article after the NP/Malemutes game

Malemutes get jump on Patriots

Published Thursday, December 4, 2008


Photo by Sam Harrel
FAIRBANKS — The Lathrop Malemutes scored three goals in a span of less than three minutes early in the second period to take control and went on to post a 5-2 high school hockey victory over the North Pole Patriots Wednesday evening at the Big Dipper Ice Arena.

It was the Mid Alaska Conference opener for both teams, after both enjoyed some great success in early-season nonconference games.

“Both teams were coming back together after having players go outside with their comp teams during Thanksgiving and I think both teams handled it well,” Lathrop coach Shawn Lundgren said via telephone after the game.

“We consider North Pole one of the teams to beat in our region and we’re going to have to continually improve to stay ahead of them,” Lundgren said. “Every dog has its day, and today was our day.”

The Malemutes scored the only goal of the first period when Taylor Munson found paydirt with 1:29 remaining off an assist from Alec Hajdukovich.

Then, the Malemutes erupted for three goals in 2 minutes and 36 seconds to grab a commanding 4-0 advantage.

Johnson Anderson touched off the rally with a goal at 10:55, with assists going to Kyle Olson and Brooks Poe.

Hajdukovich deposited the pill into the back of the net off an assist from Colton Wolter at 9:30.

Patrick Brady finished off the scoring by scoring at the 8:19 mark with an assist going to Munson.

North Pole finally got on the scoreboard with 6:19 left in the second on a goal by Hank Parra that was set by Jared Linnell and Tyler Keturi.

The Malemutes regained a three-goal lead with 3:29 left in the second when Munson scored after being set up by Bryan Gundersen and Hajdukovich.

North Pole’s Nick Crutcher scored an unassisted, short-handed goal with 7:04 remaining in the game to round out the scoring.

Stephon Williams picked up the win for Lathrop by stopping all but two of the 28 shots that came his way. North Pole goalie Phoenix Copley stopped 27 shots.

“Stephon played well and got some big saves for us,” Lundgren said. “We scored on the opportunities we had so I was pleased with the collective team effort.”

The Malemutes are 7-1 overall and 1-0 in the MAC heading into a two-game series at Juneau-Douglas this weekend.

This is Juneau’s first year in the conference.

North Pole returns to action hosting West Valley at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Polar Ice Center.