Chad Powers
Chad Powers was born on July 12th 2001, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His father, Bill Powers, was a plumber and his mother wasn't in the picture, as well as his 5 brothers, Brad, Thad, Reed, Richard and Bufford. His father, who was an avid Habs fan, had encouraged Chad from a young age to pursue hockey, and he began playing when he was 5 years old. It was also around this time that he was introduced to something that would change his life. His very first pair of Pit Viper 2000s, the photochromic pink Miami night sunglasses, had altered him forever. After all, these were the sunglasses that “demand respect and authority” from here on out. He was never caught without them, even modifying his goalie helmets to allow them to be worn while he played. The glasses became an extension of himself and everything in his life so far was leading up to this moment. Overnight, Chad had begun to change, his short dark blond hair had grown out into a Swayze-esque mullet, and he had grown a selleck like mustache. In his very next game that evening, he stopped 21 shots and had his first ever shutout. Mentally, his game had completely changed. He wasn't playing like this was some sort of throwaway game in Rochester, but instead he was thinking faster and being faster.
At this point, all of Chad's teammates regarded him as odd. He was mostly quiet and only ever really talked to himself in the 3rd person, often repeating “think fast, be fast”, “I know the score like the back of my hand” to himself over and over again and, drink 3 Red Bulls to replace warming up for games, instead of watching any game tape he would watch Miracle on repeat for up to 5 hours a day and would recite quotes from the movie to himself in the mirror before bed. Chad, at a later point in his junior career, was suspended for 3 games for attempting to fight an opposing team's goalie in the post-game handshakes because he thought he heard the opponent say something about his Pit Vipers. It was after this game that he was approached by a scout from St Cloud State University and was offered to try out for the team and tour the university.
Chad took them up on the offer and packed his bags and headed for St. Cloud, Minnesota.
The drive had taken longer than Chad had expected. When he got to the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center all the coaches and other try-outs were already on the ice as Chad headed to the locker room to suit up. Unpacking his gear, he noticed a package in his bag with a note taped to it. The note read “Best of luck Chad remember think fast be”, signed Bill, Brad, Thad, Reed, Dick (Richard) and Bufford. Opening the package, inside of it was a brand-new pair of Pit Viper Original LA Brights on wide. Chad dawned the glasses, finished putting his pads on and made his way out onto the ice. Once on the ice, Chad met with the coaches' handshakes and nodded all around before the coach said “better late than never Chad gets between the pipes, show us what you can do.” Chad took his place in the crease, the only thing going through his head was a ludicrous amount and nicotine and “think fast be” whispering it to himself over and over, the coaches set up an odd man rush drill and Chad waited anticipating the shot as the coaches sped towards him from the blue line. They pass the puck back and forth before one of them sets up for the one timer, the crack of the shot rips through the arena before Chad flashes the leather with a windmill save and grabs the puck. The drills continue for an hour or so more and, at the conclusion, Chad is offered a scholarship to play for St Cloud state University and he accepts.
Chad's NCAA career is what attracted the attention of VHLM scouts. During his time at St Cloud, he had a career save percentage of .916 and an overall record of 71-43-5. In his junior year, he was the 2nd runner-up for the Mike Richter Award and his senior year he was 1st runner-up for the Mike Richter and did receive the Hobey Baker award. Outside of 2 final 4 appearances, Chad's team never won the tournament. Upon graduating from St Cloud with his BA in History with a minor in graphic design, Chad was invited to play in the Junior Showcase tournament where he is the Royals' backup goaltender. Chad is also expected to be a late draft pick in the upcoming VHLM season 96 dispersal draft.
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