3rd period blitz

WASILLA — It took about 30 minutes to get started, but after two periods, everything seemed to go right for the Wasilla Warriors.

Wasilla netted three goals from the right side of the Colony net during a six-goal third period and the Warriors stormed to a 7-3 win over the Knights at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena on Thursday.

“One thing about these guys is they don’t panic,” Wasilla head coach Bill Sturdevant said of the Warriors, who skated into the second intermission tied with the Knights at 1-1.

Wasilla, which improved to 8-1 in North Star Conference play, posted a pair of goals during a 25-second span of the first minute of the third and scored three times during the first three minutes of the final frame. The Warriors peppered Colony netminder Forrest Savel with 27 shots in a third period in which Wasilla netted three power-play goals.

“They don’t get flustered,” Sturdevant said. “They stick with the game plan.”

It took just 23 seconds for Wasilla to break the 1-1 tie.

Junior Trent Wohlers, who posted a hat trick in the third period, sent a sharp shot from the right circle past Savel to give the Warriors the 2-1 lead.

Just 25 seconds later, senior Jade Johnston move a quick pass over to junior Zack Korsmo, who buried the puck in the back of the net.

Before the 12 minute mark, sophomore Rell Sturdevant moved the puck forward to captain Eric Marshall, who skated up the right side of the ice and beat Savel from the circle.

“Our third line isn’t known for a lot of goals, but (Marshall) had a nice goal and Rell set him up nicely,” Bill Sturdevant said.

All three of Wohler’s third-period scores came with Wasilla on the power play. The Warriors skated with the two-man advantage on two of Wohlers’ goals.

Wohlers scored for the second time with 10:34 left in regulation, netting a 5-on-3 tally. He added his third power-play goal with 5:44 left.

Just 15 seconds after Wohlers’ third score, senior Jeremiah Walker put the puck in the net to give the Warriors the 7-1 lead.

Sophomore Dylan McCree tied the score at 1-1, with a power play goal late in the first period. With the Warriors on the power play, sophomore defenseman Chancie Hanson skated the puck down the left side of the ice, across the zone and through the right circle.

The blue liner sent a quick centering pass to McCree, who deflected the puck off the blade of his stick and into the upper shelf of the Colony net.

“(Dylan) was in position and Chancie made a beautiful pass,” Sturdevant said. “Chancie sees the ice real well. We have him out on the power play for a reason, because of that.”

Freshman Luke Moma, junior Stephen Tobin and sophomore Alex Svoboda scored for the Knights.

Moma wrapped around the back of the Wasilla net and beat Wasilla goalie Chris Yaskus early in the second period to give the Knights the 1-0 lead.

Late in regulation, Tobin picked up a loose puck in front of the net and shoveled it past Yaskus. Svoboda scored with 1:33 left in the game.

Wasilla outshot Colony 27-11 in the third period and 51-19 in the game. Savel made 44 stops in the Colony loss.

Colony dropped to 2-7-1 in North Star play. Wasilla (8-1-0) will face Palmer tonight at 7 p.m. at the Palmer Ice Arena.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Wasilla 7, Colony 3

Thursday, Menard Arena

First period — no scoring.

Second period — 1. Colony- Moma (unassisted) 11:33; 2. Wasilla- McCree (Hanson) pp 5:24.

Third period — 3. Wasilla- Wohlers (unassisted) 5x3 pp 14:37; 4. Wasilla- Korsmo (J. Johnston, M. Johnston) 14:12; 5. Wasilla- Marshall (Sturdevant) 12:38; 6. Wasilla- Wohlers (Korsmo, M. Johnston) 5x3 pp 10:34; 7. Wasilla- Wohlers (J. Johnston, Schachle) pp 5:44; 8. Wasilla- Walker (Korsmo, Hanson) 5:29; 9. Colony- Tobin (Belanger) pp 1:59; 10. Colony- Svoboda (Belanger) 1:33.

Shots on goal: Wasilla 8-16-27—51, Colony 2-6-11—19; Saves: Wasilla- Yaskus 2-5-9—16, Colony- Savel 8-15-21—44; Power plays: Wasilla 4-for-8, Colony 1-for-5; Penalties: Wasilla 7-for-14, Colony 14-for-36.