Mustangs ice Lancers
Klem, Simons and Watters head a 9-3 decision; team is learning how to win the right way and will take on Kent Denver on Thursday.
LITTLETON – Mullen is working hard at making the transition from run-of-the-mill ice-hockey team to a contending ice-hockey team.
Consider it challenging.
On Tuesday in a matinee at The Edge Ice Arena, the Mustangs took out visiting Liberty 9-3. In improving to 3-0 overall, 2-0 in the new Class 4A North, and it’s the program’s best start under head coach Devon Brady.
But with the new-found success comes caution and humility … at least it should, Brady said.
“No, not even close,” Brady said afterward if it was his team’s best game in the new Season B. “We started off pretty well, then our eyes as (an assistant coach noted) turned into big-money signs. We did some stuff we shouldn’t have because we were scoring goals. The second period was not good for us. We were sloppy, lazy, complacent and not playing the right way. I thought we did a much better job in the third doing what we do.
“So we finished on a very good note.”
The Mustangs came out firing, grabbing a 5-1 lead as Hayden Klem and Larry Simons either assisted on or scored on four of the team’s first five goals. It was kind of a theme as Klem (hat trick and two assists) and Simons (goal and three assists) skated and handled the puck well, as did Riley Watters, who added a goal and three assists.
Simons, who said he “came to the rink feeling good,” proved prophetic. The left wing “connected well with Klem,” but, as a senior and with a memory of the program’s hard times, also warned that “it’s different than what we’re used to ... we’re enjoying it, living in the moment and just trying to keep it alive.
“It can go away as quickly as it got here.”
Nick Gilbert added two goals. Aidan Cashman and Ian McDougall each had one. Amos Milles and Robby Witwer contributed assists. In goal, freshman Logan Clothier, save for a softie from outside the blue line in the team’s lethargic second period, was sharp enough and played well with the lead in totaling 15 saves.
“We’ve had a lot of crap thrown at us with injuries and how the world is right now,” Simons said. “We’re just trying to push through … everyone’s feeling good inside the locker room and happy to be here.”
Mullen will be back at it on Thursday, 5:30 p.m., in a 4A North game at Big Bear Ice Arena against Kent Denver and Brady will be looking for his team to respond again.
“We didn’t play a complete game (on Tuesday) by any stretch of the imagination, but (2:30 p.m. puck drop) on a Tuesday, we haven’t had any of these,” Brady said. “You can call this the proverbial trap game for us … we put up a nine-spot, but we have some work that needs to be done.
“And we’re 3-0? Absolutely, it doesn’t get better than that. We’ll take that against Kent into Thursday.”
MULLEN 9, LIBERTY 3
Liberty – 1 1 1 -- 3
Mullen – 5 2 2 -- 9
Scoring
First Period – 1, Mullen, Hayden Klem (Larry Simons), 2:41; 2, Mullen, Larry Simons (Hayden Klem), 4:33; 3, Mullen, Nick Gilbert (Riley Watters), 5:09; 4, Mullen, Hayden Klem, pp (Robby Witwer, Larry Simons), 7:02; 5, Mullen, Riley Watters, sh (Hayden Klem); 6, Liberty, Jeremy Garcia (Seth DiMarino, Noah Castanon), 14:24.
Second Period – 7, Liberty, Krae Bolre (unassisted), 1:02; 8, Mullen, Ian McDougall (Larry Simons), 3:08; 9, Mullen, Nick Gilbert (Riley Watters), 11:50.
Third Period – 10, Mullen, Aidan Cashman (Amos Mills, Riley Watters), 0:23; 11, Mullen, Hayden Klem (unassisted), 3:59; 12, Liberty, Tristan Ward (Ethan Graber), 13:08.
Shots on goals – Liberty 18, Mullen 36
Saves – Logan Clothier, Mullen, 15.
Penalties – Liberty 10 minutes on five infractions; Mullen eight minutes on four infractions..
Power plays – Liberty 0-of-4; Mullen 1-of-5.
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