Moose blank Lathrop to win title

WASILLA — The Palmer Moose aren’t ready to make excuses.

The last time Palmer faced Lathrop, it came on the heels of a 12-hour bus trip last week to the Interior. Bus problems made the Moose hours late for a scheduled meeting with the Malemutes, and once the Palmer team finally reached Fairbanks, the players had less than an hour to get ready.

The result was a tough 3-1 loss to the Interior power, and as Palmer prepared for another chance to face Lathrop on Saturday — without having to spend the entire day on a bus — the Moose were looking for a different result.

And that’s exactly what they found.

Junior Blake Brazil notched the hat trick and sophomore goalie Ashton Good recorded the shutout to lead the Moose to a 6-0 win over Lathrop in the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Hockey Tournament title game in Wasilla Saturday night.

“No excuses. Last week they got us. It was a good game,” Palmer head coach Brad Hanson said of the loss to Lathrop in Fairbanks. “They’re a good team, well-coached. They have three solid lines and really take care of the puck.”

In the second meeting of the year between two teams that each advanced to the state tourney last year, Palmer was able to grab the early lead and continue to build.

“I thought everybody contributed,” Hanson said. “We were physical. The third line gave us needed relief.”

And the Moose also had Good, who was named the tournament’s most outstanding player after recording his second shutout in three days.

Good stopped 45 Lathrop shots, including 20 in the third period.

“He had some real nice saves,” Hanson said. “He had some nice saves in the third period to kind of keep it out of reach.”

Defenseman Brennan Harrison, who notched the hat trick during a 4-1 semifinal win over Houston, scored within the first four minutes of action to give the Moose the 1-0 lead. Harrison beat Lathrop goalie Ian Morey with a shot from the point.

Palmer scored three times in the second period. Brazil scored the first of his three goals just inside the second. Senior captain Ivan Good gave the Moose the 3-0 lead at the 11:10 mark, and Hunter Bryers scored shorthanded to push Palmer’s advantage to four goals.

Bryers, who grabbed the puck in the neutral zone and took it to the net, tallied his first goal of the season with the score.

Brazil added a pair of goals in the third period. Ivan Good led the Moose with four assists.

Palmer 6, Lathrop 0

Saturday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Palmer- Harrison (Erickson, I. Good) 11:36.

Second period — 2. Palmer- Brazil (Harrison, I. Good) 14:18; 3. Palmer- I. Good (Brazil) 11:10; 4. Palmer- Bryers (unassisted) sh 6:46.

Third period — 5. Palmer- Brazil (I. Good) 12:23; 6. Palmer- Brazil (I. Good) 3:59.

Shots on goal: Lathrop 8-17-20—45, Palmer 11-12-9—32; Saves: Lathrop- Morey 10-9-7—26; Palmer- A. Good 10-9-7—26.

Palmer 4, Houston 1

WASILLA — Defenseman Brennan Harrison notched the hat trick to lead Palmer to a 4-1 win over Houston in the Menard semifinals Friday.

“I think he was being real aggressive, moving the puck well,” Palmer head coach Brad Hanson said. “We was attacking the offensive zone. He played really well.”

Harrison slipped a shot between the skate of Houston goalie Aaron Allred and the right post late in the first to give the Moose the 1-0 lead. He used a wrister from the left wing circle to score on the power play in the second, and added another goal in the third.

Blake Brazil also scored for the Moose.

Junior Lane Styers scored Houston’s lone goal, a tally early in the third period. Allred was tagged with the loss, but made 35 saves, including 15 in the first.

“He was outstanding,” Houston head coach Mike Styers said of his young goalie.

Palmer 4, Houston 1

Friday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Palmer- Harrison (Garrod) 3:10.

Second period — 2. Palmer- Brazil (I. Good) 12:07; 3. Palmer- Harrison (Brazil, Morino) pp 1:18.

Third period — 4. Palmer- Harrison (Dryer) 12:48; 5. Houston- Styers (J. Lovelace, Wells) 12:08.

Shots on goal: Palmer 16-11-12—39, Houston- 1-5-10—16; Saves: Palmer- A. Good 1-5-9—15, Houston- Allred 15-9-11—35.