Gators ice third win

Competition on the ice heated up at the opening faceoff and continued throughout the game as evenly-matched Standley Lake and Chatfield squared off Feb. 3 in league hockey action at Promenade Arena. The Gators scored the first goal near the end of the initial period and went on to win, 5-2. “We are a very young team this season with only four seniors on the roster,” Coach Dave Goberis said. “Our players practice hard and play hard, but we have had problems this season finding the back of the net. Last year’s seniors were our goal scorers. They graduated and the kids are learning this season how to take the shots and make the follow-ups necessary to score goals.” His team is comprised of 26 players from eight or nine schools. Goberis also said there is no direct feeder program preparing young players to join the high school hockey team. “There are programs here at Hyland Hills, but many of those kids stay with the program and play on the year-round teams,” he said. “About three-quarters of our players are athletes who play hockey all year.” Key moments Both teams employed fast-paced styles rushing the puck up the ice, seeking openings at the net. There were a number of shots by both teams during the back-and-forth play through most of the first period. The scoreless tie was broken with 1:25 left in the period when the Gators mounted a rush at the net that ended when Brett McClure scored the goal with assists from Adam Powell and Chris Elnicki. Standley Lake made the score 2-0 early in the second period on the unassisted goal by Braden Overholt. The Gators also had a shot in the net waved off late in the period because the net was off the pegs. Chatfield narrowed the score to 2-1 with a power-play goal near the end of the period. The Gators scored a pair of quick goals and added one more in the third period while Chatfield scored its second goal with 53 seconds left in the game. Please replace the key players/statistics copy listed below with the new version. Key players/statistics McClure had two goals and an assist and teammate Powell had a goal and three assists. Overholt and Martin Rowan each scored a goal while Elnicki had two assists and Overholt and goalie Kyle Cunningham each had an assist. Chatfield took 36 shots on goal and Cunningham made 34 saves. They said it Coach Goberis said his team depends heavily on the defense that is anchored by Cunningham, his senior goalie. “He is strong in the net,” he said. “The guys in front of the net work hard, but we count heavily on Kyle to do everything but stand on his head to keep the puck out of the net.” Cunningham smiled after the game and said he has been a goalie almost since he started playing hockey. “I was playing roller hockey when I was seven or eight, our goalie didn’t show up, I volunteered to fill in and I felt it was the position for me and that is where I have been ever since,” the Standley Lake senior said. “I like being in the net. I think it is the most important position on the team because a good goalie can win games for you.” He said he is a better goalie this year primarily because he is more confident in his abilities in the net. “I am now more confident I can stop any shot that comes at me,” he said. “Breakaways and shots coming from behind a screen are always challenges. Also, I find the low shots tougher to handle because it is hard to get down on the ice to make the stop.” He said he plans to continue his hockey career in the fall when he attends Colorado State University where he will play for the Rams. Going forward The win over Chatfield improved the Standley Lake overall record to 2-11 and the record in the Pinnacle League to 2-8. The Gators close out the regular season with a home game against Air Academy on Feb. 17 and a road game rematch against Chatfield on Feb. 18.