Hawks survive test from Monroe Catholic

Until this weekend, the Houston High hockey squad had been untouchable at the 3A level.

The Hawks are still unbeaten, but they got their first true test in conference action since the first week of the season with a pair of games against Monroe Catholic in Fairbanks last weekend.

Houston halted a potential Monroe comeback in a 4-3 win on Jan. 24 and needed overtime to defeat the Rams by the same score the following night.

"I knew that was going to happen, they are tough," Houston head coach Jamie Smith said.

In the first game of the series, Houston got up to a 2-0 lead in the first with goals from Jimmy Estes and Jake Williams. Monroe scored a pair of goals 36 seconds apart to tie the game just 53 seconds into the second period.

Wade Williams scored with four minutes remaining in the second period to break the 2-2 tie.

Rick Morlock added the eventual game winner midway through the third.

Monroe jumped out to 2-0 and 3-1 leads the following night. Jamie Bennett scored the first of three goals on the night in the first period to cut the score to 2-1. Estes added his second goal of the week to bring the Hawks within a score late in the second period.

Bennett then notched the game tying goal early in the third period and the game winner in overtime to help Houston stay unbeaten in conference action.

Houston outshot Monroe 47-26 in the contest, including 22-8 in the third period and overtime.

"We needed a test," Smith said. "I was afraid that if we went up there and handed it to them and beat Kenny Lake next week, we would be in kind of a lull before the state tournament."

Houston 10 Tri-Valley 2

Four different Hawks posted two goals in the first contest of a four game road trip last week.

Jamie Bennett, Jake Williams, Chad McClurg and Devin Styers each scored a pair of goals against the Healy area high school in the win.

Senior forward Jared Cizek registered three assists for Houston.

Houston 8 Tri-Valley 2

Jake Williams scored two goals as Houston skated past Tr-Valley 8-2. McClurg recorded three assists for the Hawks. Paul Sutton-Jones stopped 13 of 15 shots.