The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears hockey team defeated their Division II defending state champion opponent Houston on the Hawks’ home ice Thursday 8-2.
Houston 7-2-2 overall is in second place in the Aurora Conference (2-0) and JDHS 7–6-1 overall is moving up in the Northern Lights Conference (2-2). The 11 teams in the two conferences will send eight teams on to state Feb. 6-8. JDHS had fallen to Houston early in the season 6-1.
According to JDHS head coach Matt Boline, “Huge win, Houston just beat West Anchorage 1-0 to give West their first loss on the year.”
West is a Division I team, but for state tournament qualifying and re-seeding for the Division II state tournament a JDHS win against a team that defeated West helps their cause. Among factors determining state seeding are record, scores against common opponents and strength of schedule.
“So a win against Houston with their record and the teams they’ve beat is good,” Boline noted. “Winning by a plus-six margin makes it even better.”
JDHS led Houston 3-0 after the first period and 6-2 after the second.
Senior Caleb Friend again came up huge against the poster team of the DII ice, stopping 24 shots on goal. JDHS had over 30 shots on goal against Houston’s keeper.
JDHS senior Dylan Sowa earned two goals, seniors Zander Smith, Emilio Holbrook, Matthew Plang and Luke Bovitz one goal each, junior Elliot Welch one and sophomore Caden Morris one.
Smith was selected as one of the players of the match for his goal plus an assist.
This season JDHS has beaten Kodiak 7-2, 5-0 and 9-0, Bartlett 7-5 and 10-6 and Houston 8-2, fallen to Houston 6-1, North Pole 4-2 and 5-2 and Palmer 4-3 and 8-4, and tied with Colony 3-3.
Houston also defeated DI Colony 5-0 which also helps the JDHS strength of schedule. The Hawks also lost to Palmer 6-2.
All scores have not been updated.
Unofficially, Palmer 12-3 OA is leading the NLC (4-0) followed by Kenai (3-1), JDHS (2-2), Soldotna (1-2), Homer (1-2) and Kodiak (1-3).
North Pole 10-3, sits atop the Aurora Conference with a 3-0 record, followed by Houston, Monroe (1-1-1 AC), Tri-Valley (1-3-1 AC) and Delta (0-3).
JDHS will play at Homer on Friday and Saturday.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@juneauempire.com.
