Addition to top line nets game-winner for Knights

PALMER —As a sophomore, Mitchell Diltz finished with a pair of assists at the varsity level.

Fast forward a season, and the Colony forward needed just two games to exceed that total.

A night after bagging two helpers during a win over Lathrop, Diltz provided the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over Monroe Catholic during the second day of the Palmer Hockey Showdown Friday at the MTA Events Center in Palmer.

“It’s his turn,” Colony head coach Jamie Smith said of the junior, who was promoted to the top line to skate alongside seniors Cooper Smith and Foster Riekena.

With the game tied at 1, Cooper Smith pulled a puck off the boards behind the Monroe net. Smith centered a pass to Diltz, who buried the shot from the right doorstep at the 4:56 mark of the third to notch the go-ahead score.

“It was a nice play all the way around,” Smith said. “I’m happy for him.”

Jamie Smith has his three top seniors forwards — Riekena, Cooper Smith and Jake Hessinger — who has vast experience playing on the same line. But to spread out the talent, Smith paired Riekena and Cooper Smith and Hessinger and Tae’jean Evans on lines. Smith said the emergence of a player like Diltz makes Colony a deeper team.

Smith said depth helped the Knights win the tight game against Monroe, the defending small-schools state champion.

“We got to run all four lines for the first two-and-a-half periods,” Smith said.

Smith praised Monroe, which topped Houston in the 3A state title game last season.

“They’ve got a good team,” Smith said. ”That’s a solid team.”

Hessinger scored early in the first period to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. Monroe’s Riley Ott scored early in the second to tie the score at 1.

Sophomore Roman Shepard stopped 21 shots in goal en route to earning his first career start.

“Roman played good. I’m proud of him,” Smith said.

Colony 2, Monroe Catholic 1

Palmer Hockey Showdown

Friday, MTA Events Center

First period — 1. Colony- Hessinger (Riekena) 12:28.

Second period — 2. Monroe- Ott (Hughes) 14:39.

Third period — 3. Colony- Diltz (Smith, Reid) 4:56.

Shots on goal: Monroe 10-7-5—22, Colony 5-10-12—27; Saves: Monroe- Pasillas 4-10-11—25; Colony- Shepard 10-6-5—21.