Senior helps Colony hockey squad stay undefeated

ANCHORAGE — Heading into the 2014-15 prep hockey season, the Colony Knights knew they would have to depend on their senior leaders on the blue line. But those defensemen are also coming up big for the Knights on the offensive side of the ice.

Senior defenseman Logan Sanders scored the game-winning goal with 53 seconds left in overtime to give the Knights a 5-4 nonconference victory over the East Thunderbirds earlier this week in Anchorage.

“We’re young, but we have veteran (defensemen) on the back end,” Colony head coach Jamie Smith said. “They’re going to be key for us early.”

Sanders capped a come-from-behind victory that bumped Colony to 3-0-1 in the early season.

East held a 4-2 lead until the final minutes of the contest. The Knights scored three unanswered en route to the win. Two goals came in the final 3:42 of regulation. The game-tying goal, a Josh Boyer tally, came with 29 seconds left in the third period. Sanders buried his puck with less than a minute left in overtime.

“We came out and played great in the third period,” Smith said.

The Knights outshot East 17-3 in the third period, and a combined 25-8 in the third period and overtime. With 1:40 left in regulation, and the Knights trailing 4-3, Smith pulled his goaltender. Late in regulation, as the Knights skated with the 6-on-5 advantage, Boyer, parked on the back door of the East goal, took the puck and slipped it into the net.

Jacob Link added a pair of goals for Colony in the win. Freshman Cooper Smith scored the first goal of the Colony career.

The Knights also scored a 12-0 win over a shorthanded Bartlett squad this week. Boyer paced the Knights with a four-point night (two goals and two assists). Sanders and Stephen Kempinksi also scored for the Knights. Link led Colony with three assists.

Overall, Smith said he’s pretty excited about his team’s start.

“Anytime you can come out undefeated in the first four games, it’s good,” Smith said.

Colony 5, East 4 OT

Monday, Anchorage

First period — 1. Colony- Link (Thiele) 10:44; 2. East- Tosi (Reynolds, Ceccerelli) pp 2:45.

Second period — 3. East- Tosi (unassisted) 11:29; 4. Colony- Smith (Kirsch) 10:30; 5. East- Bernstsen-Chu (Willis) 8:27.

Third period — 6. East- Reynolds (Manu) pp 10:07; 7. Colony- Link (Kempkinski, Havel) pp 3:42; 8. Colony- Boyer (unassisted) 0:29.

Overtime — 9. Colony- Sanders (Boyer) 0:53.