PREP HOCKEY: Alton blanks Bethalto 6-0

Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com

 Published 9:36 pm CST, Tuesday, November 6, 2018

EAST ALTON — It took less than 24 hours for the Alton High hockey team to right its ship. A shutout performance by the Redbirds resulted in a 6-0 victory over Bethalto on Night 2 of the Mississippi Valley Club Hockey Association season.

Alton opened its season Monday with a 10-2 loss to Belleville, while Bethalto opened with a 5-5 tie with Edwardsville.

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Tuesday night’s game was all Alton from the get-go. The Redbirds outshot the Eagles 46-5.

Alton’s win came despite 10 penalties whistled against the Redbirds. Bethalto was called for six penalties.

The Redbirds broke open a tight 1-0 game with four second-period goals and rolled to the victory at the East Alton Ice Arena.

“I think we got a good bounce back game tonight,” Alton coach Aaron Kestler said. “I’m happy to get the first win under our belt.”

The Redbirds led 1-0 at the end of the first period, thanks to a goal from Nick Jones, assisted by Zachary Carter, at the 1:34 mark.

“We played a pretty good game against Edwardsville,” Bethalto coach Brayden Emerick said. “Today just wasn’t a good day for us. It seemed like almost everyone on the team wasn’t ready to play.”

Bethalto’s one-goal deficit could have been worse. Alton outshot Bethalto in the first period to the tune of 21-2, but Eagles goalie Dale Papp made 20 saves in the first period.

Alton outshot Bethalto 13-2 in the second period, but got better results.

Alton’s Tristen Seymour made it 2-0 at 8:57 of the second period, assisted by Jacob Eppel. A minute later, Jon Croxton made it 3-0, assisted by Bryce Mouser.

Jones scored his second goal of the game unassisted at 3:33 to make it 4-0. That was followed 11 seconds later by a goal from Anderson Carter, assisted by Croxton.

“It didn’t help that Alton played a really good team (Monday),” Emerick said. “It just wasn’t our night. It’s one we are ready to forget and move forward.”

Seymour scored Alton’s lone third-period goal at 4:49, assisted by Connor Neeley.

“The defense was able to shut them down tonight and (goalie Caleb) Vitali gave us strong performance in the net,” Kestler said. “I think puck possession was a big part of the win tonight.”

Bethalto will face Belleville at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Granite City Ice Rink. Alton’s next game will be against Belleville at 7:30 on Nov. 13 at the McKendree Rec Plex in O’Fallon.