In a battle of defending state champs, Hawks fly past Eagles in Big Lake Lions tourney final

In a battle of defending state champs, the small school prevailed.

Division II Houston edged Division I West Anchorage 1-0 during the championship game of the Big Lake Lions Classic Saturday night at the Menard Arena in Wasilla.

Daniel Matveev scored the game-winning goal with 4 minutes, 28 seconds to lift the Hawks to victory. Houston goalkeeper Dylan Shaffer stopped all 26 shots he saw, including 11 in the first period. Domnin Efimov and Zasim Konev assisted on the Matveev goal.

The host Hawks advanced to the final of their annual tournament with a 6-4 win over Eagle River on Friday. Efimov led Houston with two goals and three assists. Owen Hunter also scored twice. Matveev and Konev also scored. Konev added three assists.

Houston scored twice on the power play and added a shorthanded tally.

The Hawks opened with a 9-2 win over Delta Thursday. Matveev finished with six goals and two assists. Konev scored twice, and Andrey Efimov also scored. Ashton Vandersloot made 16 saves for the Hawks in the win.

Wasilla beat Eagle River 4-1 in the third-place game. Matthew Demaster and Kaleb Rehak led the Warriors with a goal and an assist each. Chase Malstrom and Dylan Mead also scored. The Warriors outshot the Eagles 38-22. Carson Branholm made 21 saves for Wasilla.

West edged Wasilla 2-1 in the semifinals. Malstrom scored on the power play for the Warriors.

The Warriors beat Dimond 4-1 in the first round. Karson McGrew scored twice. Mead and Robert Mikulecky added goals. Wasilla outshot the Lynx 40-29.

Colony earned a 5-4 win over Chugiak on Saturday, after splitting its first two games in the tourney. Simeon Adams and Logan Lofland had a pair of goals each. Austin Fangmann also scored.

Colony beat Delta 7-2 on Friday. Myles Diltz notched the hat trick for the Knights. Jace Albers added a pair of goals. Dane Joseph and Jaxon Allen also scored.

Eagle River edged Colony 5-4 in a shootout in the first round, following a scoreless overtime period. Joseph, Lofland, Fangmann and Tristen Sawyer scored during regulation.

Matveev and Domnin Efimov represented Houston on the all-tournament team. McGrew was named all-tourney for Wasilla.

Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.