The Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team broke into the win column in style on Friday. The team then lost a close one Saturday in a rematch, 3-2.
The Crimson Bears defeated the Kenai Kardinals 12-4, including a six goal binge in the second period.
“We started slow but we got the offense going,” JDHS coach Luke Adams said.
JDHS junior defenseman Cahal Morehouse took a slap shot through traffic from the blue line and beat the Kenai goalie for the first score of the night.
Senior defenseman Chase Barnum notched two goals from the point. The first was assisted by forward Jacob Dale and the second by defenseman Niko Hebert for a 3-2 first period advantage.
“We had a lot of control on the blue line,” Adams said. “We like to see our defensemen shooting and contributing to the offense and they have all weekend. It is really good to see our defensemen getting on the score sheet.”
In the second period, the Crimson Bears put six goals safely into the Kenai crease.
JDHS forward Ryan Liebelt, forward Quin Gist and defenseman Kasey Watts scored two goals each in the period. Assists on those scores came from Dale, Barnum, Liebolt and Zach Hebert.
Even with the six-goal explosion in the second, Adams saw areas to improve elsewhere.
“To be honest we struggled in the first period,” he said. “The players were trying to do too much. We weren’t playing to our strengths and the way we practice. The effect of that was we gave up two goals and didn’t create the opportunities we wanted. At the intermission we regrouped, made some tactical adjustments and were able to gain control of the game and the tempo and started to really put pressure on the Kenai defense.”
JDHS added three goals in the third period by junior defenseman Simon Marks (assisted by forwards Cully Corrigan and Joseph Monsef), senior defenseman Ryan Moritz (assisted by Barnum and Watts) and senior forward Oscar Jones (Watts assist).
Freshman goalie Kyle Farley-Robinson stopped 26 shots and the Crimson Bears fired 34 at Kenai’s crease.
“Kyle showed a lot of character in the net today,” Adams said. “He was confidant and made every save that we could ask. His energy in the goal is the same no matter the situation and he has been very poised in the net.
“We are proud of the way we came back after a slow start and our leaders came through to get us back on track after the first period.”
JDHS’ next games will be at home Dec. 4-5 against Mid Alaska Conference foe West Valley at Treadwell Ice Arena. The Crimson Bears will divide up into their annual 3-on-3 intersquad tournament Nov. 23-25.
Saturday’s game
Kenai got its revenge Saturday after a lopsided loss the night prior, winning 3-2 at home.
The Kardinals scored the first three goals of the night, two in the first period and another in the second, before Juneau-Douglas answered with its first goal with 7:17 remaining in the second period.
The Crimson Bears were able to shutout Kenai in the third but only mustered one goal with 4:50 remaining in the game.
Despite the final score, it was the Crimson Bears that controlled the offensive tempo, with 37 shots on goal compared to just 18 from Kenai.
