Colony records hockey win

WASILLA -- It was youth versus experience Wednesday. A veteran Colony Knight hockey squad skated past a youthful Palmer team 18-4 at the Curtis C. Menard II Ice Arena.

Junior Austin Manelick led the Knights with four goals and an assist. Fellow junior Ryan Pauling netted a hat trick and freshman Blake Huppert notched a hat trick and added an assist. Chase Allington scored a pair of Colony goals. Each Colony forward and defenseman who saw action registered at least a point.

Palmer goaltender Rhone Schenker was thrown to the wolves, or the Knights rather, in his first career varsity start. Palmer head coach Norm Rousey said he got ahold of some gear and decided to give Schenker, a first-year skater, a shot in net and fill the team's void at the goaltender position. Schenker's indoctrination to the postion and the sport included 63 Colony shots, 45 in which he turned away. Schenker faced more than 20 shots in both the second and third periods.

Jeremy Wright, Tyler Virgin, Hunter Richards and Cody Gable each scored for Palmer.

Alex Senta scored two assists.

Richards and Gable each scored power play goals within a 14- second span midway through the second period to cut the score to 7-4. Richards took a feed from Alex Senta and scored with 5 minutes and 54 seconds remaining and Gable scored took a Livio Arpagous one-timer and slipped the puck past Colony netminder Logan Huppert.

Huppert worked the final two periods between the pipes for Colony and recorded nine saves. Chris Arentz got the starting nod in goal.

Palmer is in action tonight at 7 p.m. against Houston at the Menard Arena. Colony faces South Anchorage on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Menard Rink.