Hawks win Big Lake hockey tourney

In a battle between two teams that played for a state hockey title last year, the smaller program prevailed.

Defending Division II state champion Houston skated to a 4-2 win over Wasilla, the Division I state runner-up, during the final game of the Big Lake Lions Classic tourney Dec. 3 in Big Lake.

Houston used a trio of first-period goals to win the title of the annual eight-team tourney. Trenton Huber, Brody Richard, Andrey Reutov and Afanasy Efimov scored for Houston.

Mason Holler and Sterling Myers scored for Wasilla.

The Hawks outshot Wasilla 33-24 in the game, Ari Burnside made 22 saves for the Hawks.

Brody Richard, Daniel Matveev, and Domnin Efimov represented Houston on the all-tournament team, and Holler and Branson Starheim were named all-tourney for Wasilla.

Houston beat North Pole and Palmer during the first two rounds.

Richard, Efimov, Reutov, Owen Hunter, Daniel Matveev and Cyrus Johnson scored during the win over the Moose. Effimov notched a hat trick in the first round against North Pole. Matveev and Richard scored two goals each against the Patriots. Burnside earned the 16-save shutout.

Wasilla beat Eagle River 4-1 and Service 3-2 during the first two rounds. Starheim scored twice against Eagle River. Myers and Karson McGrew also scored. Holler, Myers and Starheim scored against service.

Palmer opened the tourney with a 14-1 win over Bartlett. Bradford Heard and Chase Ringer led the Moose with a hat trick each. Eight other players scored one goal each.

Palmer also beat Service 6-1 in the third-place game.

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