Anchorage Daily News

WASILLA -- Delta Junction coach Chris Zachgo likes to say his hockey team is "a bunch of hard workers." No snipers, no goal- scorers who can always be counted upon in crunch time.

By all accounts, 5-foot-8, 150-pound senior forward Garrett Smith fits the description.

But he sure did a nice impression of a goal scorer Saturday evening in the small-schools state championship at Menard Memorial Arena.

Smith's breakaway goal with 1:56 left gave Delta Junction an upset win of Giants-Patriots proportions -- a 2-1 victory against Glennallen, which entered the tournament undefeated (16-0-0) against small-schools opponents.

Delta's record? Winning the state championship lifted them over .500 at 11-10.

More upset evidence: Glennallen beat Delta four times this season by a combined score of 27-9. Glennallen won the first meeting 11-1.

But Smith changed all that with one shot between the pads of Glennallen goalie Gerald Mills, who played an outstanding game with 23 saves.

Smith squeaked between two Glennallen defenders, took a beautiful pass from Alan Waldo. He coasted in one-on-one against goalie Mills and beat him with a low shot.

Zachgo described Smith as a major role player -- in other words, much like his teammates.

"We don't have a bunch of snipers, we have a bunch of hard workers," Zachgo said. "They grind it out. That's how we win. That's exactly what happened tonight. Hard work got it done."

Delta outworked Glennallen in the first and second periods but had nothing to show for it. Delta outshot Glennallen 11-3 in the second period, garnering numerous scoring chances.

But Mills turned aside every chance. And it was Glennallen that emerged with a 1-0 lead when Anthony Sondergaard made a behind-the-back pass to Ryan Crow, who launched a wicked wrist shot high that beat Delta goalie Gary Olsen-Saville.

But Delta's hard work paid off in the third. Trevor Gilbertson tied it five minutes into the third, setting up some serious drama for the remaining minutes.

The more-skilled Panthers peppered Delta goalie Olsen-Saville, who made several saves from point-blank range.

Glennallen had a 6-on-4 advantage for the final 42 seconds when Waldo was called for boarding but couldn't get a shot off.

The championship was Delta's first in eight years.

"We knew eventually we'd outwork them, and it would show up in the end," said Waldo, who finished with two assists.

Before Saturday, Glennallen's only losses this season were to Class 4A schools. Coach Mike Sondergaard said it can be tough to beat one team so many times in a season.

"They knew our tendencies, and we knew theirs," he said. "They just beat us to the punch. They beat us fair and square."

Find Ron Wilmot online at adn.com/contact/rwilmot or call 907-352-6712.

Delta Junction0 0 2 -- 2

Glennallen0 1 0 -- 1

First period -- No scoring. Penalties -- Delta Junction 2 for 4; Glennallen 2 for 4.

Second period -- 1, Glennallen, Crow (A. Sondergaard, Yahr), 13:46. Penalties -- Delta Junction 1 for 2; Glennallen 4 for 8.

Third period -- 2, Delta Junction, Gilbertson (Waldo, Pinkleman), 4:39; 3, Delta Junction, Smith (Waldo, Joe), 13:04. Penalties -- Delta Junction, 2 for 4; Glennallen, 1 for 2.

Goalies -- Delta Junction, Olsen-Saville 7-2-10--19. Glennallen, Mills 9-11-3--23.

Tri-Valley 5, Kenny Lake 2

Kaz Cizmowski and Bering Halloran each scored two goals and Parker Vacura had a goal and four assists as Tri-Valley claimed third place in the small-schools state hockey tournament.

Garrett Rosenkrans and Caleb Helkenn each scored for Kenny Lake.

Small Schools All-Tournament Team

Forwards -- Alan Waldo, Delta Junction; Garrett Rosenkrans, Kenny Lake; Ryan Crow; Glennallen; Bering Halloran, Tri-Valley.

Defensemen -- Zack Erickson, Delta Junction; Anthony Sondergaard, Glennallen.

Goaltenders -- Gerald Mills, Glennallen; Gary Olsen-Saville, Delta Junction.

Academic Award -- Kenny Lake (3.62 GPA)

Sportsmanship Award -- Tri-Valley

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