HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY
'Just gets better every year' for South
CIC HOCKEY: Wolverines add to title hoard by blanking Eagles for 3rd straight crown.
Published: February 4, 2007
Last Modified: February 4, 2007 at 03:12 AM
The South Wolverines were searching for their third Cook Inlet Conference Tournament title in as many seasons. The West Eagles were looking for their first in 19 seasons.
They finished 1-2 in the conference standings, respectively, and last week's thrilling regular season finale, a scoreless tie, pumped them up for Saturday night's rematch.
Ditto for the sold-out crowd at Ben Boeke Arena, the 700-plus fans who devoured every bit of pre-game puck pandemonium.
But all South did was prove that experience matters.
The Wolverines scored three-first period goals and played lights-out defense to shut out West 4-0 and win their third consecutive league title.
"It's amazing," said Robb Haider, a junior forward who finished with a goal and an assist. "It just gets better every year."
The Wolverines (23-0-2) have only been in existence since 2004 and already their rink resume is looking sharp. They are the two-time defending state champions and will be looking to three-peat next week in Wasilla.
Saturday's victory extended their unbeaten streak to 41 games -- a streak that began after Jan 8, 2006, when West goaltender Andrew Tatham led West to a 2-1 victory at Ben Boeke.
Tatham, however, didn't perform Saturday like he did more than a year ago. Neither did the Eagles (17-6-1).
"They (South) didn't give us much," West head coach Jeff Carlson said. "It seemed like we were intimidated from the start.
"We've played them three times and this was the least amount of intensity we've shown in any of our games."
The Wolverines struck early and quickly. Dylan Jones stood wide open between the circles when he took a pass from senior captain Kyle Pichler and one-timed it over the left shoulder of Tatham with 9:22 remaining in the first period.
But before the public address announcer had time to announce the goal -- Jones' 17th of the season -- South struck again.
This time it was Eric Smejdir who stood unguarded, taking a pass from Shane Rall and scoring South's second goal just 12 seconds later.
Haider made it 3-0 with 21 seconds remaining in the period. His goal didn't come easy. He skated hard along the goal line toward Tatham and juggled the puck as he got closer. Passing Tatham, who lunged forward for an attempt to grab the puck, Haider gathered possession, aimed high and netted his team-leading 26th goal.
"That just got us off to the races," Ashley said.
When West and South tied 0-0 last week, it was the first game Ashley recalled his team not scoring since its first season.
"Last week was the hardest state championship we've ever played," Ashley said about finishing the season playing Dimond, Chugiak and West. "We played the top three teams in the state with one day of rest."
Next week comes the real state tournament for South, and Ashley believes his senior goaltender Nathan Corey is peaking at the right time.
"He's come a long way emotionally and maturity-wise," Ashley said. "He's just a confident fellow. He thinks he can't be beat. And that means a lot in goaltending."
Corey finished with 22 saves. Tatham finished with 18.
Ashley complimented Tatham, saying he hung tough after giving up two quality back-to-back goals. Carlson agreed.
"It's tough to ask a goalie to save shots that are wide open from talented players," Carlson said.
And it's those talented players that could direct South to its third consecutive state championship.
"Kids seem to follow the directions well when the hardware is on the line," Ashley said.
Daily News reporter Kevin Klott can be reached at kklott@adn.com.
Cook Inlet Conference Tournament
Saturday's Championship Game At Ben Boeke Arena
West 0 0 0 -- 0
South 3 1 0 -- 4
First Period -- 1, South, Jones (Pichler, Haider), 5:38; 2, South, Smejdir (Rall), 5:50; 3, South, Haider (Pichler, Kinnebrew), 14:39. Penalties -- West 3 penalties for 6 minutes; South 2 for 4.
Second Period -- 4, South, Kircher (Pichler, Smejdir), 5:42. Penalties -- West 1 for 2; South 3 for 6.
Third Period -- None. Penalties -- West 0 for 0; South 2 for 4.
Goalies -- West, Tatham 6-8-4--18; South, Corey 7-7-8--22.
All-Cook Inlet Conference Team
FORWARD -- Joe Sutter, Bartlett; Micah Wheeler, Chugiak; James McMullen, Chugiak; Eric Vilce, Dimond; JJ Waldrop, Dimond; Jay Baldwin, East; TJ Wilson, East; Ryan Kowal, Service; Robb Haider, South; Kyle Romanchuk, South; Dylan Jones, South; Kyle Pichler, South; Nick Merkle, West.
DEFENSE -- Matt Bennett, West; Braden Kinnebrew, South; Trevor Allred, South; David Piccard, East; Cody Mesick, Dimond; Zach Morse, Chugiak.
GOALTENDER -- Nathan Corey, South; Andrew Tatham, West.
COACH OF THE YEAR -- Yvan Corbin, East.
ACADEMIC AWARD -- South.
