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Mtn. Lions skate past Golden Tigers

Sometimes the puck just bounces your way.

That’s exactly what happened for the Altoona hockey team on Tuesday night as Parker Cumming on a breakaway opportunity buried a shot top shelf in the first period to spark the Mountain Lions to a 3-0 win over Hollidaysburg in a Laurel Mountain Hockey League matchup at Galactic Ice.

“That was probably the best game we played all year,” Altoona coach Don Burgmeier said. “There wasn’t a lot of hot dogging, guys trying to do it by themselves. Everybody worked together. Everybody had a hand in that.”

Cumming scored twice, his other tally on a 4-on-4 situation in the second period to give the Lions a 2-0 cushion with an assist from Joseph Spewock. The first score came on assists from Tyler Earnst and Connor Fellabaum.

The Golden Tigers spent much of the night in the penalty box, having been called for six penalties, five resulting in power play opportunities for Altoona.

“We spent way too much time in the box,” Hollidaysburg coach Joe Duey said. “That was more than likely our downfall in this game. Anytime we start getting anything going, we’re back in the box. That was difficult for us trying to overcome that.”

Hollidaysburg also had no answer for Evan Montgomery, who racked up a shutout, stopping 26 shots from the Tigers, much of that because of the Lions’ defensive depth.

“I don’t think they had one clear cut one-on-none breakaways, that’s because the defensemen had their head in the game,” Burgmeier said. “They weren’t going to allow that to happen.”

“He’s a great goaltender,” Duey said. “We just couldn’t get one past Montgomery. He had another great game.”

Jonah Snowberger stopped 31-of-34 for shots for the Golden Tigers.

The Mountain Lions finished off the scoring in the third period as Brock Vancas from the left face off circle ripped one for the game’s final score from Tyler Umbleby.

“When you’re chasing and you’re behind, that’s when you start hooking, tripping,” Burgmeier said. “Get your feet moving and skate, make them chase you. They did that to us last time.”

Duey felt this was a reverse of the Golden Tigers win over Altoona in early December.

“Last game we had a couple great bounces that ended up winning the game for us,” he said. “We knew it was going to be one of those games we need to capitalize on opportunities and it didn’t happen for us.

“They capitalized on the opportunities though, that’s how they win.”

SCORE BY PERIODS

Hollidaysburg 0 0 0–0

Altoona 1 1 1–3

SCORING SEQUENCE

FIRST PERIOD: A — Cumming (Earnst, Fellabaum), 10:49.

SECOND PERIOD: A — Cumming (Spewock), 6:20.

THIRD PERIOD: A — Vancas (Umbleby), 4:43.

Goalies: Snowberger, H, 31-34; Montgomery, 26-26.

Records: Hollidaysburg (9-5); Altoona (8-5).

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