Hockey: Abernathy’s hat trick too much for HB
LAKEWOOD — Momentum is a fickle friend in the game of ice hockey.
Huntington Beach High found that out the hard way in what was a quick and anticlimactic playoff exit.
Nick Abernathy had a hat trick, and the Oilers were avalanched by Upland Christian Academy, 6-2, in an Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League Division 3 first-round game at The Rinks Lakewood Ice.
Zack Villars had a goal and two assists, and Edward Riordon had two assists for the Eagles (6-8-1-0).
Three weeks ago, it seemed that Huntington Beach would take all the confidence in the world to the playoffs after it defeated a high-flying Edison team in the Surf City Face-off.
The Oilers (6-9-1-0) seemed to take that energy into the opening shifts. Nick Andruss created a turnover in the defensive zone, and he scored on a breakaway just 1:06 into the game.
In a flash, the lead had not only disappeared, but it had changed hands. Abernathy scored two goals 51 seconds apart to put the Eagles ahead, 2-1.
Evan Stapleton had a breakaway opportunity to get Huntington Beach even, but he was stopped on the initial attempt by Garrett Friou (18 saves) before his stick was lifted on the rebound.
The Oilers were contained to the perimeter for the remainder of the period, with Upland Christian producing the more dangerous scoring opportunities.
Late in the first, the Eagles converted. Again, it was a double-strike, as Villars and Abernathy scored in a span of 29 seconds to put Upland Christian up, 4-1.
Abernathy, who is a 16AAA player for the Riverside-based California Wildcats, showed a good set of hands on his third goal. He described the sequence that led to the hat trick.
“What really happened was it was a tie-up on the draw,” Abernathy said. “It was working in the corner, getting a cycle through.
“I threw it to Edward (Riordon), and he just saw me coming through the middle in the slot. I faked forehand shot and pulled it to the backhand.”
Upland Christian tacked on two more goals from Jack Davenport and Joseph Iuzzini in the second period, completing a run of six unanswered goals.
“Hockey is an interesting game,” Oilers coach Shawn Pitcher said. “Momentum has a lot to do with it. We miss a breakaway. Maybe if we’re able to get that into the back of the net, that changes things momentarily.
“Once they scored those two quick ones back-to-back, they were able to open it up and put us back on our heels. They gained a little more confidence as the game was going on.”
Chris Bos-Teruya scored the Oilers’ second goal in the third.
With the season completed, senior defenseman Ben DuBow took a moment to reflect on his one and only season with the Oilers’ ice hockey program.
“I think that it has helped my game a lot,” he said. “Coming from a roller (hockey) background, it’s definitely made me a better player, a better person.
“I think it’s good to learn the do’s and don’t’s of both.”
Also in the ADHSHL Division 3 Playoffs
Edison 2, Chino Valley 1: A blooming playoff rivalry completed another chapter on Saturday evening as the Chargers (12-3-0-1) beat the Flames (11-5-0-0).
Edison knocked Chino Valley out for the second straight year. The teams went to overtime to decide their postseason matchup a season ago.
Garrett Dato delivered a phenomenal goaltending performance, stopping 36 of 37 shots that came his way. His most important save came in the final seconds.
With the Chino Valley net empty and the Flames short-handed, Zachary Carnes retrieved the puck in his own zone. He banked the puck off the side boards as he broke out, picking it up and entering the attacking third with a full head of speed.
As he was right on top of Dato, Carnes released a wrist shot. The Chargers backup goalie knocked it down, and he was there to stop the rebound as well with under 10 seconds remaining.
“It just happened to flutter a little bit, and I was able to get a stick on it,” Dato said of the save.
Dato’s outing gives Chargers coach David Walker something to think about when he makes the decision on his starting netminder for the semifinals on Wednesday.
Savannah Gutierrez recorded a shutout in Edison’s first-round win against Palm Springs United.
Edison will play the winner of Pacific Ridge and Upland Christian Academy in its semifinal game. That game will be at The Rinks Anaheim Ice on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.
Blake Luevano and Charley Lowe supplied the scoring against the Flames. Lowe’s game-winning goal came with 13 seconds left in the second period.
“It boosted everyone’s confidence,” Lowe said of being up a goal going into the third. “I hopped over the goalie and a player. I went behind at the side of the post, and then I just tapped it in.”
Ryan Osterkamp, Jake Gealy, and Daniel Johnson had assists for the Chargers in the win.
Twitter: @ProfessorTurner
