With its second lopsided victory in as many nights, the Dimond High hockey team on Friday reached the halfway point of its Cook Inlet Conference regular season.
The Lynx now get several days away from the ice before meeting up against rival South on Tuesday at Ben Boeke Arena. Whatever part of their game legendary coach Dennis Sorenson and his crew feels in need of work will have to be done in the weight room or via group chat because practice time isn’t happening.
That’s life in the CIC these days, where we’re talking about practice. Budgetary concerns and other factors have limited practice opportunities for Dimond as well as the Anchorage School District’s six other varsity programs.
“Honestly, the whole experience has been nothing but inconsistent,” said Lynx senior Soren Shafer, who recorded an assist in Friday’s 7-0 shutout of Eagle River. “It’s tricky, not getting those opportunities to regroup.
“But I guess it’s only difficult if we make it so.”
Shafer assisted on sophomore Reid Carlson’s power-play goal with nine seconds remaining in the third. Seniors Joe Christiansen, Dylan Ford, Ethan Haimes, Tyson Jones, Andrew Sturgeon and sophomore Dalian Hand all produced two-point performances.
Senior goaltender Zoie Campbell registered seven saves in the shutout. Dimond improved to 4-3-1 overall, 3-3-0 CIC.
CIC League Standings
| POINTS | TEAM | RECORD |
| 12 | West | 6-0-0 |
| 11 | Chugiak | 5-2-1 |
| 8 | Service | 4-3-0 |
| 7 | South | 3-1-1 |
| 6 | Dimond | 3-3-0 |
| 2 | Bartlett/East | 1-6-0 |
| 0 | Eagle River | 0-7-0 |
Eagle River senior goalie Tyler Offenbacker showed out numerous times. He stopped 17 Lynx shots in both the second and third periods and finished with 39 stops. The plucky Wolves fell to 0-12-0, 0-7-0.
Since dropping a 1-0 decision to South on Nov. 28, Dimond enjoyed practices on five occasions between Nov. 30 and this past Wednesday. The Lynx then blew past Bartlett 18-3 on Thursday before taking on Eagle River. They’ll see the Wolverines once more next week.
Shafer confirmed Sorenson, now owner of 619 wins in his 33rd season guiding the Lynx, and veteran assistant Chris Higgins find ways to teach whether on or off the ice.
“They’re giving us the same amount (of information),” Shafer said. “It’s just different because we’re not taking that usual time on the ice to work on specific systems or other aspects.”
To this point, 12 seniors and zero freshmen have played in at least one varsity CIC game for Dimond. Eagle River boasts only two seniors – Offenbacker and Myla Lubken. It’s easy to anticipate the Wolves having something in future seasons. Eight freshmen have played meaningful minutes and in every kind of key situation thus far.
What’s being learned by the youngsters now is bound to pay off.
“It’s such a way faster pace than anything I’m used to,” said Eagle River freshman Patrick Forestal, owner of a goal and an assist in seven CIC games. “You quickly learn how to take checks from those bigger guys, and it can only be good to be out there against them.
“You get past that intimidation factor.”
The Wolves are idle until after the holiday break and a Jan. 11 matchup against South. Meanwhile, Dimond nonsensically practices on the ice all three days after its Tuesday game against the Wolverines leading to the break, and then three more times before playing Service on Jan. 11.
CHUGIAK 6, SERVICE 2
Chugiak senior Landen Orebaugh and sophomore Dane Casey each scored two goals and the defending DI state-champion Mustangs handed Service a 6-2 loss at Eagle River’s McDonald Center.
Chugiak improved to 5-5-1, 5-3-1. Senior goalie River Scott posted 27 saves to earn the victory.
Service dropped its second straight after winning four in a row. The Cougars fell to 5-7-0, 4-3-0. Freshman goalie Zane Parrish totaled 30 saves.