Hawks win 3A state hockey title

WASILLA — For the last two years, the Houston Hawks have had to settle for watching the other team celebrate.

In 2013, it was the Monroe Catholic Rams who posed for team pictures, celebrating victory, as the Hawks quietly stood by. Last season, the Hutchison Hawks grasped the prize after a dramatic overtime victory over Houston.

But as it turns out, the third time’s the charm.

Houston, in its third consecutive state championship, finally captured the elusive crown, blanking Monroe Catholic 3-0 in the ASAA/First National Bank 3A State Championships Saturday at the Menard Arena in Wasilla.

After the awards presentation, the Hawks enjoyed the moment, hoisting the championship trophy while taking a victory lap around the Menard ice.

“It’s the best feeling I’ve ever felt,” Houston senior Kyle Quincy said after the win. “It felt amazing to be able to skate around a lap with that trophy.”

Senior Mike Spidal said it’s a feeling the Hawks have been waiting years to experience.

“I’m just psyched for us,” Spidal said. “We came in here knowing one team wouldn’t make it out.”

Spidal said the Hawks were inspired by the state title game defeats of the past.

“It hurt us a ton last year,” Spidal said. “We came in even more motivated this year, worked as hard as we can.”

Tristan Hracha, Yuriy Natekin and Reed Humphreys scored goals for the Hawks. Senior goaltender Aaron Allred enjoyed a career performance, recording the 36-save shutout.

“(Aaron) was phenomenal. To end the season with a shutout is incredible,” Quincy said. “When he’s on and he’s in our net, we can play a lot more offensively.”

After the win as Allred celebrated with his teammates, the senior seemed as collected as he was during his shutout.

“I just kept calm,” Allred said. “It’s my passion.”

Longtime Houston head coach Mike Styers lauded the work of his team.

“I had a team I thought coming into the season was going to struggle,” Styers said. “Last couple of years we kind of dominated our league (during the regular season). This year we were 5-5.”

Houston was sparked by a goal late in the first period. With less than 10 seconds left, Humphreys fired the puck from between the circles. Sam Fonov and Hracha both had attempts with rebounds, and Hracha was able to sneak a puck into the net.

Houston maintained the one-goal lead until Natekin scored with 7:55 left in the third period. Noah Gillespie sent puck toward the goal and Natekin was able to poke it in the net.

Humphreys added a late empty-netter for the Hawks.

Houston entered last week’s Greatland Conference Championships as the No. 4 seed in the tournament. But despite its lower seed, Houston prevailed. The Hawks beat the top three seeds in the tournament (Delta, Monroe and Hutchison) en route to the title and a spot in the one-game 3A state tournament. Houston also beat Monroe in the Greatland title game.

“We were a young team at the beginning. We worked hard in practice, and got good experience. We have it all we had,” Spidal said.

Houston's win Saturday marked the seventh state title in school history, and the team's first since 2007. The Hawks have skated in 11 3A state championship games, an Alaska record.

Houston 3, Monroe 0

3A state title game

First period — 1. Houston- Hracha (Fonov, Humprheys) 0.7.

Second period — no scoring.

Third period — 2. Houston- Y. Natekin (Gillespie, A. Natekin) 7:55; 3. Houston- Humphreys (unassisted) en 1:05.

Shots on goal: Houston 9-6-3—18, Monroe 10-10-16—36; Saves: Houston- Allred 10-10-16—36, Monroe- Jankowski 8-6-1—15.