BIG OR SMALL?

WASILLA — In the world of Alaska prep hockey, the Houston Hawks are sitting on the fence.

They’re a big fish in the small schools pond, but sometimes have trouble flying with some of the large schools programs.

Before next season, the Hawks will have to make a choice and jump to one side of that fence. The bulk of the Houston High programs are dropping from 4A to 3A starting next year. The hockey team can petition to stay at the 4A level. To help Houston High officials make the decision, the 4A Hawks scheduled a handful of the top 3A teams in the state. On Thursday, Houston saw one of those teams.

Nine different players scored and a dozen collected at least a point as the Hawks skated to an 11-2 win over the Glennallen Panthers at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla.

“We want to get a good look (at these small schools),” Houston head coach Mike Styers said after the win. “We tried to schedule what we guessed, last year, would be the top teams. This will give us a good look so we can decide whether we want to make the decision to petition to stay a big school or move down.”

Houston will see two more of those small schools this weekend. Monroe Catholic visits Houston tonight at 7 p.m. at the Menard Arena. The Hawks host Hutchison Saturday at noon at the Menard.

Houston travels north to face defending small schools state champion after the holiday break.

Sophomores Jon Lovelace and Patric Thistle each scored a pair of goals to lead the Hawks to the win Thursday. Styers said he was pleased to see so many Hawks on the scoresheet.

“For me, when we play this kind of game, that’s exactly what I want to see,” Styers said. “What I didn’t want to see was one guy get six or seven goals.”

Another sophomore, Dennis Natekin, led the Hawks with four points in the win, gathering a goal and three assists. Junior Johan Shuey, freshman Brad Fortin and senior Zach Lovelace recorded 1-2-3 totals each.

Styers emptied the bench in the win and gave his more inexperienced players ample ice time. That’s the biggest thing to take out of the contest, he said.

“For the older, more mature guys, this kind of game doesn’t do a lot. But for the young guys who don’t get a lot of playing time, this is huge for them,” Styers said. “They get in there, they get a chance to show me they’re working hard. I was pleased with a lot of their play. They came in, stepped up and played well.”

Styers noted players such as sophomore Ahanu Kinney, who has returned to the sport after time away from the game. Kinney tapped in a rebound to score and give the Hawks a 2-0 lead. He also assisted on a goal.

“He’s progressed a lot,” Styers said. “He’s doing the right things, working hard.”

Houston outshot the Panthers 62-11 in the win. Glennallen starter Dillon McCarthy made 30 saves in two periods. Will Becker stopped 21 of the 23 shots in the third.

Hawks goalie Aaron Allred made nine saves.

Cory Craig and Jordan Sondergaard scored for Glennallen. Craig rushed up the right wing and put a quick shot on net to score in the first period, while Sondergaard scored on a breakaway early in the second.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Houston 11, Glennallen 2

Thursday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Houston- Shuey (J. Lovelace) 8:09; 2. Houston- Kinney (Quincy) 6:48; 3. Houston- Thistle (Natekin, Fortin) 3:59; 4. Houston- Thistle (Natekin, Fortin) 3:11; 5. Houston- Wells (Z. Lovelace, Lipse) 2:43; 7. Glennallen- Craig (Mullen) 1:35.

Second period — 7. Houston- Fortin (Belanger) 14:22; 8. Houston- Sears (Natekin, Shuey) 12:18; 9. Glennallen- Sondergaard (unassisted) 11:10; 10. Houston- Natekin (Kinney) 8:03; 11. Houston- Z. Lovelace (unassisted) sh 1:20.

Third period — 12. Houston- J. Lovelace (Shuey, Z. Lovelace) 6:36; 13. Houston- J. Lovelace (Wells) 5:11.

Shots on goal: Glennallen 4-4-3—11, Houston 19-20-23—62; Saves: Glennallen- McCarthy 14-16-x—30, Becker x-x-21—21, Houston- Allred 3-3-3—9.