State runner-up skates forward

WASILLA — Thursday night, the Service Cougars showed Colony what it’s like to be a state championship caliber team. And Colony head coach Jamie Smith’s message to his players is take advantage of the experience to play a top team.

“It shows them the pace is so much quicker,” Smith said after Colony’s 6-0 loss to Service during the first round of the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Hockey Tournament at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena. “One hundred percent, you’ve got to move the puck. You don’t have time in space, like you do against some of the slower teams. You don’t have time to make decisions.”

Sophomore Greg Johnson tallied two goals and an assist and goalie Nelson Carpentier stopped all 18 Colony shots to help the Cougars move into a semifinal match with Lathrop tonight at 5 p.m. at the Menard.

Colony will face Valley rival Wasilla in the consolation semifinals today at 12:30 p.m.

Service’s experience proved to be a difference Thursday night. The Cougars return a ton of talent from a squad that finished as the 4A state runner-up last year.

“They’ve got depth,” Smith said. “They’re loaded.”

Chris Burbage gave Service the early lead, scoring an unassisted tally four minutes into play. Later in the period, Johnson scored on the power play, taking a Garrett Brown pass and snapping a wrister from between the circles into the net.

Johnson struck again from between the circles early in the third, finding the upper shelf of the Colony net.

Knights senior goaltender Forrest Savel made 44 saves in the loss, including 19 in the first period.

Colony finished with 18 shots, including eight in the second period.

“We had some chances early, but we didn’t capitalize,” Smith said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Service 6, Colony 0

Thursday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Service- Burbage (unassisted) 10:59; 2. Service- G. Johnson (Brown, McInnis) 3:19.

Second period — 3. Service- G. Johnson (Yawit, Cummings) 9:52; 4. Service- Yawit (G. Johnson, Brown) 3:14.

Third period — 5. Service- McInnis (Smith) 3:05; 6. Service- Corey (Graff, J. Johnson) 1:28.

Shots on goal: Service 21-12-17—50, Colony 6-8-4—18; Saves: Service- Carpentier 6-8-4—12, Colony- Savel 19-10-15—44.