Anchorage, Alaska |10/6/23 | Isaac Smoldon
The Anchorage Wolverines won 3-2 in overtime during their first home game of the season on Friday night, with Trent Powell potting the game winning goal in overtime. Liam Beerman made 26 saves during the victory, as the Wolverines won their third straight home-opening game.
Anchorage was dominant through the first part of the opening period, but would not be able to beat Kenai River netminder Petter Wickstrom. The Brown Bears, despite being outshot 14-7, scored the icebreaker 10 minutes and 40 seconds into the 1st, and jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Despite being pressured by the Wolverines all the way through the 2nd, Kenai River would hold on to its lead through 40 minutes of play and went into the final frame up by one.
After a frustrating two periods for the offense, Anchorage would finally get one into the back of the net at the 6:30 mark, with Tai Ushio scoring off a rebound to tie things up at one. The Brown Bears would regain their lead less then a minute later, but Tyler Hennen equalized the game again for the home team just as quickly, this time at two goals apiece. The next 12 minutes would be back-and-forth, but neither team could capitalize on their remaining chances, and as a result, the game went into overtime.
In OT, the Soldotna native Trent Powell would be the hero the Wolverines, scoring off an assist from the former Kenai River forward, Bryce Moneran just 52 seconds in. With the win, Anchorage gets the first two points in the Club 49 Cup standings, and secures two points in the Midwest division as well. Anchorage will play again tomorrow night in Soldotna, at 7:30 p.m. AKDT. The game can be watched live or on-demand exclusively on nahltv.com.
