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Mustangs shut out Indians

By Pat Rooney, Special to the Rocky

Published December 8, 2007 at 12:45 a.m.

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Ralston Valley forward Ben Tucker, left, fights for the puck against Cheyenne Mountain on Friday night.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder / The Rocky

Ralston Valley forward Ben Tucker, left, fights for the puck against Cheyenne Mountain on Friday night.

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Increased competition has forced Ralston Valley senior Matt Hardiek to share his goaltending duties for the Mustangs thus far in the young season.

Hardiek had started only one of No. 2-ranked Ralston Valley's first three games heading into its intriguing nonleague clash against Cheyenne Mountain.

But given Hardiek's track record against the Indians, Mustangs coach John McKibbon knew exactly who was going to get the nod Friday.

Hardiek rewarded his coach's faith and continued his impressive run against Cheyenne Mountain, stopping 23 shots to post a 4-0 shutout at the Apex Center.

Hardiek recorded two wins against the Indians last season, including an overtime victory in the state semifinals.

"We talked to Matt earlier in the week and he was wondering if he was going to play," McKibbon said. "I said, 'Well, I've got to go with the senior again. He's 2-0 against Cheyenne Mountain.' His eyes lit up and he was excited. We knew we were going to get a solid effort out of Matt."

Ralston Valley (4-0) scored twice in the first period and received two goals by senior Garrett Aschermann during the final two periods to pull away.

Connor Knutson scored the Mustangs' first goal, early in the first, and added an assist on the second goal, a backbreaking tally by Drew Allen with 9.2 seconds remaining in the opening frame.

Tanner Stansbury chipped in with two assists for the Mustangs, providing more than enough offense for Hardiek.

The senior kept his net clean despite four power-play opportunities for the Indians (1-1), including a 5- minute advantage midway through the third.

"I always just try to go out and play my hardest, but it's tough against a team like that," Hardiek said. "I got a lot of help from my team. It wasn't all me. All the goalies on this team are good and are pretty close in skill, so you just have to go out and prove yourself again and again."

Aschermann scored both goals while Ralston Valley enjoyed a man advantage, blasting a one-timer past Indians goaltender Hunter Douglas off a pass from Stansbury during a four-on-three power play in the second. He added his second goal during a delayed penalty in the third.

"It was a big win for the whole team," Aschermann said. "We've had some success against them, but you go into every game thinking it's zero-zero and it could go either way."

Cheyenne Mountain0 0 0 - 0

Ralston Valley2 1 1 - 4

First period - 1, RV, Connor Knutson (David Yergert, Thomas Greene), 3:38; 2, RV, Drew Allen (Tanner Stansbury, Knutson), 14:51. Second period - 3, RV, Garrett Aschermann (Stansbury), 13:11. Third period - 4, RV, Aschermann (Justin Hoffman), 7:55.

Shots - CM, 8-9-6 - 23; RV, 7-7-9 - 23. Saves - CM (Hunter Douglas 19); RV (Matt Hardiek 23). Power play - CM, 0-for-4; RV, 1-for-4.

Comments

  • December 9, 2007

    1:54 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    HockeyFan writes:

    The picture posted on the web page is of Ralston Valley senior Garrett Aschermann (#2), not Ben Tucker (who is #4).