North Pole Celebrates!!!!

North Pole

Hank Parra scored the game-winning goal about 10 minutes into the third period for the Patriots and then added an empty-netter with 35 seconds remaining to wrap up the upset.

“It was a good win,” said North Pole coach Jason Storey. “The kids worked hard, we had great goaltending, great defense and a great team effort.”

The Patriots were ticketed for 24 minutes of penalties, but didn’t give up a power-play goal.

“We were perfect on the penalty kill tonight and that’s something we’ve been good at so far this season,” Storey said. “Of course, our best penalty killer is (goalie) Phoenix (Copley).”

Copley made 26 saves on the night, giving the Patriots a 4-1 record on the young season.

“It’s still a young season and we’ve got a long ways to go, but we are doing some good things thus far,” Storey said.

South Anchorage took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by Kyle Shephard, but the Patriots answered with a goal by Matt Sanford off an assist from Tyler Keturi.

South went ahead in the second on Brad Schierhorn’s goal, only to see North Pole respond with a goal from Vance Bridgman off assists from Jared Linnell and DJ Carnley.

That set the stage for Parra’s game-winner that was set up by Carnley and Linnell. Parra’s empty-net goal was unassisted.

South Anchorage goalie Thomas Davis recorded 29 saves.