EAST ALTON — Steven Campbell knows his Alton High hockey team will be a work in progress all season. And after Wednesday’ night’s 8-1 season-opening loss to rival Edwardsville, he said that work is already underway.

“I think we can build off this loss,” said Campbell, in his first season as the Redbirds coach. “I expect this team to use this as a building method and improve each game we play.”

Meanwhile, another first-year coach, East Alton-Wood River’s Phil Kaylor, didn’t have to wait long for his team’s first win. The Oilers outlasted Highland 3-2 a day after losing their season opener to Bethalto.

The games were parts of the first week of Mississippi Valley Club Hockey Association action at the East Alton Ice Arena.

Edwardsville, which will feature four teams this season, is playing its top junior varsity team in the MVHCA, while the Tigers’ top skaters are entered in the Mid-States Hockey League.

No matter which lineup was on the ice, the Tigers rolled. They got three goals from Collin Salter and single goals from five other players in grabbing the victory.

Edwardsville led 3-0 after the first period, then added two more goals in the second. The Redbirds closed it to 5-1 early in the third period, but Edwardsville scored three unanswered goals down the stretch to ice the victory.

Kyle Meehan gave Edwardsville an early lead when he scored at 10:38 from an assist by Matthew Kocarnik. Jacob Foley made it 2-0 two minutes later, when he scored from assists by Jacob Foley and Meehan.

Logan Corzine made it 3-0 at 9:17.

In the second period, Edwardsville received a pair of goals from Salter. The first was assisted by Tyler Berry Corzine at 5:45 and the second was assisted by Mark Tucker and Foley at 2:21.

Alton got on the scoreboard first in the third period when Jack Sumner scored at 13:35, assisted by Tanner St. Peters.

But Edwardsville came back with a goal by Kellin Roettgers a minute later, assisted by Corzine. That was was followed 13 seconds later by a goal from Kocarnik, assisted by Meehan. Salter’s third goal wrapped up the scoring at 10:15.

“We started slow,” Campbell said, “but I think as the game went on, we started to get going.

“We have a very young team this year. Only two of our three seniors will be playing so we’re still trying to work around injuries.”

Edwardsville outshot the Redbirds 69-17.

“(Goalie) Caleb Currie played a phenomenal game,” Campbell said. “Our motto this season will be to improve each game so that we are ready by the playoffs.”

EA-WR 3, Highland 2 – Kaleb Harrop scored a pair of goals for the Oilers in their victory over Highland.

After Highland’s Lucas Korte scored, EA-WR trailed 1-0 after the first period, but outscored the Bulldogs 3-1 in the second period and never again trailed.

Isaac Lewis tied it for the Oilers at 11:37 of the second period, assisted by Ethan Fillop and Jacob Vassos.

After Harrop gave the Oilers a 2-1 lead with an unassisted goal at 9:35 of the second period, Highland’s Eric Vice tied it seconds later. But Harrop scored again at 2:54, assisted by Vassos, to give the Oilers a 3-2 lead.

McHatton made it 4-2 unassisted at 9:47 of the third period. Highland’s Vice scored his second goal of the game at 5:35 to close out the scoring.

Reach Pete Hayes at 463-2500 or Twitter @HayeserPete