Crimson Bears ice Hutchison in first win

A hot start broke the ice for Juneau-Douglas High School hockey as the Crimson Bears notched the first win of their campaign with a trouncing of visiting Hutchison on Friday.

JDHS (1-4) dominated Hutchison (1-2) in the first and third periods for a physical 6-1 win.

“We were just able to link up through the middle, the chemistry got better up there,” said senior defenseman Cahal Morehouse.

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Morehouse tallied the game’s first score when he lifted a shot over the right shoulder of Hutchison goalie Alayah Brunty just 1 minute, 17 seconds into the game. Senior forward Cameron Jardell gave the Crimson Bears the decisive early lead when he added a second goal at 3:43 in the first period.

Hutchison slowed JDHS down in the second period by turning the game into a physical, chippy match. The teams combined for seven penalties and fourteen minutes of power plays during the period, but Hutchison couldn’t capitalize on the chaos and headed into the third still down 2-0.

“It just felt slow. I guess our minds weren’t in it quite right in the second,” Morehouse said.

JDHS coach Luke Adams took the boys to task during the second intermission, exhorting them to play at their pace and not allow the Hawks to slow them down.

“We were trying to be too fancy in the second period and they battled right back and upped their physical game,” Adams said. “We kinda just preached the work ethic and simplified what we were trying to do.”

Senior forward Ryan Liebelt answered Adams’ call with a power play goal at 1:17 in the third, with sophomore Bill Bosse seconding Liebelt’s motion with an unassisted goal at 2:56. Liebelt’s and Bosse’s goals effectively put the game out of reach for Hutchison.

“Once we just started to put the puck behind their net, establishing our pressure, I think we were able to overwhelm them with the pace of the game,” Adams said.

Senior forward Simon Marks added a fifth goal at 6:02 for JDHS off assists from Morehouse and junior forward Joseph Monsef. Senior defenseman Niko Hebert rounded the tally to 6-0 with an unassisted goal at 10:31.

Hutchison’s consolation goal came from left winger Cole Kadel at 13:24 in the third.

“That was a good hockey game. I think the game was a lot closer than the score indicates,” Adams said. “I think they’ll make adjustments, and I know we’ll have our work cut out for us tomorrow.”

Notes: JDHS outshot Hutchison 27-16 (11-4 in the first, 5-2 in the second and 11-10 in the third). Game stars were JDHS sophomore netminder Kyle Farley-Robinson, who stopped 15 shots on the night; Morehouse, who tallied an assist and a goal; and Hutchison’s Kadel.

Hutchison’s Brunty stopped 21 of 27 shots. JDHS players awarded assists were: Jaime Moreno, Dalton Hoy, Cameron Smith, Jacob

Dale, Morehouse and Monsef. Landon Wheatley and Troy Whiteside logged assists for Hutchison. Hutchison players spent 14 minutes in the penalty box on seven violations; JDHS was penalized eight times for 16 minutes.

• Contact reporter Kevin Gullufsen at 523-2228 or kevin.gullufsen@juneauempire.com.