Kahok Hockey Scores Upset Win Over Columbia

By Mark Jurgena

It was another banner week as the Collinsville ice hockey team added a pair of victories to their credit including one over league stalwart Columbia and one other over Alton. With the victories, the Kahoks jumped over O’Fallon and into fourth place in the MVCHA Varsity East Division standings. Collinsville now has 27 points and a 13-6-1 mark for the season. O’Fallon comes in at 11-4-4 with 26 points. Freeburg/Waterloo continues to lead the pack with 35 points.

Collinsville 3 Columbia 2

A power-play goal early in the third period by Kody Watts broke a 2-2 tie as the Kahoks were able to upset Columbia at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex on January 13th.

Watts scored on a backhand wrist shot near the net.

“It was one of those ‘right spots at the right time,’ Kody likes to go to the front of the net,” said Collinsville coach Ryan Shea.

The Kahoks were missing some players for the game but fought past that adversity to secure the win.

“We had two lines, our kids were tired,” said Shea. “We fought through it and came out with the win.”

Glennon Bennett and Brent Ledbetter added goals for Collinsville.

David Bennett recorded a pair of assists.

Jacob Zagorski was in the net for the Kahoks and he needed every bit of his experience to put the game on ice. He stopped 21 of 23 shots on goal during the contest.

“It got a little nerve-racking at the end, but Zagorski shut the door and made some huge saves late to hang on to the 3-2 win,” Shea said.

Collinsville 6 Alton 0

Nathan Austin registered a hat trick and an assist for four points on the evening while Ledbetter and Tanner Bettis had three points each to lead Collinsville to a shutout win over Alton on January 10th at the East Alton Ice Arena.

“We pretty much had everybody in the lineup for the first time all year,” said Shea. “Our kids showed up and played a pretty strong game. The kids played well. Alton usually brings a physical type game and we were able to out-skill them and work the puck around. That’s what we wanted to do and the kids executed.”

Bettis had a goal and two assists while Ledbetter picked up three assists.

Lincoln Duffy added two goals and D. Bennett had two assists for the Kahoks. Watts added an assist as well.

Zagorski was between the pipes for the shutout. He saved all ten shots he faced.