After a pair of losses the previous week, the Mustang varsity hockey team responded with a victorious three-game stand, posting a narrow win over cross-town rival Eagle River, along with comfortable margins over Bartlett and Kenai.

Chugiak High School junior Sean Casey looks to redirect a puck in front of the Kenai net while being checked from behind during the Mustangs' 5-1 win Saturday. PHOTO by DAN SHEPARD

Chugiak played one of its better games of the early season in the 2-1 win Nov. 17 over Eagle River in protecting a two-goal margin for much of the last half of the game.

Mustang goals were provided by Jake Wells, on a deflection off a shot from defenseman Josh Smith, in the first period. Sophomore Sean Casey followed up his own blast from inside the blue line, scoring on a long rebound, in the second off Eagle River goaltender Kyle Haken.

The game was intense throughout with hard hits delivered from both sides, along with penalties dispensed to both teams.

Chugiak head coach Rodney Wild said it was an emotionally charged game.

"And I feel that there are going to be many more to come," he said Sunday.

The young Chugiak team kept the puck in its offensive zone through much of the game, giving Eagle River's highly vaunted front line of Connor Sperry, Ben Russell and Dacota Wood, well away from goal-scoring opportunities.

"We've been working on not making mistakes on our offensive end of the ice - that's something we've been working on. I thought we did a much better job," Wild added.

Junior goalie Joey Lindquist stood huge in the crease, preserving a shutout for more than 44 minutes of the 45-minute contest.

In the last minute, Eagle River head coach Kirby Senden pulled goalie Kyle Haken to give the home team Wolves a man-advantage. The ploy resulted in a goal with 33 seconds left.

Chugiak controlled the ensuing drop of the puck, keeping the disc in the Wolves' defensive zone as time expired.

The Mustangs offensive corps unloaded on hapless Bartlett Nov. 19, knocking out a 15-0 massacre.

Chugiak posted goals from a multitude of players - senior senior Isaac Jordt and juniors Tyler Viens and Shane Topf scored two apiece, along with a pair of hat tricks from junior captain Sam Linder and classmate Sean Casey. Jake Wells, Ryan Harrison and Noah VanLandingham also tossed in a few goals.

After scoring only two goals in the first, the Mustangs hit the back of the Bartlett Bear net often with seven goals in the second, and six more in the third period.

Still, Wild said, the Bartlett team "worked hard against us."

Lindquist had a relatively quiet game in the Chugiak crease, stopping all 11 shots delivered in the first and second period. The Golden Bears were not credited with a shot on a goal in the final period.

The Mustangs carried their winning spree into Saturday's game with Kenai, scoring twice in the first periods, on shots from VanLandingham and Topf.

The home team boosted the margin to 4-0 after two with additional goals from Jaron Jones and an unassisted marker from Isaac Jordt.

The visiting Kardinals got on the board, early in the third, scoring in the first two minutes.

Jake Wells scored at 11:12 in the third, off assists from Lucas Geurts and Sam Linder, to seal the 5-1 win.

Although a victory, Wild said he was a bit disappointed with the team's effort in the nonleague game.

"There were some bright spots though. I thought that (Isaac) Jordt played with a lot of intensity, and helped raise the level of play of those around him," Wild said.

The Mustangs are looking to be at full strength after the Thanksgiving Break with the return of senior Rusty Teller and goalie Seth Kollman. Teller had been suffering from an ongoing ankle problem, while Kollman broke a finger on his blocker side three weeks ago.

Chugiak has one game this week, facing West on Tuesday.

Following Thanksgiving break, the team meets up with Dimond, along with first-round games with South and Service.

Wild said that Dimond and Service are the two teams to beat in the Cook Inlet Conference, as both are yet to lose a league contest.

In Chugiak's first outing, held Nov. 4, the Mustangs tied the host Lynx, 3-3, in a nonleague game at Ben Boeke.

You can reach the reporter at editor@alaskastar.com.