Hawks win Greatland Conference hockey crown

BIG LAKE — Houston is no stranger to clinching a birth in the state hockey tournament. Although the Hawks generally don’t have to knock off higher seeds to get there.

But the underdog role seemed to work for the Hawks over the weekend. Fourth-seeded Houston beat the top three seeds en route to earning a title in the Greatland Conference Championships at the Big Lake Recreation Center. The Hawks will also advance to the ASAA state hockey tournament with the wins.

Houston capped its weekend with a 3-1 win over Monroe Catholic, the tourney’s No. 2 seed, in the tournament’s championship game Saturday afternoon.

Even though the Hawks were the underdog by seed, Houston head coach Mike Styers said the Hawks looked at it differently.

“There were four teams that were pretty equal, we being one of them,” Styers said. “We had confidence going in. We really played well most of the times we played them during the season.”

Styers said the Hawks always seemed to be missing a piece during the regular season, but skated into the tournament strong and walked away with four wins and a title.

Styers said he felt his team played pretty consistent throughout, and was particularly good in the third period in each night. Saturday, Houston notched a pair of third-period goals against Monroe.

Early in the third, Andrew Natekin scored to break a 1-1 tie. Mike Spidal added another Houston goal with just more than three minutes left in regulation.

“They were all basically third-period wins,” Styers said of the tournament.

Continued work and the ability to wear teams down was key, Styers said.

Defense and the play of goalie Aaron Allred was also key. The Hawks allowed a total of two goals in four games. Allred averaged just about 20 saves per game.

“Great goaltending,” Styers said.

Houston’s win over Monroe marked the third straight day the Hawks beat a higher-seeded team. Friday, Sam Fonov scored a pair of goals and Allred made 28 saves to lead fourth-seeded Houston to a 3-0 win over third-seeded Hutchison. Thursday, the Hawks moved forward in the winner’s bracket with a 2-0 win over top-seeded Delta.

Friday, Houston and Hutchison were locked in a scoreless tie until Fonov gave the Hawks the 1-0 lead with 7:58 left in the third.

Just more than a minute later, Brad Fortin scored on the power play to extend Houston’s advantage. Fonov added a shorthanded tally with 5:33 left in regulation.

Allred made 28 saves to record his second straight shutout. Seventeen of those stops came in the second period.

Greatland champ Houston and runner-up Monroe earn the only two 3A tournament for the upcoming ASAA state hockey championships, which begin Thursday at the Menard Arena in Wasilla. The 3A portion of the tournament used to feature four teams, but it was cut to just a pair this weekend. That means Houston and Monroe will have a rematch Saturday afternoon at the Menard.

This is the third straight season the Hawks will play for the state title, but the Hawks have had to settle for runner-up in their past two tries. Monroe beat them two years ago, and Houston was edged by Hutchison in overtime last year.

“Our goal from the beginning of the season has been a been a state championship,” Styers said. “We’re not there, but we’re close.”

Houston 3, Monroe 1

Greatland Championship game

Saturday, Big Lake

First period — 1. Houston- Humphreys (Fonov, Smolder) pp 10:43; 2. Monroe- Steele (unassisted) 4:48.

Second period — no scoring.

Third period — 3. Houston- A. Natekin (Y. Natekin, Quincy) 11:52; 4. Houston- Spidal (unassisted) 3:15.

Shots on goal: Monroe 2-5-3–10, Houston 9-12-15—36, Saves: Monroe- Jankowski 8-12-13—33, Houston- Allred 1-5-3—9.

Houston 3, Hutchison 0

Friday, Big Lake

First period — no scoring.

Second period — no scoring.

Third period — 1. Houston- Fonov (Spidal, Hracha) 7:58; 2. Houston- Fortin (Humphreys) 6:45; 3. Houston- Fonov (unassisted)

Shots on goal: Hutchison 5-17-6—28, Houston 8-6-14—28, Hutchison- Heineken 8-6-11—25, Houston- Allred 5-17-6—28.

Houston 5, Glennallen 1

Greatland Conference tournament

Thursday, Big Lake

First period — 1. Houston- Smoldon (A. Natekin, Y. Natekin) 13:41; 2. Houston- Smoldon (unassisted) 8:53; 3. Houston- Humphreys (Quincy) 4:20; 4. Glennallen- Sondergaard (Wilson, Finau) 2:21.

Second period — 5. Houston- Humphreys (Hracha) 12:40; 6. Houston- Quincy (Fonov, Hracha) 105.

Shots on goal: Glennallen 14-6-6—26, Houston 16-22-15—53; Saves: Glennallen- Richson 13-20-15—48, Houston- Allred 13-6-6—25.

Houston 2, Delta 0

Greatland Conference tournament

Thursday, Big Lake

First period — no scoring.

Second period — no scoring.

Third period — 1. Houston- Y. Natekin (Smolden) 8:46; 2. Houston- Fonov (Fortin, Humphreys) 0:49.6.

Shots on goal: Delta 5-2-13—20, Houston 14-11-12—37; Saves: Delta- Renaud 14-11-10—35, Houston- Allred 5-2-13—20.