Good chemistry dooms South

Thompson and Vega played on a line together last season, and they've been linemates on and off for years in competition hockey.

"We have good chemistry, and we know what each other is doing,'' Thompson said. "We were excited. We've played together since we were kids.''

Thursday night, the reunion proved rewarding. Thompson racked two goals and an assist and Vega copped a goal and a helper to spark the Lynx to a 4-0 Cook Inlet Conference victory over defending state champion South.

The Lynx (4-0-0, 2-0-0 CIC) jumped to a 2-0 lead through one period and doubled that advantage with a couple of second-period goals. And they permitted the Wolverines (2-2-0, 1-1-0 CIC) just 14 shots on goal, which helped senior goaltender Taylor Sleater bag his third shutout of the season.

"I thought we were solid tonight,'' Sorenson said. "The kids competed almost every shift and didn't take shifts off. We made some mistakes, but not from lack of effort.''

The game, before a nearly packed house at Ben Boeke Arena, was the first meeting between any of the three south-side teams -- Dimond, South and Service -- that appear likely to again battle for CIC supremacy.

"So far, that's our first real test (in the CIC),'' Thompson said. "We just wanted to start off good. We're playing South early after not playing them until later last year. We wanted to set the tone.''

Thompson's line, which also includes sophomore right wing Lane Bauer (one goal, one assist), accounted for three of Dimond's four goals and got the Lynx off to a prosperous start.

Vega and Thompson scored first-period goals, both of which were kick-started by long breakout passes.

Less than five minutes into the game, defenseman Tyler Andrews rifled a stretch pass from deep in his own zone to spring Thompson for a breakaway. South goalie Ben Simpson (21 saves) rebuffed that bid, but Vega swooped in to bury the rebound.

Eight minutes later, Vega's long pass to Bauer on right wing freed him 2-on-1 with Thompson, who hammered home Bauer's centering pass for a 2-0 lead.

Junior Ben Heafer's splendid goal early in the third period pushed the margin to 3-0. Heafer attacked deep down the left-wing wall, stopped quickly, curled slightly back up the boards and cut into the left circle before whipping in a wrister.

Thompson closed the scoring later in the period when he punched home defenseman Austin Arnold's knuckling shot from the right point.

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Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

South 0 0 0 -- 0

Dimond 2 2 0 -- 4

First Period -- 1, Dimond, Vega (Thompson, Andrews), 4:24; 2, Dimond, Thompson (Bauer, Vega), 12:46. Penalties --South 1 for 2 minutes, Dimond 1 for 2.

Second Period -- 3, Dimond, Heafer (Larson), 3:27; 4, Dimond, Thompson (Arnold), 11:10. Penalties -- South 1 for 2, Dimond 2 for 4.

Third Period -- None. Penalties -- South 2 for 4, Dimond 1 for 2.

Goalies -- South, Simpson 7-9-5--21; Dimond, Sleater 5-7-2--14.

Wasilla 5, Bartlett 1

Chancie Hanson scored two goals and added an assist Thursday night to lift Wasilla to a 5-1 win over Bartlett in a nonconference hockey game at the McDonald Center in Eagle River.

Tanner Schachle and Troy Verplancke each furnished the Warriors with one goal and one assist, Adam Apangalook added a goal and William Harren added two helpers. Wasilla scored three power-play goals.

Zack Perry scored Bartlett's goal and goaltender Justin Driskell turned in a strong performance with 46 saves.

West Valley 4, Chugiak 3

Mason Graves scored a power-play goal with 30 seconds left in regulation to give West Valley a 4-3 nonconference win over Chugiak in hockey school hockey Thursday night at the Patty Center in Fairbanks.

Hunter Hanson, Sam Hanson and Kris Tomacevic scored for the Mustangs, who received 26 saves from Joe Lindquist.

Chugiak/Eagle River falls

The Arctic Bears girls hockey team of Fairbanks received two goals from Zahn Thompson to open their season with a 7-0 nonconference win over Chugiak/Eagle River at the Patty Center in Fairbanks.