Sports : The shots just keep on coming - Frontiersman

The shots just keep on coming

BY GREG JOHNSON
Frontiersman
Published on Saturday, November 14, 2009 11:20 PM AKST

WASILLA — Goaltenders better get plenty of sleep the night before playing the Wasilla Warriors.

Following an 8-0 thumping of Bartlett on Thursday in the first round of the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Hockey Tournament that saw the Warriors put 75 pucks on net, Wasilla picked up the pace again on Saturday. The Warriors took another 47 shots against Kenai in a 6-2 win and rebound from a lackluster 8-3 Friday loss to Dimond.

“We weren’t happy with our play (against Dimond), especially considering how we played against South and how many shots we put on Bartlett the other night,” said Wasilla head coach Bill Sturdevant. “I thought the way we played in those games we would carry that momentum over. I just don’t think mentally we were ready, and Dimond came out in the second period full-speed.”

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman Wasilla sophomore defenseman Chancie Hanson goes after a loose puck during Friday'€™s game against the Dimond Lynx in the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Hockey Tournament in Wasilla.

The best remedy for a sluggish game is to pick up the pace again, Sturdevant said.

“Coming out tonight and getting a win and putting more pucks in the net — everyone’s happy,” he said.

Another good sign is that all six Wasilla goals came from different players. Dylan McRee, Michael Johnston, Trent Wholers, Brett Keene, Eric Marshall and Eric Johnson all scored.

Saturday’s win was also a good season debut for senior goaltender Adam Spencer, who stopped 11 of the 13 shots he saw.

Averaging close to 50 shots a game over the course of the tournament is a sign Wasilla is getting into a groove, the coach said.

“The way our team plays is if we have the shots, we have the energy at the other team’s end of the ice,” he said. “Our goal is to play below their dots. We knew going into the year we had a pretty balanced team, so when you see six different players with goals, that definitely makes you happy.

“It means the other team can’t just focus on shutting down any one player. That will make any coach happy.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.

Copyright © 2010 Frontiersman

Comments

4 comment(s)

    wasilla fan wrote on Nov 22, 2009 11:18 AM:

    " wasilla should be the best team in the valley considering they lost the least by far compared to palmer and colony "

    Warrior fan wrote on Nov 18, 2009 6:48 PM:

    " Great job Edwards and Marshall it will be nice if Wasilla takes regions! "

    Warrior Fan wrote on Nov 17, 2009 6:41 PM:

    " Nice Job Wasilla! Chancie and Michael, YOU ROCK! "

    Colony Alumni wrote on Nov 16, 2009 11:37 AM:

    " Wasilla best team in the valley? "

WRITE A COMMENT

Use the form below to post a brief comment to this story, or respond to other readers. Please use the word count tool to assist you in keeping your remarks to 100 words or fewer.

Comments must be approved by an editor before appearing on the Web site. Editors review submitted comments periodically during the day for offensive or off-topic content before posting. Your thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.

(optional)
Current Word Count:
   




Classifieds

  • View All Ads
  • Place and Ad Online!
  • Call: (907) 352-2250
  • Write: 5751 E. Mayflower Ct., Wasilla AK 99654

Jobs

View All Jobs

Homes

View All Homes

Autos

View All Autos


Community Links

City of Wasilla
City of Wasilla News
City of Palmer
City of Houston
Borough News
Borough Web Site



Make Us Your Homepage