Warriors fall to undefeated Dimond Lynx

WASILLA — In the short time after Wasilla’s 6-1 loss to Dimond during the opening round of the ASAA/First National Cup 4A state hockey championships, the message to the Warriors was fairly simple. Have a short memory, shake off this one and get ready for Chugiak.

“We got beat by a good team. That’s what it comes down to,” Wasilla head coach Bill Sturdevant said. “We have to get ready for the next one.”

Dimond, the only undefeated team in Alaska, used a Dawson Glover hat trick to improve to 21-0 overall and move into a state semifinal date with Lathrop. Wasilla, with the loss, moves back into the consolation semifinals to play the Mustangs today at 10:15 a.m. at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla.

“I told the guys in the room, you have to play a perfect game to give ourselves a chance,” Sturdevant said about playing the Lynx. “They capitalized on our mistakes.”

The teams played scoreless for the first 11 minutes of action, but Dimond was able to find the net three times during the final 4 minutes and 21 seconds of the first period. Glover poked his own rebound through to give the Lynx the 1-0 lead.

That was tough to swallow, but even more difficult was Drake Glover’s goal that came only 39 seconds later.

“I think that put us on our heels for sure,” Sturdevant said, “getting those two right on top of each other like that.”

Also devastating for Wasilla, Dimond scored two goals with 13 or fewer seconds remaining in a period. Aaron Dunlap scored with 11.4 seconds left in the first, and Dawson Glover completed his hat trick with 13 seconds left in the second.

“I thought we played well for the most part of the game, but we made some mistakes and they jumped on them,” Sturdevant said.

Wasilla got on the scoreboard midway through the third period. With the Warriors skating shorthanded, Dylan McRee picked up a loose puck in transition and raced to the net for the breakaway score.

Dimond outshot Wasilla 39-11.

In the other quarterfinal on Wasilla’s side of the bracket, Lathrop senior Anders Carlson scored with 8.7 seconds left in regulation to give the Malemutes a 4-3 win over Chugiak.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.

Dimond 6, Wasilla 1

ASAA/First National Cup quarterfinals

Thursday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Dimond- Da. Glover (Dunlap, Arnold) 4:21; 2. Dimond- Dr. Glover (Da. Glover, Anderson) 3:42; 3. Dimond- Dunlap (Da. Glover, Andrews) pp 0:11.

Second period — 4. Dimond- Da. Glover (Dr. Glover) 14:43; 5. Dimond- Da. Glover (Dunlap, Hamilton) 0:13.

Third period — 6. Wasilla- McRee (unassisted) sh 7:55; 7. Dimond- Bauer (Arnold) pp 6:39.

Shots on goal: Dimond 16-14-9—39, Wasilla 7-2-2—11; Saves: Dimond- Sleater 7-2-1—10, Wasilla- Massie 13-12-8—33.