By David Dell
FRASER- The Port Huron Prowlers made their first road game of the season down Interstate 94 to face the Motor City Rockers at Big Boy arena Friday night. The last time the Prowlers were here, they lost the tie-breaker game in what has become known in the Federal Prospects Hockey League as the Battle of I-94. The last time they were here, both teams were in the Continental Division of the league. In a move that puzzles most of the fans, the league moved the Rockers to the Empire Division, on Wednesday the 8th. No comment for the move has been received from the league at the time of publication.
There’s been no change in schedules for either team and this is meeting number three, of a planned 20-game series.
Friday’s game was a very lopsided affair with Fraser running roughshod over Port Huron. Both teams managed 10 shots on goal in the opening period but a Frank Schumacher Hooking minor put the home team on the power play at 7:47. Jameson Milam took advantage of the situation and potted goal number one for the Rockers at 9:06. 28 seconds later Rocco DiCostanzo added a goal even strength. 11:37 brought another even-strength goal from Nicolas Magill-Diaz and the flood gates were open. After a flurry of chances for the Prowlers, Motor City Rockers’ goalie Trevor Babin showed his true form and clobbered a charging forward for a Roughing minor. Port Huron was unable to capitalize on the power play and the period came to a close 3-0.
Fraser ran the show for the first half of period two while Port Huron fought off three of four power plays. Sam Marit drew a minor Holding at 1:07, Alex Johnson Slashing at 6:40, Matt Graham Roughing at 8:55 and Goalie Ian Wallace Delay of Game at 9:08. Declan Conway’s goal on the last power play would be all the scoring for the frame.
The scrapping came on in the third period. Sam Marit was called for Slashing and Roughing, Tucker Scantlebury Roughing, and Nicolas MaGill-Diaz for Fraser for Roughing all at 3:07 putting Fraser on the power play. Derek Makimaa made it 5-0 with his goal at 3:45. Dante Suffredini’s stick caught Prowler Adam Heinzl on the chin at 4:31 for a High Sticking minor that also drew minors from Referee Jim Scarpace for a Fighting major to go with Suffredini’s minor, along with Brad Reitter’s Interference minor. Port Huron’s Captain Evan Foley was charged with a Fighting major as well. Matt Graham made his second trip to the penalty box when he and Fraser’s Elias Thompson got into a fray, for Roughing. Austin Fetterly was shown the showers for his 10-minute misconduct for Inciting an Opponent. These penalties coming at 10:20. 22 seconds later at 10:42, Adam Heinzl would leave the game for Roughing and Inciting an Opponent while Scott Coash for the Rockers got a minor for Roughing. With the Rockers on the power play yet again, Jonathon Juliano put the home team up 6-0 and Alex Johnson got the boot for Inciting an Opponent at 12:44. Scott Coash put the Rockers up 7-0 at 14:53 on an even-strength goal. Juliano gave the Prowlers one last power play with a Roughing call but they were unable to find the net. With just 10.8 seconds remaining, Bryan Parsons with assists from Sam Marit and Brandon Picard ruined Babin’s bid for a shutout.
The play, the altercations, and the outright dislike between the two teams were sure to carry over Saturday night in Port Huron. Port Huron is win-less against Fraser so far but has more than a dozen more games to make the series interesting. The Prowlers are 1-2-1-1 and sit in 4th place in the Continental Division. They host the Motor City Rockers on Saturday night at McMorran Arena.
