By David Dell
PORT HURON- Playing a one-game series against the visiting Carolina Thunderbirds, 1,161 fans tossed over 1,000 Teddy Bears for donation to local law enforcement agencies for use when dealing with traumatic situations involving children.
The annual Teddy Bear Toss game is typically held just before Christmas and began with the Michigan Department of Corrections Honor Guard presenting the colors and featured Special Olympics Athlete Brian Larson serving as Honorary Head Coach of the Prowlers. Money is raised through the sale of special game-worn Christmas sweaters after the game, and a silent auction for the Michigan Law Enforcement Torch Run.
The Carolina Thunderbirds played in Fraser Friday night and edged the Motor City Rockers for their 10th win before coming up to Port Huron. Jan Salak, one of Carolina’s Czech (Republic) Line, scored after nearly 13 minutes expired from the first period. His goal was a power play goal as Tucker Scantlebury was sitting for a minor Hooking penalty at 12:07. Both Port Huron and Carolina would have one more power play opportunity each through the end of the period but after 20 minutes the ‘birds held a 1-0 advantage. Tucker Scantlebury was run into the dashers deep in the Carolina zone, head first but James Valente-Farmer received only a minor Boarding penalty. Assistant Coach Chris Paulin had this to say after the game: “I didn’t like their hit on Tucker (Scantlebury) in the first period, from behind, I think that’s a dirty play. Johnny (Alex Johnson) got hit by, the last time we played these guys, from behind by Kennedy, the league passed on that one, but yeah ultimately, I don’t like that kind of play. The stuff after the whistle, the jawin’, that’s good for the competitive spirit of the game, the hits from behind, head first into the glass there’s no place for that.” Carolina had 13 shots to Port Huron’s 11.
Scantlebury would tangle with Dawson Baker at 1:48 of the second period for a pair of Unsportsmanlike Conduct but the teams would be back to full strength before Dalton Jay (4th of the season) brought the puck up through the neutral zone. Hitting Dan Chartrand at the top of the slot as he was crossing the blue line Jay raced down the right-side wing, getting the puck back, he quickly sniped the top right corner to send the Teddy Bears flying. After collecting the bears, and resumption of play, Scantlebury wrapped up a series of minor penalties at 13:57 for Slashing to put Carolina on another power play. Gus Ford capitalized on the advantage at 14:40 to put the Thunderbirds back on top 2-1. Another quick flurry of minors ended the period with Port Huron poise for nearly a full two minutes of power play time of their own. The Prowlers held Carolina to 10 shots and managed another 11 of their own.
The final 20 minutes of regulation started with a Port Huron power play but they appeared to be on the penalty kill. Carolina would outshoot the Prowlers in a back-and-forth skating show before Jakob Schnapp found the empty net at 19:32, Makar Sokolov having been pulled for the extra attacker at 19:04. Sokolov returned to the game for the ensuing face-off but was pulled again at 19:46. Port Huron’s Brandon Picard managed the only shot to end the game. Port Huron falls back to 4th place in the Continental Division with a 6-7-2-1 record behind Mississippi Seawolves but with three games in hand. They travel to Danbury Connecticut to take on the Hat Tricks for a pair of games on the 22nd and 23rd of December before hosting Fraser’s Motor City Rockers in a home and home on the 29th of December.
