Monroe nets mighty upset

WASILLA -- Going into their contest with the two-time defending state champion Houston Hawks in the 3A title game Saturday, the Monroe Catholic Rams needed an immaculate performance, and a just a little luck, if they planned to derail Houston's hopes for a three-peat.

Monroe got both. Monroe net minder John Carlson stopped 40 Houston shots, and the fortunate Ram offense netted a pair of timely goals en route to a 2-1 upset over the previously unbeaten Hawks.

Houston was 12-0 against 3A competition prior to the contest and was going for an unprecedented three state hockey titles in a row.

"Their goalie was phenomenal," Houston head coach Jamie Smith said. "They got a couple of flukey goals. That happens when you work hard."

Houston was able to keep consistent pressure on the Rams throughout the game, but the combination of Carlson's play and the Rams' defensive game plan was enough to frustrate the Hawks

continuously.

"They played laid-back defensive hockey," Smith said. "Tactically, their defense tried to shut us down."

"We had a good system and our goaltender was flawless in the tourney," Monroe head coach Mark Weber said. "Our defensemen collapsed and we did not give up any breakaways. That was the key. We gave up like nine breakaways to them the last time we played."

The Hawks defeated Monroe 4-3 in a pair of contests earlier this season in Fairbanks.

Carlson baffled not only the Hawks' but a standing room only crowd at the Brett Ice Arena as he constantly made jaw-dropping saves. The junior goalkeeper rejected nearly everything Houston had to offer.

Midway through the second period, Carlson refused a Larry Kincaid one-timer and seconds later stopped a series of shots by Wade Williams. For a period of nearly four minutes midway through the second frame, the Hawk forwards stormed the Monroe crease. Each attempt was stymied by the Ram goaltender.

At the 8:36 mark of the second period, Carlson must have thought he was suddenly an enforcer on the blueline as he cross-checked Wade Williams to the ice.

Twenty-one seconds later, Jake Williams put a shot on goal from his belly. Carlson got his stick out in front just in the nick of time to shift the puck out of the crease. Rick Morlock picked up the loose puck and sent it right over the left shoulder of Carlson and into the net above the plexiglass.

Houston continued to pepper Carlson with shots throughout the second period. In the final 10 seconds of the second, Carlson rejected a Jake Williams slap shot and a pair of Wade Williams wrist shots.

Monroe got on the scoreboard at the 9:53 mark of the first period when Tully Labelle-Hamer deflected a poke shot off a Houston defender and into the Hawk net.

The Rams took a 2-0 advantage when Ben DeBoer knocked in a Robert Wies pass in mid-air over a Houston defensemen and into the net.

The Hawks finally got on the board late in the third period as Wade Williams took a pass from his older brother Jake and slipped the puck between Carlson's skate and the post.

At that point the crowd woke from what was like a two-period coma and the Houston bench erupted.

Facing only a one-goal margin, the Hawks continued to control the play, but were unable to slip the tying goal past Carlson.

Houston pulled goaltender Matt Dischner with 55 seconds remaining in regulation.

Smith and his players were obviously distraught after the loss, but expectations for the future remain high as the squad will return all but four players.

"We have a young team, we're losing only four seniors," Smith said. "We have to put our hard hats on and go back to work."

Monroe not only upset Houston in the tournament, but also upended Delta Junction, the runner-up in the last two title games, 2-1 in the semifinals.

Houston advanced to the title game with a 9-1 win over Nikiski in the semis.

Nikiski enjoyed heroics of their own as they scored with just 11 seconds left in overtime to defeat Delta 5-4 in the third place game. Nikiski placed seventh last season.

Random shots … Seniors Jamie Bennett and Jake Williams and sophomore Wade Williams were each named to the all-tournament team … Hawk blue liner Steve Spidel won the speed skating event of the tournament's skills competition … Kenny Lake and Tri-Valley were awarded the ASAA team sportsmanship award … Delta proved that not all athletes are dummer than a bucket of pucks as they earned the team academic award with a 3.41 cumulative grade point average.