The Anchorage Wolverines took their home ice at Ben Boeke Ice Arena for the final time this calendar year in the second of a two-game weekend series against the Kenai River Brown Bears on Saturday night. While the Wolverines fought their way back from an early deficit, it wasn’t enough as Kenai won 4-3 to earn a series sweep.
“We got into some penalty trouble early and we got down 2-0 on the penalty kill,” Anchorage head coach Nick Walters said. “When you dig yourself a hole, you still have a whole lot of game left so you gotta keep your head up, stay positive and keep doing the right things to battle back.”
He was proud with the way the Wolverines clawed their way back into contention after the Brown Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a couple of power-play goals in the opening period.
It looked like Kenai might run away with the win after tacking on an even-strength goal but defenseman Jackson Stimple was able to cut into the deficit by scoring a pair of special teams goals of his own to get his team back in the game.
“Those were both power-play goals and to match (Kenai’s) is huge,” Walters said. “They were big-time goals by Stimple. It was good to see him have some success tonight.”
His first came with just under two and a half minutes left in the second period and his second came early in the third at the 18:02 mark.
“Obviously, it’s nice to get a couple to go in the net and have the boys feed off it and get some energy,” Stimple said.
He was also proud of how his team didn’t waiver after falling behind early and even when they allowed another goal about midway through the third.
“We got down early after a tough start but I like the grit and battle back,” Stimple said. “We just couldn’t come all the way back and sometimes that’s going to happen. You’re not going to win them all.”
A few minutes before Stimple’s second period goal, the Wolverines appeared to have notched their first goal of the game. But it was negated after review showed that the net shifted off its moorings just before Anchorage forward Cole Christian took a shot that found the back of the net.
Christian did eventually get in on the scoring action with his first official goal about a minute after the Brown Bears increased their lead to 4-2 at the 10:53 mark in the third period.
In the final two minutes, Walters pulled goalie Liam Beerman and the Wolverines tried to tie the game with the 6-on-5 advantage but couldn’t get a clean shot off before time expired.
“We were just a little too late today,” Walters said.
Stimple is confident the team will learn from this experience and rebound “with even more power.”
“We come into practice every day with our mind set on the Robertson Cup and the end game so I don’t think this loss is going to hold us back at all,” Stimple said. “I think we will come back just as hard, just as strong, and we’re going to continue to push forward.”
Up next for the Wolverines is a trio of road trips that Walters believes will be an excellent time for the team to bond with some of its new additions, including Anchorage’s Camden Shasby.
[Camden Shasby will add to family’s hockey legacy as newest member of Anchorage Wolverines]
“We’re always looking forward to playing at home again,” Walters said. “It’s going to be awhile but we’re already counting down the days.”
Despite the back-to-back losses to Kenai, the Wolverines still lead the standings in the Club 49 Cup and will be back home in late January when they host their other instate rival, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, for a two-game series Jan. 19-20.