Henkel, special teams lead Knights

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Sports Editor

WASILLA -- As high school hockey rivalries in the state of Alaska go, Colony and Wasilla is building one of the best.

Last season the Warriors defeated Colony for the first time in several years, bringing the bragging rights west to Wasilla.

But on Wednesday, the Knights had a reason to boast with a 4-2 win over the Warriors at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena.

In the win, Colony scored twice with the advantage and once out-manned and Knight goaltender Tyrel Henkel continued his mind-boggling play in net.

Scott Beckman and Nolan Rein each scored on the powerplay for Colony in the game. Beckman's power play goal, with just less than five minutes remaining in the second period, was actually the Knights' first power play goal in five games this season. Colony drew Wasilla crosschecking and interference penalties within a 25 second span, setting up a possible 90-second 5-on-3 situation for the Knights. Just after Wasilla's first penalty expired, with a a Colony forward standing strong in front of the net, Beckman skated around the back of the Wasilla net and threw the puck toward Warrior goaltender Ronnie Walker. With Walker screened, Beckman buried his wrist shot and gave the Knights a 2-1 lead.

Early in the third period, with Walker screened again, Rein came up from the Knight blueline and popped the puck into the upper shelf of the net to give the Knights the 4-1 lead.

The Knights scored on 2-of-7 power play opportunities, using a recently-devised scheme to put more pressure on the opponent. In its new power play scheme, Colony camped one of its forwards right in front of the Wasilla goal.

"It not only creates space for our other two forwards, but it makes a mess in front of the other team's goalie," Colony first-year assistant coach Bill Sturdevant said. "We tried it this week in practice and it worked for us."

Sturdevant said a big reason why the Colony coaching staff felt a new, more aggressive power play scheme could be incorporated into the Knight repertoire is because of the play of Henkel.

Henkel, Colony's junior netminder, has stopped 54 shots in the last two games. Henkel posted 36 saves in a 3-3 tie against defending 3A state champion Houston and didn't allow an even strength goal against Wasilla.

"That kid, I have so much more respect for him," Colony captain Garrett Wilkins said. "Since the Houston game he has played phenomenal."

After Wasilla took the lead with a Jeremy Jacobson power play goal early in the contest, Teemu Maki tied the score with a shorthanded tally with just less than four minutes left in the first period.

About 30 seconds into a Warrior power play, Wilkins intercepted an errant pass and skated the puck down the ice. Wilkins fed a streaking Maki, who slipped the puck past Walker.

Wasilla had two early power play opportunities in the first period, and Jacobson was able to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead on their second chance with the man advantage. With Henkel screened, Jacobson threw the puck toward the net and scored.

Andrew Tumbleson cut the Warrior deficit to 4-2 with a late 6-on-4 power play goal. With nearly four minutes remaining in regulation, Wasilla pulled its goaltender after a Colony crosschecking penalty to give the Warriors the two-man advantage. In the final seconds of the powerplay, Tumbleson poked his own rebound under the pads of Henkel for the score.

Wasilla held the advantage in the first period, drawing five Colony penalties and posting the Jacobson power play goal, but Colony owned the second frame -- outshooting the Knights 19-10 and scoring four goals. Colony held possession of the puck in front of the Warrior net, at points for minutes at a time, and when Wasilla did get quality opportunities on goal, Henkel proved to be big.

"I thought they outplayed us, they played better than us," Wasilla head coach Eric Troisi said. "We don't have all 20 kids moving in the same direction. As coaches it is our responsibility, and we're not getting it done.

"I think we're playing hard, but we're not playing together," Troisi added. "We got to know our responsibility, all five kids stepping on the ice. They're trying to do to much, or not enough. We got to get on the right page if we're going to play better. It might take all year."