The young Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaat.at Kalé hockey team lost 3-1 for the second straight night to Colony High School.
It was the JDHS sophomore class’ first game of the year without a goal as Andre Peirovi, Sam Bovitz and others have stepped up to start the season. Instead of those names, senior Ethan Welch provided the scoring Saturday, lighting the lamp with 11:20 into the second period.
“I’m pretty proud of our group,” JDHS coach Luke Adams said. “Most of these kids haven’t played any or very much varsity hockey, and that’s a well-coached, well-disciplined Colony Knights team. So I feel like we now know what we have to work on and the kids now know what they know to work on.”
JDHS junior Dawson Hickok stopped 37 of 40 shots; Colony’s Roman Shepard turned away 17 of 18.
Knights forward Joseph Kirk gave Colony a 1-0 lead five minutes into the game. The visiting team tripled its advantage with two more goals in the second before Welch put the Crimson Bears on the board.
Colony wore purple jerseys as part of their month-long Hockey Fights Cancer initiative. On the back of the jersey were the names or titles, such as“Granny,” of people who fought or are currently fighting cancer known by the players.
“Our starter tonight (Shepard) lost his mom to cancer a couple years ago so it’s been a big deal for him,” Colony coach Chris Yaskus said. “So with him starting and it being the last game in November, it was kind of our last opportunity to wear them so we brought them on the trip.”
JDHS (2-2) hits the road in two weeks for games against West Anchorage (Dec. 5) and Homer (Dec. 6-7).
“We’re just starting to learn everything about each other and starting to get the team bonding down,” Hickok said.
Added Adams: “This is a very young, fun and energetic group. Right now, we’re able to mix a lot of different faces in and we’re seeing who’s gelling with who.”
Saturday
Knights 3, Crimson Bears 1
Colony 0 2 1 — 3
JDHS 0 1 0 — 1
1st period — 1. Colony, Kirk (McLaughlin), 4:53.
2nd period — 2. Colony, Ross (unassisted), 4:55. 3. Colony, Unknown, 8:54, PP. 4. JDHS, Welch, 11:20.
Shots on goal — Colony 14-14-12—40; JDHS 5-9-4—18.
Goalies — Colony, Shepard (18 shots, 17 saves); JDHS, Hickok (40 shots, 37 saves).
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com.
