Knights, Warriors open Railbelt hockey tourney with wins

A pair of Valley teams opened postseason play with victories during the first day of the Railbelt Conference Championship Thursday at the Menard Arena in Wasilla.

The Wasilla Warriors blanked Lathrop 4-0 and the Colony Knights skated to an 8-2 win over West Valley in the four-team round-robin tourney.

Sayer Sanders collected the hat trick to lead the Warriors past Lathrop. Jakob Barcelona notched the 13-save shutout. Branson Starheim also scored for Wasilla.

Colony scored three shorthanded goals during the win over West Valley. Aidan Finch, Kaden Ketchum and Carsen Lantto recorded a shorthanded goal each. Ketchum and Lantto scored twice for Colony. Jacob Ross, Peyton VanBuskirk and Benjamin Loggins also scored for the Knights. Ketchum and Carson McLaughlin had two assists each.

Noah Rogers scored both of West Valley’s goals, including a shorthanded tally late in the first period.

Colony outshout West Valley 36-12. Malachi Makaabya made 10 saves in the win for the Knights.

The Warriors and the Knights will meet Friday at 6:15 at the Menard. West Valley will also play Lathrop Friday at 10:30 a.m.

This will be the only postseason action for the four teams. The ASAA Division I state tournament was canceled.

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