Another heartbreaker for Warriors during second day of Menard tourney

WASILLA — Another game against East Anchorage another case of heartbreak for the Wasilla Warriors.

With the memory of a 2-1 double overtime state tournament loss to East fresh in their minds, the Warriors watched East stun them again Friday afternoon.

East scored with 1.1 seconds left in regulation to steal a 2-1 win over the Warriors during the consolation semifinals of the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Tournament at the Menard Arena on Friday.

Kainoa Kitagawa knocked a loose puck into the Wasilla net during the final second to push East into the tourney’s fourth-place game. The T-Birds ended the period with a flurry of action in front of the Warrior net. Sophomore goalie Zach Eastham stood strong for Wasilla, but Kitagawa was able to sneak one last shot in.

Junior captain Chancie Hanson scored early in the third period for the Warriors to tie the score at 1. With the Warriors skating on the power play, Hanson sent a shot from the point that found its way into the back of the T-Bird net.

Kitagawa gave the Birds the early lead in the first, scoring on the power play five minutes into action. Joseph Reynods set up the score with his hard shot on goal, an attempt that left a rebound sitting alone on the right wing circle. Kitawaga skated up to the puck and put a sharp wrister into the far, upper shelf of the net.

East will play the winner of Friday afternoon’s Colony-Houston game Saturday at 2:45 p.m. Wasilla will get the loser at 12:30 p.m.

See frontiersman.com for continued updates from the tourney.