The Power had a home and away weekend and came away with one win and one loss, picking up two points in the Central Division standings.
The Power returned home Friday to the Kettle Moraine Ice Center for the first time since mid-December to a packed house dressed in black for Blackout Night. It was the visiting Tradesmen who got on the board first, at 1:14 of the first period on a short-handed goal from Bryce Stensrud to give Oregon a 1-0 after one period. Connor O’Neal (10) tied things up at 4:41 of the first period off assists from Cole Fenske (11) and Teagan Scheurer (19). Max Mudge (9) gave the Power the lead at 1:18 of the second scoring off assists from Bryce Garber (17) and Colin McMahon (2) to give the home team the 2-1 advantage after two periods. The third period lamp was busy with 5 total goals. Bryce Gaber scored his 14th goal of the season at 17:39 assisted by Andrew Butler (18) and Max Mudge (19). Riley Planey (4) scored at 14:15 of the period off assists from Connor O’Neal (9) and Odin Kelbba (4). Oregon kept things interesting scoring at 12:21 to bring the score to 4-2. Connor O’Neal (11) tallied his second of the night at 8:43 off assists from Riley Planey (6) and Nate Cohen (9). Oregon scored again less than 20 seconds later but couldn’t add on, bringing the score to the eventual 5-3 final.
Walker Berner recorded the win in the Power net stopping 11/12 shots on goal. He was replaced by Brooks Barofsky after an injury, where Brooks finished the game stopping 24/26 shots on goal. The Power had 35 shots on goal.
The Palermo’s Screamin Sicilian Three Stars of the Game were: third star Bryce Garber, second star Connor O’Neal and first star Riley Planey. The Versi-foam Hard Hat hardest worker of the game was Oliver Schroeder.
Saturday the Power hit the road to Tomah to take on the Wisconsin Woodsmen. The home team jumped out to an early lead on a Victor Budik goal at 19:19 of the first period. Bryce Garber scored his 15th goal of the season at 17:50 off an Andrew Butler (19) assist to tie things up. Tomah took the lead to the locker room after the first period, as they added a second goal at 13:50 of the period. There was no scoring in the second period, and the only goal of the third period came at 1:09 when the Woodsmen were able to find the empty net to seal the victory.
Brooks Barofsky suffered the loss in the Power net, stopping 27 of 29 Woodsmen shots on goal. The Power had 18 shots on goal.
The Kundinger Fluid Power Players of the Weekend are Connor O’Neal and Bryce Garber each for two goals and two assists on the weekend.
The Power currently sits in second place in the Central Division at 22-8-1-2 with 47 points.
The Power return to the road this weekend as they travel to Peoria to face the Mustangs in a Friday-Saturday match up at the Owens Center. Friday’s game is at 7:00pm and Saturday is at 6:00pm. Both games will be broadcast on NAHL TV. The Power returns home to Kettle Moraine Ice Center on Saturday, January 20 for Autism Acceptance Night sponsored by Packerland and The Threshold Incorporated. The first 250 fans will receive a free Power mini hockey stick.
