Hawks earn top seed in Division II state tourney

WASILLA — A two-game series between the top two Division II hockey teams in the state could not determine the No. 1 seed in the upcoming state championships. Alaska Schools Activities Association officials need tiebreakers to seed the top team teams in the tournament.

Five of them.

And after all of that, the Houston Hawks were handed the first seed in the ASAA Division II First National Cup, which starts Thursday at the Big Lake Recreational Center.

Houston and Monroe Catholic, seeded second in the state tournament, entered a two-game Greatland Conference series during the final weekend of the regular season tied with undefeated marks in conference play. Monroe skated to a 3-2 overtime win Jan. 26. Houston answered with a 2-1 overtime victory the following morning to force another tie at the top of the standings. Houston head coach Mike Styers said a fifth tiebreaker, goals against in conference play, was need to separate the Hawks and Rams in the standings.

“We knew going into Monroe it was going to be a good battle,” Styers said Monday afternoon about the series. “It was exactly what we expected.”

Ayden Attungana provided the game-winner in extra time to give the Hawks the 2-1 victory over the Rams.

“It was a pretty exciting game,” Styers said of the win, capped when the Houston freshman tipped the puck into the net with about three minutes left in overtime.

Styers said the Houston coaches stressed the need for the win as the Hawks prepared for the extra period. A loss or tie would immediately push Houston to the No. 2 seed in the state tournament.

“That was the conversation. We just got to have it,” Styers said. “Talking to the players, we were just trying to get them to give everything they’ve got.”

Styers said the Rams managed to put on the pressure during the third period, but the Hawks outshot Monroe in overtime. Tyler Chivers also scored in the win. Rylee Bollinder made 44 saves.

Chivers and Riley Scott each scored the day before to help give the Hawks the 2-0 lead, but Monroe scored three unanswered power play goals en route to its win.

Houston and Monroe open with first-round byes in the six-team Division II state tournament. The tourney opens with fourth-seeded Delta facing fifth-seeded Tri Valley Thursday at 5 p.m. Third-seeded Glennallen meets sixth-seeded Hutchison Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Top-seeded Houston draws the Delta/Tri Valley winner Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the semifinals. Monroe gets the Glennallen/Hutchison winner in the other semi Friday at 5. Winners of the semifinal games move into the Division II state final, slated for Saturday at 5 p.m. All games are at the Big Lake Rec Center.

Styers said he expects his team to see the Rams again.

“I believe it’s Monroe and us in the state championship game on Saturday,” Styers said.

Houston and Monroe have met in the last three, and four of the last five state championship games. The Hawks are also in search of their sixth straight trip to the state title game.

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