Chugiak defenseman Zach Peterson and goalie Seth Kollman watch the puck glide harmlessly to the corner after being steered clear of the crease during second period play between the Mustangs and South Anchorage Wolverines Dec. 17. South scored two goals in the first period en route to the 3-1 win. PHOTO by DAN SHEPARD

Although a loss is hard to stomach, the fact that the season continues beyond the end of 2009 is a source of some consolation for Chugiak hockey players and head coach Rodney Wild following the team's 3-1 shortfall to South High School on Dec. 17.

And despite some shortened practices during the week, and Dec. 16th's practice cancelled entirely due to a travel advisory from the recent dump of snow, Wild said he was pleased nonetheless.

"I was pretty happy with how the team played," said the coach.

The Mustangs had their shortest lineup of the season with three players - Tyler Viens, Noah VanLandingham and Lucas Geurts - not even suiting up for the game.

Wild said the team's efforts could have been helped with a few more bodies on the ice.

South jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with goals in the first period, slipping the puck past senior goalie Seth Kollman twice in a dismal 18-second span for Chugiak.

After that, the Mustangs settled down, Wild said.

Following a scoreless second period, the Mustangs pulled to within one, with a goal from senior captain Sam Linder, off the assist from Jake Wells and Shane Topf early in the third.

South scored the back-breaking third goal in the game's last five minutes.

Despite the loss, Wild said there were causes for optimism for the team.

"Overall, I though the boys played well as a team," he said

In particular, the coach said he had been very pleased with the successful return of senior Rusty Teller.

Nursing a foot injury all season, Teller has been a big contributor to the Mustang blueline, after playing the past two seasons as a forward.

"Rusty's going to help us out a bunch at defense. We've already asked a lot of him in the last two games," said Wild.

One thing that did surface from the game, said the coach, was the team's reluctance, or inability, to put shots on their opposing teams.

"We are passing up opportunities to shoot the puck. We will be working on that specific skill set when we get back (from Break)," he said.

The Mustangs return to action after the holidays, hosting the Eagle River Wolves, Jan. 5 at the McDonald Center.

The two local teams find themselves towards the bottom half of the eight-team Cook Inlet Conference but are closely matched.

In their earlier meeting, held Nov. 17, Chugiak won, 2-1.

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

Thursday, Dec. 17, McDonald Center

South 3, Chugiak 1

South 2 0 1 - 3

Chugiak 0 0 1 - 1

First period - 1) South, Welch 4:50 (sh); 2) South, Wells, 5:08. Penalties - Chugiak 2 for 4 minutes, South 1 for 2.

Second period - No scoring. Penalties - Chugiak 1 for 2, South 1 for 2.

Third period - 3) Chugiak, Linder (Wells, Topf) 3:06; 4) South, Shephard (Simmons) 10:14. Penalties - South 1 for 2.

Goalies - Chugiak, Kollman 8-7-11- 26; South, Gutierrez 2-7-3 - 12.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, December 24, 2009.