Hawks back in play for 3A title

WASILLA — The Houston Hawks were once the kings of Alaska small-schools hockey.

Before jumping to the 4A Mid-Alaska Conference prior to the 2007-08 season, Houston had won four straight Greatland championships, the top hockey honor for Alaska small schools, and six state titles during a span of seven years.

Now after five years at the 4A level, the Hawks are back in the Greatland and ready to bring another trophy back to Houston High School.

“From my perspective, it was really good,” Houston head coach Mike Styers said of the regular season and the Hawks’ return to the Greatland.

Houston is the No. 1 seed of the bracket and opens play today against fourth-seed Delta Junction during the semifinal round of the ASAA/First National Cup Greatland Championships. The puck is set to drop today at 3 p.m. at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla.

Second-seeded Hutchison faces third-seeded Monroe Catholic today at 12:30. The winners meet in a title game Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The losers will play in a match for third place Saturday at 11:15 a.m.

Styers said the Hawks are fortunate to have the No. 1 seed. Both Hutchison and Monroe played Houston tough this season, but he also didn’t discount any team in the bracket.

The No. 1 seed came down to the final game of the regular season for the Hawks. Houston beat Monroe 2-1 in Big Lake. A loss would have dropped Houston to third in the conference.

“It was huge,” Styers said.

Houston beat Monroe 4-3 the night before.

The Hawks also split with Hutchison early in the year, falling 4-0 before rebounding for a 6-2 victory the following night.

Overall, Styers likes where his team is.

“We had our best weekend of hockey against Monroe,” Styers said. “Since Christmas, we’ve played really good hockey.”

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