West rules in CIC

The Eagles scored 13 seconds into the game and got the game-winner in the final seconds of the first period en route to a 3-1 victory over Dimond on Saturday at Ben Boeke Ice Arena.

An apparent late goal by the Lynx was waved off because of a player in the crease, allowing the Eagles to safely put the contest away.

West was playing in the CIC final for the third time in four years, but it was the first time since 1988 the Eagles came away champions.

The Eagles fans counted off the final eight seconds, then the West players erupted in celebration, throwing sticks, gloves and helmets high into the air and piling into the northeast corner of the rink under a large orange-and-black banner reading West.

"We came out hard, and we got the breaks at the beginning of the game," said senior Eric Wichorek, who scored the game-winning power-play goal late in the first period. "This league is tough, whoever wants it the most each night is going to get it."

Dimond appeared to get back into the game with 2:10 remaining when Bryan Crew's shot from the point was deflected into the net by Michael Stoner. The Dimond crowd roared, the players celebrated and the band began to play, but the goal was waved off for a player being in the crease.

"That's a big call, a big part of the game," said Dimond coach Dennis Sorenson. "We had it in their end a lot, it would've been big to get that goal. That's three games in a row now that we've had goals waved off."

In its last regular-season game West faced Dimond with the No. 2 seed in the playoffs on the line and laid an egg in the first period, getting outshot 19-1 and falling behind 2-0 in a 3-2 loss.

The Eagles came out ready to play on Saturday.

Senior forward Logan Miller put West on the board just 13 seconds into the game, sending home a rebound from the side of the net.

After Dimond was called for icing in the opening seconds, West won the ensuing draw and got the puck over to junior defenseman Arin Olson. Olson's shot was blocked to the side where Miller was waiting to pounce.

"It's a good feeling. You go to the net looking for those plays. You only get those chances a couple of times a game, so you've got to capitalize when you do get them," Miller said.

The Eagles then capitalized on the only penalty of the period to take a 2-0 lead on Wichorek's power-play tally in the final minute of the first. Wichorek ripped a shot from the edge of the left face off circle and the shot snuck through traffic and past Dimond netminder Henry Rubey.

"We really focused on coming out hard and setting the tone, so that what happened last time wouldn't happen again," Miller said.

Dimond cut the lead 2-1 in the second on a great effort from Kyle Clapper.

After Aaron Dunlap's shot from the side of the net deflected into an open zone of ice 10 feet out from the net. Clapper lunged to reach the puck before a pair of West defensemen and thrust a shot past Mendenhall.

West regained a two-goal advantage midway through the third when Wichorek's shot from the same spot as his second-period goal was tipped in by Jack Petrino.

Mendenhall turned aside 25 shots to earn the win in net.

"It gives you a lot of confidence to have him behind you," Miller said. "He's good, he's been solid all year."

By Cook Inlet Conference tournament standards, Saturday's championship game was a blowout.

The tournament featured a four-overtime contest in the semifinals, a three-overtime affair in the third-place game and three other contests in which the winning goal was scored in the final five minutes of play.

The top four teams in the CIC -- West, Dimond, East and South -- advance to the state tournament, which begins Thursday in Wasilla.

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Find Richard Larson online at adn.com/contact/rlarson or call 257-4335.

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West 2 0 1 -- 3

Dimond 0 1 0 -- 1

First Period -- 1, West, Miller :13; 2, West, Wichoreck (Olson) 14:15 (pp). Penalties -- West 0 for 0. Dimond 1 for 2.

Second Period -- 3, Dimond, Clapper (Dunlap) 5:24. Penalties -- West 0 for 0. Dimond 1 for 2.

Third Period -- 4, West, Petrino (Olson) 7:07. Penalties -- West 2 for 4. Dimons 1 for 2.

Goalies -- West, Mendenhall (5-8-12--25). Dimond, Rubey (4-5-4--13).

All-Conference Team: Forwards: Shane Topf, Chugiak; Sam Linder, Chugiak; Ryan Luiten, East; Devon Lamothe, Service; Codey Hansen, Service; Cameron Carter, East; Logan Miller, West; Cameron Callaway, West; Kyle Simmons, South, Tayler Wells, South; Max Fairchild, Dimond; Chris Feller, Dimond. Defense: Rusty Teller, Chugiak; Alex Carle, South; Sage Welch, South; Erik Wichorek, West; James Pfeifer, Dimond; Tommy Gerken, East. Goalies: Blake Mendenhall, West; Trevor Guiterrez, South. Coach: Mike Ashley.