Junior hockey: Spirit erupt in win

DARRELL L. BREESE/ Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - The Wasilla Spirit erupted in a goal scoring spree in the third period, and toppled the Helena Bighorns 6-1 on Sunday at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena.

Four different players scored in the period to blow open what was a tightly played defensive game.

David Gault got things started with 10 minutes and 42 seconds left in the third, slotting the puck under the out-stretched arm of Helena goalie Dan Vasquez. It was Gault's team-leading 15th goal of the season. He also added two assists giving him a team-high 31 points this year.

&#8220Everything just opened up,” Gault said of the third-period onslaught. &#8220I don't know if their goalie got tired or we finally broke his spirit. It was like a shooting gallery for a while, and we were able to capitalize on it.”

Before the final period, Gavin Dittman was the only Spirit player to beat Vasquez, scoring in both the first and second periods. Dittman, a student at Colorado School of the Mines, has been playing with the Spirit during the holiday break.

He left the arena to catch a flight back to school after the game, but not before scoring two goals and adding a pair of assists. During his brief five-game stint with the Spirit he scored five goals and had five assists. Each of his goals came against Helena.

&#8220Gavin was a really shot in the arm for our offense,” Gault said. &#8220We needed someone to come in and get us going again.”

While Gault enjoyed sharing the roll of goal scorer with Dittman, he was not ready to let him leave.

&#8220I told him I was going to lock him in the cage in the equipment room,” Gault said. &#8220I hate to see him go, but he has to go back to school.”

Wasilla coach Dean Larsen also admitted Dittman would be missed.

&#8220He inspired our offense,” Larsen said. &#8220But I expect to have him back in uniform again. I would really like to have him for the playoffs if possible.” Following Gault's tally the Spirit made scoring look easy.

Paulos Shiferaw scored 40 seconds later, lifting a rebound from a Steve Murphy shot over the sprawling Vasquez.

Trevor Tolibas and defenseman Daniel Siira each added to the explosive scoring in the final frame, as the Spirit coasted to the finish with a comfortable lead.

Larry Willard scored to Helena, threading the puck between the left leg of Wasilla goalie Andrew Volkening and the goal post with his shot from boards.

It was the only blemish on an otherwise brilliant night in net for Volkening who made 29 saves.

Wasilla improved their regular season record to 19-23, while Helena slipped to 9-23 after losing all three games it played against the Spirit over the last two weekends.

The Spirit travel to Fairbanks for a pair of game Friday and Saturday before they hit the road for games against Texarkana, Texas, Wichita Falls and Santa Fe. Their next home game is not until March 3 when they play Southern Minnesota.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@

frontiersman.com.