Monday and Tuesday were the first games of the season for the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys team, while the Thunder Mountain Falcons faced Ketchikan last week. The weather was cold and clear and about 200 people came out to see the game played on the pitch at TMHS.
The Monday-evening game was also a rematch of last year’s Division 2 State Championship game which JDHS won 4 to 2.
On Tuesday JDHS Coach Gary Lehnhart said that the game was a “good start” but said the team has room to grow.
“We were a little slow at the beginning. On the whole, we struggled a little bit with scoring. Overall, we were in a little too much of a hurry. But, it’s early,” he said.
Lehnhart acknowledged that big expectations of last year’s championship season weighed on the team.
“It’s tough when expectations are high. We have to fight to remember that we restart at zero and you gotta earn everything as you go,” he said. “This team is a smart group.”
Lehnhart said that the team has benefited from an influx of new players—many of whom played on the school’s hockey team over the winter.
“It’s a nice influx and has brought new energy to the team,” he said, noting that the roster is pushing 40 players this season.
Overall, the Crimson Bears scored six goals with credit for four of them going to sophomore Kai Ciambor.
“Kai gets set up nicely by his teammates,” Lehnhart said.
Xavier Melancon, a junior, and Kellen Chester, a sophmore, each contributed a goal to the effort.
Lehnhart said that defensive play by WIll Robinson, Micah Brown, and Tayten Bennetson, all seniors, made the night an easy one for goalkeeper Alex Mallott, a junior.
Final score overall was JDHS wins 6-1 over TMHS.
The teams will meet again on Monday before JDHS heads to Kenai for a tournament later this month.
