Prep hockey: Hawks score win over Knights

WASILLA — The Houston Hawks and the Colony Knights skated even for nearly 20 minutes Friday at the Menard Arena.

But the Hawks exploded for five goals in the final period and a half, and scored a 6-2 nonconference win over the Knights.

Colony senior Risto Paatsama scored a power-play goal off a deflection of a Lance Nezeticky shot early in the first period to give the Knights the 1-0 lead.

But the Knights wouldn’t have the lead for long.

Jordan Cole tapped in a Casey Marre pass 34 seconds later to tie the score.

Colony head coach Dale Mattson said he felt that was a pivotal point in the game.

“We got the first goal and I think we kind of relaxed, and then they score 34 seconds later,” Mattson said.

Seniors Dillon Styers scored twice for the Hawks. Micah Ranum, Jake Henkel and Brenden Weimer also scored for HHS.

“I thought in the first period, their goalie played great,” Houston head coach Mike Styers said, referring Colony netminder Charlie Holman. “Once a couple got in, I think it took its toll.”

Styers also felt his team worked much harder in the final two periods.

“We came out in the first period flat footed,” Henkel said. “But we came out in the second and the third period and played a lot better.”

Houston scored three times on special teams in the final period. Henkel and Weimer scored shorthanded goals 49 seconds apart, and Ranum tapped in a rebound on the power play.

Houston 6, Colony 2

Friday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Colony- Paatsama (Henkel, Nezticky) pp 11:49, 2. Houston- Cole (Marre, Weimer) 11:15.

Second period — 3. Houston- Styers (Henkel) 4:57, 4. Houston- Styers (Ranum, Henkel) 3:09, 5. Houston- Ranum (Weimer) pp 8:53, 6. Houston- Henkel (unassisted) sh 6:40, 7. Houston- Weimer (unassisted) sh 5:51, 8. Colony- Thygesen (Sawyer, Frank) pp 2:54.