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Huskies blank Coronado, 8-0

Chris Freud
Vail, CO Colorado
SPT BM Hockey v Coronado 03 TS 01-04-08
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VAIL, Colorado ” A shutout just looks and feels better.

Coronado’s Trevor Lim earned a penalty shot with 35 seconds left in Friday’s Pikes Peak Conference opener against host Battle Mountain at Dobson.

Huskies goalie Kalen Burnett moved out of his crease to his right, cutting down Lim’s angle, and stuffed the Cougars’ last scoring chance.



“It wasn’t a big deal because we had won the game already,” Burnett said. “It’s definitely a bummer if you get scored on in the last 35 seconds.”

“I’m sure he wanted that shutout big-time,” Huskies coach Gary Defina said. “We actually worked on breakaways during practice yesterday. I was glad to see him come up with that save.”

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The only question during Friday night’s game was whether Battle Mountain was going to post the goose egg. After Battle Mountain dropped a six-spot on Coronado in the first period, Burnett wrapped what was left of the evening’s drama with the save, and the Huskies started Pikes Peak Conference play with an 8-0 win against the Cougars.

“They skated on their own during the (holiday) break and they had a couple of good practices this week,” Defina said. “They looked like they were ready to go.”

Battle Mountain needed all of 19 seconds to light the lamp against the Cougars and had the mercy rule invoked by the end of the first period.

“You can’t complain about six goals in the first,” Burnett said.

No rust

After dumping Aspen, 6-2, before the holiday break, the Huskies wanted a quick start. They got it, hitting the ice flying. Barrett Chow set up Jake Lammert on their first shift. Coronado goalie Matthew Mosley stopped Lammert’s shot, but Ryan Maddux was right there for the rebound and a 1-0 lead.

After Battle Mountain overcame a brief Coronado 5-on-3, Geoff Funk scored a short-handed goal, powering up the right side of the ice and stuffing his shot through the five-hole.

Two minutes later, the Huskies had the power play and capitalized. Kodi Wyatt started the rush with a steal and hit Gustav Philipson streaking into the zone. Philipson found Taylor Beairsto for a 3-0 advantage.

Philipson did it on his own just a bit later ” again on the power play. The transfer from Sweden left his defender befuddled and went top shelf. With 3:43 to go in the first period, Jack Sunderland threaded a gorgeous pass to John Ryan Melzer, who back-handed the puck in.

Philipson got his second goal of the evening from a difficult angle on the left side. Lammert and Wyatt wrapped the scoring in the final 30 minutes as Defina was able to use his bench.

“It’s nice to get goals early,” Philipson said. “It’s a good warm-up for the rest of the season.”

Battle Mountain (5-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference) gets right back to it tonight at Dobson against Mitchell at 6.

Ice chips

Defina’s three stars were: 1) Lammert, 2) Philipson and 3) Burnett. … Lammert seems to enjoy seeing Coronado. He had a hat trick last year against the Cougars in a 9-1 win. … The Huskies outshot the Cougars, 49-6. … Blueliner Connor Tedstrom returned to action after breaking his wrist during the preseason Aspen Fall Face-off Tournament.

Sports Editor Chris Freud can be reached at 748-2934 or cfreud@vaildaily.com.


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