By David Dell
PORT HURON- Continental Division leaders Carolina Thunderbirds flew into town for a pair of games over the weekend and their 76 points showed they are still a formidable opponent while being in opposing divisions in the Federal Prospects Hockey League.
Prowlers’ goalie Valtarrie Nouisianen did yeoman’s service throughout the first period where neither team could find pay dirt. It wasn’t without effort on the part of the visitors who put up 15 shots while holding the home team to just five. The officials let the game play out without stoppage for infractions requiring sin-bin time.
The second stanza had a bit more action with Reggie Millette (12th of the season) getting things going for Port Huron when he beat Mario Cavaliere at 3:37. With Player Coach Alex Johnson coming down the left wing, Millette taking the slot let fly what looked to be a pass but a sliding Thunderbird defenceman got his stick on it in the wrong way, deflecting the puck to the back of the net.
Carolina controlled the game for the next 12 minutes before Steven Ford drew a Tripping minor putting Port Huron on their second powerplay of the night. Lukas Lacny (8th of the season) recently back from a stint in the Southern Professional Hockey League took a feed from Reggie Millette at the home team bench and got the touch, beating Cavaliere backdoor to double up the score 2-0. With just a minute remaining in the period, Bryan Parsons picked up a Delay of Game penalty and just 14 seconds later, Nate Keely split the lead in half. The Thunderbirds were held to just 11 shots but again the Prowlers had 5, for a 26-10 difference for 40 minutes.
Jiri Pestuka made it a tie game 00:52 into the final frame on a heavy forecheck stealing a pass inside the Prowlers’ zone. At 11:18 Adam Heinzl earned a double minor for Roughing, after jumping James Farmer who had just laid out Ludwig Thellstrom with a cross check against his head from behind. Half a minute into the first penalty’s time, Roman Kraemer put Carolina up 3-2 as his powerplay shot got through traffic in front of the Prowlers’ net. Port Huron called their time out at 17:46 and pulled Nouisianen for the extra attacker but John Buttitta found an opening and tallied up goal number 4. Nouisianen returned for the ensuing face off before being pulled a second time and Roman Kraemer potted his second goal to put the Thunderbirds up 5-2. The fight wasn’t over though with just five seconds before the horn, Ludwig Thellstrom (5th of the season) lit the lamp but it just wasn’t enough for the win. Port Huron again managed just five shots on goal, falling behind 40-15 in total.
The Prowlers and Thunderbirds meet again Saturday night for their 4th of 5 match ups this season.
The Prowlers play in the Empire Division of the Federal Prospects Hockey League, now in its’ 15th year.
