Prep hockey: T-Birds power past Knights

WASILLA — The East Anchorage Thunderbirds used five power-play goals to score a 7-2 nonconference win over the Colony Knights in the first round of the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla on Wednesday.

Colony took the early 1-0 lead, but the T-Birds scored three times in each of the final two periods to earn the win and move into the semifinal round.

East will face Palmer in the semis. The Moose used seven first-period goals to beat Eagle River 8-4.

Colony will face Eagle River in the consolation semifinals at noon today.

Lance Nezaticky and Ryan Weeks each scored for CHS (1-1).

Colony took advantage of an early 5-on-3 situation, with Nezaticky’s score.

Skating with the two-man advantage, Colony defenseman Dominick Frank knocked a soft shot from the point toward the East goal. Nezaticky, standing in front of the net, deflected the shot in.

The Knights scored again late in the second period.

Weeks, crashing the net, caught a quick pass from senior Blake Huppert, and popped the puck into the net.

In other Menard action, the Wasilla Warriors scored three times on the power play during a 6-0 win over the Lathrop Malemutes on Thursday.

Sophomore Matthew Friese scored one of his two goals with the man advantage.

Senior Dane Wilson and freshman Trent Wohlers also scored power-play goals.

Wasilla will face Houston today in the Menard semifinals at 7:15 p.m.

Houston scored a 5-2 win over Homer.

Freshman Micah Ranum led the Hawks with two goals.

East Anchorage 7, Colony 2

Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Hockey Tournament

Wednesday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Colony- Nezaticky (Frank) pp 8:08, 2. East- Hudson (Ellis) pp 00:27.

Second period — 3. East- Chambers (unassisted) 10:24, 4. East- Cohen (Ellis) pp 8:01, 5. East- Tucker (unassisted) 7:20, 6. Colony- Weeks (Huppert) pp 1:38.

Third period — 7. East- Gerken (Tucker) pp 10:29, 8. East- Lutten (Gerken, Tucker) 6:09, 9. East- Chambers (Reynolds) pp 3:03.

Shots on goal: East 9-9-12—30, Colony 3-3-3—9; Saves: East- Thomas 2-2-3—7, Colony Holman 8-1-x—9, Lamouria x-5-9—14; Power plays: East 5-8, Colony 2-6; Penalties: East 8-16, Colony 10-20.