South skates past Colony

WASILLA -- By the end of the first period Tuesday night, things had already gone South.

The South Anchorage Wolverines scored two of their four powerplay goals in the first period and skated to an 8-0 nonconference win over the Colony Knights at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena.

South scored on both of its opportunities with the man advantage in the first period. Wolverine junior forward Evan Trupp knocked in the rebound of a Colin Long shot on the power play to give South a 1-0 lead just more than three minutes into the first frame.

"We were taking it to them hard on that," said Trupp, who led the Wolverines with five points on the night -- a goal and four assists. "We we're trying to capitalize on all the power plays."

Even though they didn't capitalize on all their power plays -- South converted four of 10 opportunities -- the Wolverines supplied significant pressure each time they had the advantage. South registered a good percentage of its 41 total shots on the power play.

"They had a really good give and go," Colony head coach Dale Mattson said. "Our guys weren't used to that."

South consistently used that give and go -- passing the puck from either circle to a man placed right beside the net -- to create several one-time opportunities and shots from the door step.

Late in the first period Wolverine defenseman David Beach took a big shot from the point and Trupp, sitting right next to the net, shifted the puck to Geno Brolt, who scored with the man advantage to give the Wolverines a 4-0 lead.

Beach and Casey Castignetti scored powerplay goals in the third period.

South used the give and go to create space between themselves and an aggressive Knight team.

"Whenever they came and attacked us, we just moved the puck," Trupp said.

Colony registered more than half of its 15 total shots in a first period where it took just two penalties. The Knights were whistled for nine minors in the final two frames and South was able to dictate play with its power play.

"When we were staying out of the box, I thought we were playing really well," Mattson said.

Colony's top line of Ryan Pauling, Teemu Maki and Scott Beckman was able to generate chances in the first period, but the Knights were unable to capitalize. In the opening seconds of the game, Pauling led a strong rush, taking the puck down the right side of the ice and fed Beckman, who waited right in front of the South net. South goalie Brett Evans was able to punch the puck away to thwart Colony's hopes of the early lead.

Evans stopped 15 shots in the game to record the shutout.

"I hoped to have a lot closer score," Mattson said. "But guys now know what we're up against as far as Anchorage schools."

South, in its first year of existence as a school, isn't an average first-year program. The Wolverine athletic programs have benefited from the school residing in an area of Anchorage rich with athletic talent. Trupp, who played at Service last season, said the 4-1 Wolverines are predominately made up of former Service skaters, but also have ex-Dimond and East players on the roster. Service is the three-time defending 4A state hockey champion.

Colony, now 1-2 on the young season, looks to even its record tonight in another nonconference affair. The Knights face Houston at 7:30 p.m. at the Menard Arena.