Knights shoot past Warriors

Pressure -- one word with various meanings that when used in hockey, can virtually describe an entire game.

Webster gives one definition for pressure as "a constant state of distress." The Colony Knights epitomize pressure hockey, proficiently demonstrating it through most of Monday's game against Wasilla en route to a 7-1 victory at Brett Memorial Ice Arena.

Wasilla stayed close through the first two periods, down 2-1 going into the third, but succumbed to the constant barrage of Colony shots set up by great passes to open shooters, as Colony exploded for five goals in the third period. Colony attacked with 49 shots on goal for the game compared to Wasilla's 16.

"We got worried about the big hits in the third period," said Wasilla coach Wade Schachle. "We stopped focusing on the puck."

From the onset, Colony immediately applied pressure to Wasilla's defense, spending most of the first period inside the Warriors' zone.

The Knights struck on a power-play goal with 8:36 remaining in the first period. Senior center Seth Reda alertly tucked in a rebounded shot off Wasilla goalie Nathan Banbury in front of the net to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.

Colony struck again with 39 seconds left in the first when Reda drove the puck down the right side, breaking free from a Warrior defender, and stuffed the puck under the glove of Banbury to put the Knights up 2-0. Matt Luthi and Joey Guild picked up assists on the goal.

Although Wasilla gave up two goals in the first period, it could have been much worse had it not been for the outstanding goalkeeping of Banbury. Colony put 20 shots on goal in the period from all over the zone, but Banbury blanketed the net well to smother or reject most attempts and keep the Warriors close.

Colony seemed to ease the pressure in the second period, not working the puck inside or putting shots on goal with the same effectiveness as in the first period.

"He (Banbury) is a good goalie, we tried to get too fancy against him," said Colony coach Eric Troisi.

This enabled Wasilla to get the puck out of its zone and into the Colony zone with success until the Warriors scored a power-play goal with 5:41 left in the period. Robbie Velock chipped the puck past Colony goaltender Greg Strohmeyer amid heavy traffic in front of the goal.

Jamie Roberts and Shane Colegrove were credited with assists on the goal.

The third period began with Colony holding a slim 2-1 lead, but that would not last for long. The Knights came out inspired and quickly applied pressure to the Wasilla defense with physical play and crisp passing.

At 13:05 of the period, Nate Pokryfki hit Doug Lehe, cutting down the weak side toward the Wasilla goal. Lehe took the feed and dumped the puck in the open side of the goal to expand the lead 3-1.

The Knights moved out to a 4-1 lead when Tommy Lehe and Reda worked the give-and-go to perfection. With both players skating toward the Wasilla goal, Lehe passed to Reda, who passed right back to Lehe. Lehe chipped in the puck with 8:10 remaining.

Banbury didn't have a chance to block the goal, as Lehe and Reda flanked each side of the goal and gave Banbury no indication of who would take the shot until it was too late.

Colony added three more goals by Scott Beckman, Tommy Lehe, and Guild to put the game away and take the 7-1 win over Wasilla.

"We needed to get more guys in front to get the puck at their net, and we did that," said Troisi. "Their goalie played good tonight, no one could have stopped those shots in the third

period."