By David Dell
PORT HURON- In game one of a two-game series of the ‘cat teams’ in the Federal Prospects Hockey League, the Prowlers hosted the Blue Ridge Bobcats from Wytheville, Virginia, Friday night in front of 1,145 fans.
Third year forward Daniel Chartrand (5th of the season) opened the scoring at 7:33 of the opening period on a powerplay goal while Daniel Klinecky was serving a Tripping minor. The Prowlers moved the puck around the zone easily, enjoying a 5 on 3 advantage but the Bobcats killed the first penalty and cleared the puck. Upon regaining the zone, Lukas Lacny fired from the right point and Head Coach Matt Graham got a whack on the initial stop by Hunter Virostek, but Chartrand jammed away at the puck and punched it in for the red light. The goal being the only difference in a 11-shot period for both teams.
Savva Smirnov put Blue Ridge on the scoreboard early in the middle frame even strength at 3:34 to knot the game at 1. Port Huron gave the visitors four powerplay opportunities and the Bobcats took advantage of the extra space to step up their shooting game against rookie Valtteri Nousiainen goaltender, but he and the Prowlers stopped the remaining 16 shots on goal to hold the score tied going into the third period. The Bobcats outshot Port Huron 17-7.
Lukas Lacny (6th of the season) put Port Huron ahead at 3:44. Ludwig Thellstrom dug the puck out of the corner and dished it to Lacny who was sliding down the slot on the seat of his pants. Presence of mind found him putting the puck on his stick who slipped it past Virostek to regain the lead. Playing in his 330 game as a Prowler Matt Graham (1st of the season) added an empty net tally when he intercepted a drop pass at the Port Huron blue line, skated to the opposing offensive zone before sending the puck to the net at 18:18. Graham got the goal giving him his 400th point as a Prowler. This moved him to just 40 points behind the Prowlers’ career leader Dalton Jay (440 points) who retired just before the start of the season. Down 3-1 Virostek was pulled a second time at 18:33 and with Brett Lockhart serving a Delay of Game minor, Blue Ridge skated 6-4. The extra attacker and powerplay situation did them no good as Tucker Scantlebury (2nd of the season) picked up a pass from Graham and was able to make his deposit after gaining the zone unopposed. The Bobcats again outshot the Prowlers this time 11-9 but were unable to find the back of the net, losing 4-1.
Port Huron will face these same Blue Ridge Bobcats Saturday 16 November, with a record of 2-4-2-0. Game time is 6:05. Former Port Huron Icehawks forward and Alternate Captain Jeff Zehr will drop the ceremonial puck for the opening faceoff. The Prowlers play in the Empire Division of the Federal Prospects Hockey League, now in its’ 15th year.
