Hawks fly past Moose

PALMER — Last week, the Houston Hawks nearly knocked off one Valley foe. Monday, Houston got the best of another.

The Hawks skated to a 5-1 nonconference win over the Palmer Moose at the MTA Events Center in Palmer.

“We came out and worked hard,” Houston head coach Mike Styers said after the win. “That’s the way we have to come out. Work hard, stay aggressive.”

The win comes after a Greatland Conference sweep at Glennallen over the weekend. Last week, Wasilla needed overtime to edge the Hawks 2-1.

“We are (playing well) right now, building for the end,” Styers said “We’ve had three or four good games in a row. We’ve got to keep it rolling.”

The “end” Styers is referring to is the ASAA Division II state tournament, which starts Feb. 1 in Big Lake. The Hawks are currently undefeated in the Greatland, and in a first-place tie with Monroe Catholic. The Hawks host Monroe in the final regular season games of the year, Friday and Saturday. The games are at the Big Lake Recreation Center and will help decided the top 2 seeds for the state tournament, which is also at the Big Lake Rec Center this season.

“We’re feeling good,” Styers said. “I’ve seen Monroe play. They’re a good team. But I think we have the advantage on them.”

Styers said keeping the games against Monroe close is key for Houston.

“If we come out and play our game, play a little physical, we definitely have a good chance,” Styers said. “Definitely not saying by no means we are blowing them out or anything, but we’ll definitely be in there with them. I’m confident.”

Houston is in search of its sixth straight trip to the Division II title game. Monroe beat Houston 3-0 in the title game last year.

Monday, senior Reed Humphreys scored twice to help the Hawks top Division I Palmer.

“I thought Reed played really good today,” Styers said. “He had a couple of four-to-five-minute shifts and it didn’t seem to bother him.”

In the second, Humphreys skated coast to coast and scored to give Houston the 3-0 lead. The defensman took the puck from goalie Rylee Bollinder in his own zone, skated up the left side of the ice, but in front of the crease and slipped the puck just inside of the right post. Late in the second, Humphreys rounded out the Houston scoring, firing a shot from above the circles into the upper left corner of the net.

Tyler Chivers, JP Nix and Isaiah Squires also scored from Houston. Chivers took a pass from Riley Scott and scored from the left wing circle to give Houston an early lead. Nix took advantage of a Palmer turnover in the Moose defensive goal to add an unassisted talley, Houston’s second goal of the game. Squires gave the Hawks a 4-0 lead midway through the second.

Styers praised Bollinder, who made 26 saves in the win.

“I thought the goaltending was really good today,” Styers said.

Palmer, which outshot Houston 27-25, didn’t find the back of the net until the final seconds. With 26 seconds left in regulation, defenseman Easton Armstrong, sitting alone in the slot, snapped a wrister past Bollinder.

TJ O’Rourke made 20 saves for the Moose.

Palmer wraps up its regular season Saturday at 7 p.m. against Wasilla at the Brett Memorial Ice Arena. The Moose are currently fourth in the six-team North Star Conference.

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

Houston 5, Palmer 1

Monday, MTA Events Center

First period — 1. Houston- T. Chivers (Scott, Attungan) 13:05; 2. Houston- Nix (unassisted) 7:22.

Second period — 3. Houston- Humphreys (Bollinder) 7:13; 4. Houston- Squires (Nix, Rogers) 6:03; 5. Houston- Humphreys (unassisted) :22.

Third period — 6. Palmer- Armstrong (Keil) 0:26.

Shots on goal: Houston 9-9-7--25, Palmer 11-9-7—27; Saves: Houston- Bollinder 11-9-6—26, Palmer- O’Rourke 7-6-7—20.