Hockey scoreboard

The Wasilla Spirit scored twice in the first period, and earned a 3-2 win over the division-rival Billings Bulls in Billings, Mont., on Wednesday.

The win moved Wasilla (12-16-0) into second place of the North American Hockey League West Division, and a point ahead of the Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

Trevor Tolibas scored on the power play and Fillip Lund added an even-strength tally in the Spirit's two-goal first period.

Eric Dahl posted the unassisted game-winner 10 minutes into the third period.

Andrew Volkening had yet another 30-plus save performance in goal, stopping 33 Bull shots. He now has 30 or more saves in 10 of his 11 games in a Wasilla uniform.

Wasilla improved to 3-2 on its nine-day, eight-game road trip.

Knight hockey squad tops Palmer

Colony seniors Ryan Pauling and Austin Manelick combined for six goals and four assists, as the Knights earned a 10-4 North Star Conference win over the Palmer Moose at the Palmer Ice Arena on Wednesday.

Pauling and Manelick each had a hat trick for Colony (3-2). Pauling, Colony's leading scorer with 44 points last season, also dished out three assists.

Sophomore blueliner Chris Breck scored twice for Colony. Blake Huppert and Alex Lund also scored.

Freshman Zach Richards scored a pair of goals to lead the Moose (0-5). Hunter Richards and Tyler Virgin also scored for Palmer. Michael Hanson and Adam Miller each tallied two assists.

Four goals is a season high for the Moose.

Freshman netminder Alex Koch stopped 40 shots in the loss.

Breck and Tyrel Henkel split time in net for Colony. Breck recorded five saves in the first period. In relief, Henkel had 16 saves in the final two periods.

Hunter Richards tied the game for the Moose at 1-1 midway through the first period, and Virgin evened the contest at 2-2 three minutes later. The Knights scored four times in the final six minutes of the first frame to create a cushion between the two Palmer rivals.

Palmer and Colony each face two-time defending 3A state champion Houston this week. The Knights meet Houston at the Menard Arena on Friday at 7 p.m., while the Moose face the Hawks at the Menard on Saturday at 7 p.m.

-Jeremiah Bartz