Alaska News

Dimond clobbers Service in state hockey semifinal

It wouldn't be a state hockey tournament if Dimond and Service didn't meet in a big game.

The familiar foes played Friday in a Class 4A semifinal at the Menard Ice Arena, a rematch of last season's title game won by Dimond and a 2011 semifinal won by Service.

Dimond dominated this season's showdown 7-2, keeping its hopes of a title defense alive. The Lynx will play Saturday's season finale against South, a 1-0 winner over West.

Service got the better of Dimond as recently as last week, posting a 3-0 shutout in the semifinals of the Cook Inlet Conference tournament, but the Lynx worked hard to avoid the same fate this week.

"We were more prepared," Dimond junior Aidan Teilborg said. "We came out harder and faster."

By the time Teilborg produced the game's prettiest highlight and gave Dimond a 3-0 lead early in the second period, the Lynx had established command.

Teilborg took the puck on a breakaway and, with defenders in close pursuit, juked hard to his left before finishing with a shot into the right side of the net.

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"I just moved my feet, got body position on the D and just put it right in," Teilborg said. "We got a big momentum shift and just started taking control of the game."

Service coach Joel Carter thought his team played well on defense, which has been its strength all season. Dimond was just too impressive to hold off.

"We ran into a bee's nest," Carter said. "They got the first goal, they dominated the middle of the ice and we turned the puck over. Frustrating."

Dawson Glover put Dimond up 1-0 in the first period, scoring from behind the net, and Josh Larson made it 2-0 on an attack right up the middle of the ice with just more than five minutes left in the opening stanza.

Brandon Sakumoto put the Lynx up 4-0 late in the second period, and the Lynx stretched it to 5-0 with just more than 10 minutes left in the third period on a goal from Tyler Andrews.

Kiel Kenning and Kenny Hausinger also scored third-period goals for Dimond, which outshot Service 28-14. Goalie Jordan MacMillan made 12 saves for the Lynx.

Andrew Cummings and Tyler Peters each notched third-period goals for Service.

Lathrop, Sohi win

In consolation action, Lathrop knocked off Wasilla 4-2 and Soldotna slipped past West Valley 5-4 in overtime.

Soldotna's game-winning goal came from Jonas Perletti with 4:44 left in the extra period.

A hat trick from Soldotna's Dalton Pearson highlighted regulation play. His two first-period goals gave the Stars a 2-0 lead, but Soldotna trailed 4-3 when his third goal tied it up with 42 seconds left in the third period.

Ty Munson and Stoshie Skorulski scored third-period goals for West Valley.

Lathrop's win included two goals apiece by Cole Stephens and Maxwell Blankenship.

With Jack Reeves and Austin Cook scoring for Wasilla, the score was tied 2-2 through two periods, but Stephens and Blankenship each scored third-period goals to win it for Lathrop.

Reach Jeremy Peters at jpeters@adn.com or 257-4335.

By JEREMY PETERS

jpeters@adn.com

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