Palmer, Colony hockey squads improve to 2-0

The Palmer Moose and Colony Knights are off to fast starts after the first week of the 2021 Mat-Su prep hockey season. Palmer improved to 2-0 with a 4-2 win over the Wasilla Warriors, and Colony skated to its second straight with an 11-2 victory over Houston.

Carter Greco scored a pair of third-period goals to help the Moose grab a win over rival Waslla Saturday at the MTA Events Center. Greco scored the eventual game-winner with 5 minutes, 18 seconds left in the second period. Greco added a power play goal about four minutes later.

Greco also helped give Palmer its first lead of the game, assisting on Jeremy Horacek’s goal at the 7:07 mark of the first period. Wasilla’s Austin Peterson used the first of his two goals in the game to tie the score at 1 with 12:13 left in the middle frame. Peterson added an unassisted tally for the Warriors with 12:26 left in the third.

Three of Palmer’s four goals came in the second period. Matias Broughton scored shorthanded with 7:10 left in the second.

Greco finished with a game-high two goals and an assist. Horacek had a goal and an assist for the Moose.

Palmer outshot Wasilla 28-23 in the win. Palmer’s Jackson Heard stopped 21 shots in the win. Wasilla’s Jakob Barcelona made 24 saves in the loss,

Colony stormed to an 11-2 win over Houston Saturday at the Menard Arena.

Carson McLaughlin enjoyed a six-point day for the Knights, bagging a hat trick and three assists. Joseph Kirk and Carsen Lantto finished with two goals each. Drake Gallagher, Kai Dixon and Tyler Keefe also scored. Aidan Finch added three assists, and Lantto, Dixon and Jacob Ross had two helpers each.

Brayden Johnson and Kinley Scott scored for Houston.

Colony outshot Houston 53-14 in the win. Malachi Mukaabya stopped 12 shots in the Colonyt win. Kevin Lewis made the start for the Hawks, and recorded 29 saves during the first two periods. Ari Burnside made 13 saves in the third for Houston.

Valley teams return to action Wednesday. Colony hosts Palmer at 4 p.m. at the Menard. Houston hosts Wasilla at 7 p.m. at the Big Lake Recreation Center.

Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.