In a tournament played January 3, 4, & 5 at the Berkley Ice Arena in Berkley, the Bloomfield United Chargers took runner- up honors in the annual Berkley Invitational Hockey Tournament.  The tournament is played every year and is hosted by the Berkley-Ferndale Unified Hockey Team. 

The Chargers started the tournament strong on Thursday with a 6-5 victory over the Marysville Vikings.  The Chargers had to overcome a 4-1 deficit in the second period to pull off the come from behind win.  The Chargers first got on the board at 10:38 of the second period with a power play goal from Andrew Scettecerri, with an assist to Richard Elliot.  The Chargers lit the light again 6:57 in the second on an effort by Captain Chase Smith with an assist to Assistant Captain Brian Keener.  Bloomfield scored again 1:54 later on a goal by Johnny Artemenko with assists to Assistant Captain Kevin Barnett and Smith.  The Chargers tied the game at 4-4 with just 1:48 to play in the second period on a goal from Barnett, with assists going to Artemenko and Keener. 

The Chargers opened the third period quickly with Artemenko’s second goal of the game with help from Barnett and Smith at 15:30.  Bloomfield scored the go ahead goal, and game winner at 8:32 of the third period with credit to Smith, his second goal of the game and an assist to Elliot. 

The Chargers played again on Friday and suffered a disappointing loss to the Shrine Knights 5-3.  The Chargers only scoring came in the third period first at 5:53 on a power play slapshot from the point by Connor Holman with an assist to Scettecerri.  Bloomfield scored again just: 16 later at the 5:37 mark of the third on a power play goal from Smith with an assist to Artemenko. 

In the runner-up final played on Saturday, the Chargers defeated the New Boston Huron Chiefs by a score of 3-1.  The Chargers got on the board first with a power play goal from Artemenko at 3:42.  Barnett and Smith got the assists.  The Chargers scored again at 11:58 of the second period, in what would prove to be the game winning goal by Holman with an assist to Keener.  The Chargers got an insurance goal at 3:48 from Ari Sternberg and an assist to Scettecerri. 

Following the game Chargers Head Coach Bruce McAlister said “This is always a great tournament.  Marysville knocked us out early last year so it was great to beat them on Thursday.  We will look forward to playing again next year and winning the tournament.”  McAlister also pointed out that the Chargers were able to use all three of their senior goalies.  “I was particularly impressed with the tournament play of both Skyler Kallabat and Michael Blumenthal.  They both really kept us in the game.” 

The Chargers will continue regular season play this Wednesday at 7:00 PM at Lakeland in a contest against Walled Lake Central.