Veterans lead Warriors over young Moose squad

WASILLA — Palmer hit the ice with only three upperclassmen in uniform Friday night. But the Moose may have surprised the veteran-laden Wasilla Warriors.

Wasilla needed a trio of third-period goals to overcome a slow start, get past a hard-working young Moose squad and score a 4-0 win over Palmer at the Brett Memorial Ice Arena.

“We didn’t come out real hard, and they played good,” Wasilla head coach Trent Schachle said after his team’s win.

Cooper Hanson bagged his second goal of the game during the third, and Adam Apangalook and Andrew Cooley both scored during the final period to help Wasilla notch the win. Before the three-goal third, the story had been the work of Palmer freshman netminder Cody Grogan, who finished the game with 28 saves.

“Cody was really good,” Palmer head coach Eric Troisi said. “He’s capable of playing just like that.”

Grogan stopped 10 shots during a scoreless first period and allowed only one score during the game’s first 30 minutes.

“He kept us in the game, gave us a chance to win,” Troisi said.

Hanson, a senior, managed the only goal of the first two periods, ripping a shot from the bottom of the left wing circle at the 11:49 mark of the second period.

Other than the Hanson tally, it was all Grogan during the first two frames. The freshman consistently kicked away attempts and snagged a handful of shots with his glove hand.

Wasilla found a way to beat Grogan in the third. On the tail end of a power play, Apangalook skated in from the right wing wall and tucked a shot between Grogan’s leg and the nearside post. Cooley took a similar approach midway through the third. The senior defenseman picked up a loose puck in the Wasilla defensive end, skated up the right wing, and snuck a shot inside the right post.

Both goals were unassisted.

Hanson rounded out the scoring, knocking home a shot of his own rebound with 2:14 left.

Kiana Verlplancke stopped 13 shots in the win to earn the shutout for the Warriors.

After the win, Schachle said the Warriors needed to put more pressure on the offensive end.

“We got to get shots on net, guys in front of the net,” Schachle said. “We had some rebounds out there that we weren’t burying.”

Despite the loss, Troisi said he was pleased with his team’s effort, a significant improvement from what he saw during a 14-0 loss to Dimond on Wednesday.

“To come back and play like this, I am proud of the kids tonight,” Troisi said.

Wasilla 4, Palmer 0

Friday, Brett Arena

First period — no scoring.

Second period — 1. Wasilla- Hanson (Schachle) 11:49.

Third period — 2. Wasilla- Apangalook (unassisted) pp 10:12; 3. Wasilla- Cooley (unassisted) 6:00; 4. Wasilla- Hanson (Schachle) 2:14.

Shots on goal: Palmer 3-4-6—13, Wasilla 10-10-12—32, Saves: Palmer- Grogan 10-9-9—28, Wasilla- K. Verplancke 3-4-6—13.

Warriors beat Wolves

EAGLE RIVER — Senior Cooper Hanson scored a pair of goals to lead Wasilla to a 5-3 nonconference win over Eagle River Thursday at the MacDonald Arena.

Blake Carricaburu, Garrett Conroy and Troy Verplancke also scored for Wasilla. Tanner Schachle finished with a pair of assists.