night at 12:20 of the first period and 12:11 of the second period. Bryce Garber got the Power on the board at 5:58 of the second period with his 29th goal of the season off assists from Max Mudge (28) and Nik Johnson (27). Oregon added a third goal at 3:45 for the 3-1 lead after two periods of play. The Tradesmen sealed the victory with their fourth goal of the night with 6:37 remaining, forcing the series to a third game. The Power was outshot 44-31 shots on goal for the night.
Sunday, in a winner take all matchup, the Power came out strong in front of the Power faithful at Kettle Moraine Ice Center and kept control through all three periods. Connor O’Neal got the Power on the board early at 18:06 with his 18th goal of the season off assists from Owen Drake (14) and Max Mudge (29), That goal was the only scoring in the first period. Lucca Weinkauf added the second goal for the Power at 9:45 of the second off a beautiful blocker high angled shot, assisted by Brady Moore (4) and Odin Kebba (8). Max Mudge scored his 11th goal of the season at 4:28 off assists from Connor O’Neal (15) and Owen Drake (15). Oregon got on the board off a Power turnover and scored a shorthanded goal at 11:01, but Max Mudge answered with his second goal of the day at 8:56 to extend the lead to 4-1. He was assisted by Owen Drake (16) and Connor O’Neal (16). Jace Fitzgerald (17) finished the day with an empty net goal with 27 seconds on the clock for the final 5-1 victory. Fitzgerald was assisted by Cole Fenske (17) and Monte Goold (5). Ian Kangas recorded the victory in the Power net, stopping 21/22 Oregon shots. The Power had 26 shots on goal.
The Kundinger Fluid Power Players of the weekend are Power captains Max Mudge and Connor O’Neal for each scoring two goals and tallying two assists on the weekend.
The Power will face the Wausau Cyclones in a best of 3 series for the Central Division Championship. Friday’s game will be in Wausau at 7:10 at Marathon Park. The Power will host the Cyclones at Kettle Moraine Ice Center on Saturday at 7:30. Game three, if necessary, will be in Wausau on Sunday at 6:10pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance at westbendhockey.com and Playoffs | Wausau Cyclones
