Nobody ever said hockey was easy, but the Service Cougars are sure making the game look simple.
The Cougars improved to 9-0 with a 4-0 defeat of Eagle River in a Cook Inlet Conference match-up Wednesday afternoon at Ben Boeke.
"This team's just getting along really well," said Service goalie Ronan Klancher, who stopped 16 shots to get the shutout.
Tyler Millar had a hat trick for Service, which also got a score from Jack Martensen.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead at the end of a slow first period when Millar beat Wolves freshman goalie Trent Burnham with a clean wrist shot from the middle of the right face off circle.
Millar's uncontested shot spoiled a stellar first period for Burnham, who kept his team in the game all night with a variety of sprawling pad saves and quick catches.
"He played really well," said Eagle River coach Bill Comer, whose team fell to 7-3.
Service pushed its lead to 3-0 in the second period behind goals from Martensen and Millar. Martensen put back a Derek Scoggins rebound with 8:46 to play in the period, and Millar deflected Jonathon Stephens' low rocket up and past a helpless Burnham.
Service coach Joel Carter said his team is playing with confidence in its goaltender and each other.
"Once you have that, the game becomes fun," he said.
Eagle River had a chance to get back into the game at the start of the third period, which began with a two-minute Wolves' power play thanks to an interference call against Millar at the end of the second. But Service's defense clamped down on Eagle River, which generated few legitimate scoring chances. When they did, Klancher was there to stymie them.
"We're not getting enough pucks to the net," said Comer.
Carter said much of the credit for his team's confidence comes from their faith in Klancher.
"He's a great wall back there," he said.
Millar added the exclamation point for Service when he went top shelf on Burnham with just 17 second left in the game and the Cougars down a man.
Comer said his team wasn't at its best in its first game back after Thanksgiving break.
"They had to get some of that Thanksgiving dinner out of 'em," he joked.
Eagle River has compiled a 7-3 record despite not having its "home" rink, the McDonald Center, which has been undergoing repairs all hockey season. The rink is scheduled to open after the New Year.
"That'll be a nice lift for us," Comer said.
Despite the lopsided loss to Service, Comer said he still thinks Eagle River has a team capable of playing with anyone.
"Our goal is to be playing in February at state," he said.
Service's undefeated record will face a stiff test Saturday, when the Cougars face off against 6-2 South for the first time.
Klancher said Service is excited to be undefeated this deep into the season, and the team is looking forward to playing in big games like Saturday's clash with the Wolverines.
"Who isn't?" he asked. "Those are always fun games to play in."
South 2, Lathrop 0
South got a second-period goal from Noah Ashley and a late tally from Ben Trujillo to down Lathrop 2-0 in a nonconference hockey game on Wednesday night at Ben Boeke.
Jeremy Swayman turned back all 16 shots he faced to earn the shutout for the Wolverines.
Tanner Dragomir assisted on Ashley's goal, which was the game's lone score until Trujillo found the net with one second left in the game.
Contact reporter Matt Tunseth at 257-4335 or mtunseth@alaskadispatch.com