PROWLERS DOWN ROCKERS IN HOME OPENER

by Will Wiegelman

Port Huron, MI - Four power-play goals propelled the Port Huron Prowlers past the Motor City Rockers 7-3 in their home opener at McMorran Place on Oct. 14, 2022. Port Huron scored six unanswered to put the game out of reach.

Everett Thompson got the scoring started for Motor City, beating Richard Shipman five-hole on a power move to the net. Evan Foley responded a few minutes later, beating Trevor Babin, making his second consecutive start, on a shot from the left-wing wall.

The Prowlers took the lead early in the second when Larri Vartiainen beat Babin over the glove from the right wing on a rush. Dakota Ulmer scored Port Huron’s first power-play goal late in the period to make it 3-1 through two periods. After a one-time chance from the slot was stoned, Ulmer got his own rebound and picked the corner over Babin’s blocker.

Motor City got into penalty trouble early in the third when Derek Makimaa, Brad Reitter and Thompson headed to the box in a span of 1:20. The Prowlers took advantage with 5-on-3 goals from Frank Schumacher and Joseph Deveny and a 5-on-4 goal from Dalton Jay to balloon the lead to 6-1. 

Makimaa and Reitter both scored to give the Rockers some life later in the period but it was too little too late. Jay’s second of the game sent Babin to the bench with 1:14 to go in favor of Travis Ridgen.

After two assists on Oct.13, Alex Johnson had three helpers in this game. Austin Fetterly, Sam Marit and Gino Mini all picked up two assists. Shipman made 44 stops in goal for his first win of the season.

Thompson became the first Rocker with a multi-point game in franchise history with a goal and an assist. Babin took his second loss of the season in a 40-save performance.

The Prowlers and Rockers clash one more time this weekend on Oct. 15 at McMorran Place. Port Huron will look for its first series sweep since taking both games of a two-game set against the Delaware Thunder last season on Jan. 22 and 23 while Motor City continues to search for its first victory in franchise history.