2015 Hawks part of hockey legacy

WASILLA — After back-to-back seasons that ended with losses in the championship game, Houston senior Mike Spidal and his teammates finally had the chance to celebrate Saturday.

Houston posted a 3-0 win over Monroe Catholic in the 3A final to win its seventh small-schools state hockey title in program history. It also gave players like Spidal the chance to earn their own place in a family hockey history.

Spidal has been around for these types of moments before. His older brothers Steve and Dusty both skated for championship teams at Houston High School. But Saturday marked Mike’s turn to skate with the championship trophy. He etched his name in history, and found his place in the Spidal family hockey legacy. Steve, a 2003 graduate of Houston High, was member of multiple state championship teams. Dusty, a 2007 grad, was part of a Houston senior class that won four straight state titles.

Winning state hockey titles has become a tradition for families like the Spidals. And the same goes for the Styers family.

Houston head coach Mike Styers is in his 15th season with the program. He spent his first six seasons as an assistant and the last nine as the head coach. During his long tenure, Styers has been a part of all seven state titles in program history, and has helped the team make 10 of its 11 trips to the small-schools championship game. But it’s not just Mike who boasts a rich hockey history within the Styers clan. Each of Styers’ seven children have also each been a part of Houston’s championship tradition. Styers became an assistant with the program when his oldest son, Bret, was on the team. Bret Styers helped Houston win the 2001 state title. His sons Devin and Dillon skated on state championship teams. His youngest son, Lane, a former varsity standout, helped earn a state championship as an assistant coach this year.

His three daughters have also been involved. His daughter Kyla is a former player, and his youngest daughter, Rhea, is a member of the 2015 team that celebrated a state title Saturday. Another daughter, Micah, is a past manager of the hockey team.

Mike Styers said it’s special to have each of his own children part of Houston hockey’s championship tradition. But he’s also watched multiple members of numerous other local families come through the program.

“I see them grow up, knowing their brothers and families, their moms and their dads,” Styers said. “I’ve known them for so long, I get to see them grow up.”

Houston has also built a tradition of its former players returning to become assistant coaches with the program. Examples include Kaleb Westfall, a member of the coaching staff this season. Westfall is a 2007 graduate of Houston High, and helped the Hawks win four state titles.

“It’s important for them to keep it going,” Styers said of the past players continuing to help with the success of the program.

Styers said the 2015 championship team holds a special place within the history of the program. The Hawks had only one conference loss in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 years combined, but were upset in the state title game at the end of both seasons. This year, the Hawks were 5-5 in conference.

“To me this year was a little more special. I had a team, I thought coming in was going to struggle,” Styers said. “They just worked hard.”