PREP HOCKEY: Alton blanks Highland for second straight win

Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com

 Published 8:34 am CST, Wednesday, December 19, 2018

EAST ALTON — The Alton Redbirds hockey team might just be onto something.

The Redbirds posted their second consecutive Mississippi Valley Club Hockey Association victory Thursday with a 2-0 late-night victory over Highland at the East Alton Ice Arena.

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“It’s always hard to come back and have a strong game after a big game the night before,” Alton coach Aaron Kestler said, “but the team was able to do that tonight.”

The Redbirds went into Tuesday night’s game on the heels of a 3-2 victory over Columbia. Tuesday’s shutout lifted Alton to 5-8-1 on the season. Highland dropped to 0-11-1.

Thursday at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex, Edwardsville MVCHA will face Breeeburg/Waterloo at 7:30 p.m. and Highland will play Belleville at 9 p.m. East Alton-Wood River will play Triad in an 8:30 p,m. game at Granite City.

After Thursday’s scheduled game are completed, MVCHA varsity teams will be off until Dec. 27. However, Alton will be off until Jan. 3 when it will place Collinsville in a 7 p.m. game at the Granite City Ice Rink.

Monday against Columbia, Alton goaltender Caleb Vitali made 34 saves. And while he didn’t face as many shots Tuesday against Highland, he did turn away all 12 the Bulldogs fired at him. The Redbirds doubled up the shots on Highland, 24-12.

“Vitali kept us in it again with a big shutout,” Kestler said. “I’m happy to take the two wins this week.”

Alton also killed off eight two-minute minor penalties, all in the second period. Highland was whistled for five penalties, four of which were in the first period.

Despite dominating puck possession time and shots, the Redbirds found themselves locked in a scoreless tie heading into the first period. Alton outshot Highland 8-3 in the first period.

Alton grabbed the lead with a goal by Hunter Goodman with 7:16 remaining in the second period. He was assisted by Kieran Favazza and Shawn Grizzle. AHS outshot the Bulldogs 11-6 in the second period,

The Redbirds doubled their lead early in the third period. Connor Neely scored from an assist by Grizzle at the 12:06 mark.

Neely leads the Redbirds in total points on the season with 19 points on nine goals and 10 assists. Jones is next with 10 goals and eight assists for 18 and Grizzle had six goals and six assists for 12 points.