Knights win region hockey title

Wasilla swept Colony during the regular season, but the Knights had the edge during the third meeting of the year.

Colony scored a 3-2 win over the Warriors in the Mid-Alaska Conference title game Saturday at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks.

Kaden Ketchum bagged a goal and an assist to help the Knights score the conference crown. Carsen Lantto and Carson McLauglin also scored for Colony. Austin Peterson and Colin Goff each scored for Wasilla.

Both Colony and Wasilla clinched a spot in the ASAA Division I First National Cup, which starts Thursday at the Menard Arena in Wasilla.

Lantto gave Colony the early lead, scoring less than two minutes into regulation. Peterson tied the score at 1, with a goal early in the second period. The Knights carried a 3-1 lead until Goff scored with 1:47 left to play.

Bryant Marks earned the win in the Knights net, stopping 24 shots. Wasilla’s Phillip Brevogel finished with 20 saves.

Wasilla entered the two-day MAC tourney as the top seed, and blanked Lathrop 4-0 in the semifinals Friday. Goff scored twice. Garrison Holler and Chase Schachle also grabbed a goal. Brevogel earned the shutout.

In the other semi, second-seeded Colony beat West Valley 5-1. Ketchum scored twice. McLaughlin, Blake Reid and Jacob Ross also had a goal.

Despite falling in the MAC title game, Wasilla earned the No. 4 seed in the Division I state tourney, and will open against fifth-seeded Eagle River Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Colony is the seventh seed and will meet second-seeded Dimond Thursday at 5 p.m.

Palmer caps season with a win

The Palmer Moose capped their season with a 4-3 overtime victory over North Pole during the third-place game of the Division II state tournament Saturday at the Patty Center in Fairbanks. Zach Nelius notched the game-winner to help the Moose finish in the top 3 for the second straight year. The Moose earned the Division II state title last year.

Nelius led the Moose with two goals. Bryce Armstrong and Jeremy Horacek also scored for Palmer.

The Moose finished with 41 shots in the win.

Valley players honored

Chase Schachle led a group of Valley players honored by their conferences. Schachle, a Wasilla forward was named the Mid-Alaska Conference Player of the Year. Schachle was also one of three Warriors to land on the first team, joning forward Colin Goff and defensman Brendan Woolcott. Colony forward Jacob Ross and Knights goalie Bryant Marks were also named first-team all-conference.

Wasilla forward Dylan Harbour, Wasilla defenseman Devin Carney, Colony forward Kaden Ketchum and Colony defenseman Carson McLaughlin were named to the second-team.

Palmer goalie TJ O’Rourke represented Palmer on the All-Railbelt Conference first team.

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