Tigers 11-0 after victory over rival Mountain Lions
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By John Hartsock
jhartsock@altoonamirror.com
Undefeated Hollidaysburg checked every box in a 7-0 Laurel Mountain Hockey League victory over archrival Altoona Tuesday night at Galactic Ice.
The 11-0 Golden Tigers got a pair of goals apiece from junior forward Isaac Miller and senior forward Kaden Kirkham, single tallies from three other players, and the fourth shutout performance of the season from senior goalkeeper Tyler Duey, who stopped 25 Altoona shots.
Hollidaysburg added an exclamation mark by successfully killing off a two-man disadvantage that lasted 72 seconds in the third period.
"I was a little worried because we hadn't played in two weeks before tonight, and we were coming off a Christmas and New Year's holiday break, but we played a pretty solid all-around game tonight,'' Hollidaysburg coach Cory Reed said.
The Golden Tigers opened the scoring 5:23 into the game on a wrist shot from the left wing by Teaghan Smith, then went ahead 2-0 later in the first period when Miller swiped the puck from an Altoona player in the neutral zone, broke in on the left side, and scored with 3:06 remaining in the period.
"We knew coming in that this is a rivalry game, and that (Altoona) really wanted to beat us,'' Miller said. "We just tried to simplify things after our long holiday break, and we just tried to play our hardest.''
Senior Jared Smith scored at the 4:37 mark of the second period for Hollidaysburg, which also got a second-period goal from junior Porter Weise at 10:12 and a nifty unassisted tally from Miller, who skated across the upper slot and scored on a wrist shot at 11:21, giving the Golden Tigers a 5-0 lead after two periods.
"They're good, they just outplayed us,'' Altoona coach Don Burgmeier said of the Golden Tigers, who have defeated Altoona in both meetings between the two teams this season. "They were very aggressive in the second period, and I thought that once we gave up that third goal of the game, we quit skating.''
Hollidaysburg goaltender Duey has been lights out all season for the Golden Tigers, according to Reed. Along with his four shutouts, Duey has allowed a total of only six goals in Hollidaysburg's 11 games.
"He's the best in the league,'' Reed said of the senior veteran. "He's been our starting goalkeeper for three years now, and he's been our most valuable player this season by far. He's just been unreal.''
Kirkham capped off Hollidaysburg's scoring with an unassisted goal at 2:36 of the third period, before adding a second tally with 3:34 left in the game.
Altoona (4-7) is idle until Jan. 16, when the Mountain Lions host Conemaugh Valley at Galactic Ice. Hollidaysburg next sees action next Tuesday at Galactic Ice against Central Cambria.
Hollidaysburg reached the league championship game last season but lost. This year, it's league title or bust for the Golden Tigers, according to Reed.
"That's been our goal since the beginning of the year,'' Reed said. "We have three solid scoring lines who can go at it with anybody and many players who have been playing in different leagues at a very high level.''
SCORE BY PERIODS
Hollidaysburg 2 3 2--7
Altoona 0 0 0--0
SCORING SUMMARY
FIRST PERIOD
1, H--T. Smith (Hartman), 5:23. 2, H--Miller (unassisted), 13:54.
Penalties: Hollidaysburg (roughing), :35; Altoona (interference), 2:31.
SECOND PERIOD
3, H--J. Smith (Weise, Mentzer), 4:37. 4, H--Weise (Young), 10:12. 5, H--Miller (unassisted), 11:21.
Penalties: Altoona (roughing), 3:31; Altoona and Hollidaysburg (dual roughing), 6:47; Altoona (elbowing), 11:56; Hollidaysburg (hooking), 16:36.
THIRD PERIOD
6, H--Kirkham (unassisted), 2:36. 7, H--Kirkham (Pfeilstucker), 13:26.
Penalties: Hollidaysburg (tripping), :24.
Shots on goal: Altoona 25, Hollidaysburg 24.
Saves: T. Duey, H, 25; S. Conrad, A, 17.
Records: Hollidaysburg (11-0); Altoona (4-7).