Wasilla too strong for Knights in 6-2 victory

WASILLA — Lance Nezaticky did all he could to pull the momentum Colony’s way.

And then Wasilla junior Zach Korsmo grabbed it right back for the Warriors.

Korsmo scored twice within a 30-second stretch early in the third period to lead Wasilla to a 6-2 North Star win over the rival Knights Thursday at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla

“Two goals in 30 seconds, that just proves he’s working hard out there,” Wasilla head coach Bill Sturdevant said of Korsmo’s efforts.

Nezaticky, Colony’s senior captain, cut Wasilla’s lead to 3-2 just 40 seconds into the final period. Right off the opening face off of the third, Nezaticky skated into the Wasilla zone, and slipped a quick shot with the back of his stick past Wasilla goalie Chris Yaskus to bring the Knights within one goal.

“It could easily have gone the other way after they scored in the first 40 seconds of the third,” Sturdevant said.

But Korsmo and the Warriors responded.

Three minutes into the final period, Korsmo found the puck between circles and smacked a quick shot past Colony goaltender Forrest Savel.

Just thirty seconds later, again standing strong in front of the Knights goal, Korsmo pushed another puck past Savel.

“I just think he stepped his game up,” Sturdevant said. “He didn’t quit. It was good to see that out of him tonight. I think he’s capable of that every night.”

Junior Trent Wohlers also scored twice as Wasilla improved to 4-0 in North Star play.

Wasilla took a two-goal lead in the first period.

Junior defenseman Nico Ransom-Cederholm scored the first goal of his varsity career, putting a slap shot from the point into the upper shelf of the net, to give the Warriors the early 1-0 lead.

Wohlers scored on the power play midway through the period.

After Darryl Belanger put the Knights on the board early in the second, sophomore defenseman Michael Johnston stretched Wasilla’s lead to 3-1 when he walked the puck up from the blue line and snuck a shot from the circle through Savel’s five-hole.

Wohlers capped the scoring for Wasilla when he knocked a shot off the post and into the net with nine minutes to play in regulation.

Colony (2-2 in NSC play) is now done until January, but Wasilla has one more conference battle before the beginning of the winter holiday break.

The Warriors host Palmer (4-0) tonight at 7 p.m. at the Menard Arena.

“These last two games are big,” Sturdevant said. “These crosstown-rival games are always huge.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Wasilla 6, Colony 2

Thursday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Wasilla- Ransom-Cederholm (Gittlein) 10:23; 2. Wasilla- Wohlers (M. Johnston, Hanson) pp 7:51.

Second period — 3. Colony- Belanger (Boyer) 12:14; 4. Wasilla- Johnston (unassisted) 0:18.

Third period — 5. Colony- Nezaticky (Carter) 14:20, 6. Wasilla- Korsmo (Edwards, J. Johnston) 12:10, 7. Wasilla- Korsmo (J. Johnston) 11:40, 8. Wasilla- Wohlers (unassisted) 9:05.

Shots on goal: Wasilla 13-9-10—32, Colony 4-9-10—22; Saves: Wasilla- Yaskus 4-8-9—20, Colony- Savel 11-8-7—26; Power plays: Wasilla 1-for-4, Colony 0-for-0.