POWER PLAY: Knights hold on to earn win over Warriors

WASILLA — As the Colony enjoyed a big night on the power play, the Knights got some unexpected extra work on the penalty kill. Wasilla struck twice late, during a 5-minute Colony penalty, but the Knights held on for 3-2 win over the Warriors Friday at the Menard Arena in Wasilla.

Colony took a 3-0 lead late into the third, but Alex Engan and Porter Schachle each scored for the Warriors within 42 seconds during Wasilla’s long power play to cut the lead to 3-2. After Schachle brought the Warriors within a goal, Wasilla still had 1 minute, 44 seconds left with the advantage during the Colony major. Players are required to serve the entire time during a major penalty, regardless of how many goals are scored.

“We made a couple of mistakes on the penalty kill and it cost us,” Colony head coach Jamie Smith said after the win.

Smith praised the work of his players, particularly his seniors, as Wasilla tried to get the equalizer late. The Warriors pulled goaltender Aaron Campbell late in the power play to set up the 6-on-4 advantage, and again after the Colony penalty expired. Wasilla finished with 15 shots in the third, the majority coming in the final five minutes of the period.

On a night Colony celebrated its senior night, Smith used his seniors on the ice for the majority of the final stretch of the game.

“They’re poised,” Smith said. “Our seniors were out on the rink for the last two minutes.”

Smith said his seniors have the stamina to make it through a stretch like that. But he also said he trusts their intelligence on the ice.

With the Warriors trailing 3-0 late in the third, Engan brought the puck to the top of the right wing circle and fired a shot past the glove of Colony netminder Cole Doss to put Wasilla on the scoreboard. Less than a minute later, Schachle attacked the glove side and was able to slip a shot just inside the right post.

Smith praised the work of both goaltenders, Doss and Wasilla’s Aaron Campbell, in the game.

“I thought Cole played great. He made some really nice saves early,” Smith said. “I thought Campbell played good. He did a nice job.

Doss made 29 saves in the win. Campbell stopped 27 shots in the loss.

Colony did all of its damage on the power play, finishing the game 3 for 4 with the advantage. Tae’jean Evans, Cooper Smith and Foster Riekena recorded a power play tally each for the Knights.

Late in the first, Riekena held the puck at the right wing circle, and found Evans all alone on the left. Evans buried the shot to give the Knights the 1-0 lead.

“Fantastic,” Smith said of the pass. “He’s so tricky. He does such a nice job.”

Late in the second, Smith one-timed a Jake Hessinger pass from the point to give the Knights a 2-0 lead. In the third, Riekena scored from the right wing circle to provide the eventual game-winner.

“We worked on the power play all week and it has been coming together for us,” Smith said.

Colony (9-1-0) officially clinched the top seed in the North Star Conference Championships, which start Saturday in Soldotna. The Wasilla loss also clinched the No. 2 seed for Homer (8-2-0). Colony and Homer will have first-round byes in the three-day, six-team tournament. Wasilla is now 6-3-0 in region play. Wasilla wins on Friday and Saturday against Palmer would have created a three-way tie at the top of the standings.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Colony 3, Wasilla 2

Friday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Colony- Evans (Riekena, Hessinger) pp 3:00.

Second period — 2. Colony- Smith (Hessinger, Ketchum) pp 1:31.

Third period — 3. Colony- Riekena (Hessinger, Smith) pp 7:28; 4. Wasilla- Engan (Masterson, D. Carney) pp 4:34; 5. Wasilla- P. Schachle (Engan, D. Carney) pp 3:52.

Shots on goal: Wasilla 9-7-15—31, Colony 12-12-6—30; Saves: Wasilla- Campbell 11-11-5—27, Colony- Doss 9-7-13—29.