Mullen runs into a goalie wall
Hot goalie helps knock Mustangs from the unbeaten ranks; Kent Denver surges late for a 4-2 victory in the 4A North.
This one stings … and it should.
Mullen ran into one of those ice hockey games on Thursday. Overall, the Mustangs dominated, kept the puck mostly in their offensive end, outshot their foe by a ridiculous total, played nice defense, stayed out of the penalty box and enjoyed crisp passing and puck-carrying.
And they didn’t win.
The Mustangs fell from the unbeaten ranks in a 4-2 setback to longtime-rival Kent Denver. Competing at Big Bear Ice Arena, Mullen dropped to 3-1 overall, 2-1 in the Class 4A North.
A realistic Mustangs head coach Devon Brady didn’t sugarcoat it afterward.
“It sucks,” he said. “That hurts. We ran into a hot goalie, then we started gripping our sticks a little too tight.”
It showed late. Kent Denver (3-1, 3-1) refused to fold and outscored the Mustangs 4-0 over the final 17 minutes.
Through two periods, Mullen just about owned it as the Mustangs outshot the Sun Devils 37-13, dominated time of possession and offered strong defense. However, they only managed to get two pucks past Sun Devils goalie Cedric Choi, who easily fell under the hockey parlance of standing on his head. He stopped shots from the point, the circles, in front, tipped shots, rebounds and so on …and Mullen’s J.C. Carter and Robby Witwer were the only ones to find the back of the net.
Choi proved a joy for the Sun Devlis as he turned in 47 saves for the game.
Not having their way, Brady said, was difficult for the Mustangs “as I think it started to get into our heads a little, but when it wasn’t as easy we just couldn’t get there. It’s the first time we’ve been in that situation. It’s a learning moment for us. We have to score goals when the opportunities are presented and we didn’t.”
Mullen also was 0-of-5 on the power play, including owning a man advantage for a 5-minute run in the opening period.
Down the stretch and even with fewer chances, Kent Denver cashed in, scoring at 1:05, 8:36 and 12:26 of the third period. With Logan Clothier pulled from goal, the Sun Devils added an empty-netter with 5 seconds to play.
Even while being outscored 4-0 in the third, the Mustangs still outshot Kent Denver 12-7.
“Logan played well and we don’t have a lot of room for error there,” Brady said of his freshman net-minder and underlining his team came up short on the other end. “Yeah, just gripping it too tight, a little too much pressure … we couldn’t finish.”
Aidan Cashman, Amos Mills, Eoin Canavan and Nick Gilbert contributed assists for Mullen.
In addition, the Zamboni was not run over Big Bear's ice as usual in between the first and second, and second and third periods, and Brady said he would bring it to the attention of state officials.
The Mustangs, still near the top of their league, will resume play on Wednesday, Feb. 24, against Air Academy at The Edge, 2:30 p.m.
KENT DENVER 4, MULLEN 2
Mullen 0 2 0 -- 2
Kent Denver 0 0 4 -- 4
SCORING
First Period – None.
Second Period -- 1, Mullen, J.C. Carter (Aidan Cashman, Amos Mills), 2:53; 2, Mullen, Robby Witwer (Eoin Canavan, Nick Gilbert), 13:09.
Third Period – 3, Kent Denver, Aidan Elmer, sh (Sam Choi); 4, Kent Denver, Sam Choi pp (Sam Verneris), 8:36; 5, Kent Denver, Keaton Helber (Sam Choi); 5, Kent Denver, Keaton Helber, empty net (Barrett Oxenreider, Aidan Elmer), 16:55.
Shots on goal – Mullen 15-22-12 – 49; Kent Denver 8-5-7 – 20.
Power plays – Mullen 0-of-5; Kent Denver 1-of-2.
Penalties -- Mullen 4 minute son 2 infractions; Kent Denver 13 minutes on 5 infractions.
Saves – Logan Clothier 16 on 19 shots; Cedric Choi 47 on 49 shots.
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