Colin Cormier's best performance of the season couldn't have come at a better time for the Carson High roller hockey club.
Cormier scored three goals in the opening six minutes and finished with five for the game as Carson defeated Douglas 9-2 Friday night in Sparks to avenge its only loss of the Northern Nevada Roller Hockey League season.
Coupled with an 11-2 victory over Reno earlier in the evening at the Sierra Ice & Sportsplex, Carson improved its record to 7-1 and regained sole possession of first-place in the league. Second-place Douglas now has two losses, while Bishop (Calif.) has two losses and a tie.
Carson's only loss came at the hands of Douglas 5-2 on Jan. 21 at the Pony Express Pavilion in Carson City, a fact coach Billy McHenry reminded his players before they went out to play Douglas in Friday's makeup contest.
"I told the kids, 'After that debacle last weekend, if we win beat them tonight, we will be in control of our destiny.' And they came out ready to play," McHenry said.
Did they ever. Especially Cormier.
"Colin was just on fire. We had some great passes and he put them in," McHenry said. "He's the third leading scorer on our team, so it's not a surprise to see him score, but I don't think we expected to get five goals out of him."
Cormier scored in the third minute, assisted by Dustin Zastre. He scored again in the fifth minute, assisted by John Jewell. And he scored again in the sixth minute, this time assisted by Todd Crowell, as Carson jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
Carson extended its lead to 4-0 on a Bud Kop goal before Douglas scored at the end of the first period to make it 4-1. Ryan Dwyer scored early in the second period, and Cormier scored two more times as Carson went up 7-2 at the end of two periods.
Zastre, who had two assists in the game, and Dwyer scored in the final period to close out Carson's 9-2 victory.
Richie Copeland, normally the backup goalkeeper, went the distance both against Douglas and Reno.
"Richie was outstanding in both games," McHenry said.
Seven different players scored in Carson's win against Reno, led by Zastre with four goals and two assists. Dwyer also had two goals and one assist, Matt Miller one goal and three assists, Jewell one goal and two assists. Charlie Macquarrie, Cormier and Kop contributed one goal each for Carson.
Carson led 4-0 after one period and 9-1 after two.
Next on the schedule is a noon game this coming Saturday against Bishop Manogue at the Sierra Ice & Sportsplex.