JACKSON HOLE, WYO – The Jackson Hole Moose cruised to victory against the Colorado Nailers in both games over the weekend yet neither came easy. Colorado contested everything and when games got out of hand, they extracted payment in blood.
Friday, it was all Moose. Staked to 3 goals in the first, Jackson added 4 more in the second frame, and that’s when the Nailers began looking for trouble, five minutes at a time. Numerous fights highlighted the third period in a game out of hand for the visitors.
The Moose spread around the scoring both nights. Alex Dewitz, Tom Hartnett (2,1), and AJ Sanders (2,2) all tallied twice on Friday. Kyle Krauss (1,2), Ben Pullar, and Charlie Bemis also scored for the home team on route to a 9-2 shellacking of Colorado. Captain Brian Upesleja continued his hot streak with a generous 5-assist night and the number one star Friday.
The Moose didn’t do themselves any favors in the romp. While easing off the gas a bit in the third they allowed two goals against. When leading scorer Sanders charged hard to the net for the team’s final goal, the Nailers didn’t take kindly to “extra” effort in a lopsided contest, and Colorado goalie Alex Palumbo took offense as well. That touched off more rough stuff as the game came to a close.
The bad blood carried over into Saturday night. With the Moose short of skaters, coach Howie Carruth had star goalie Nick Krauss skate out as a forward while Will Murphy handled the chores between the pipes.
Murphy worked through some first period jitters, surrendering 2 goals, before settling down. Meanwhile, the Moose offense kept pace with 2 of their own in the opening frame from Krauss (2,0) and Dewitz (2,0). They opened things up in the second with goals again from Krauss and Dewitz, along with Ryan Welch.
A few new names sprinkled the lineup through the weekend. High school standout Harrison Sauter pulled blueline duties paired with Upesleja, who’s transitioned to defense with the team’s numerous injuries. Aaron Ackley returned from retirement to bolster the defense as well. Forwards LB Haney and Miller Resor also pulled on the sweater again for ‘old home week.’
Colorado stuck mostly to hockey Saturday, especially when an early third period goal pulled them within two. But after the outcome was decided, Colorado tough guy Chad James was spoiling to go with someone, anyone, and Resor volunteered to fill his dance card to the crowd’s delight as the two waltzed through a good one at center ice.
A 6-3 final pushed the Moose record to 10-4 after starting the season with six straight victories.
Next up for the Moose is a weekend with the always tough New York St. Nicks on January 12, 13.
