Shorthanded Hawks score first Mid-Alaska win

WASILLA — There are going to be days when the Houston Hawks feel simply drained.

A day after the perpetually shorthanded Hawks made program history with a 3-2 win over Lathrop, Houston succumbed to a team with overwhelming depth in a 11-0 loss to North Pole.

The Hawks dressed only 11 skaters and two goalies in the loss to North Pole, and used only nine skaters in the win over Lathrop. At any given moment during the weekend, Houston’s opponents had more athletes on their bench than the Hawks did on their roster. That combined with three games in as many days proved to be a difficult task for Houston.

“It takes it’s toll,” Houston head coach Mike Styers said following the loss to North Pole on Saturday.

The Hawks made school history on Friday with their win over Lathrop. The victory marked their first conference win since joining the Mid-Alaska and the 4A level.

“The kids worked hard, followed the game plan we set out at the beginning,” Styers said.

Senior Dillon Styers scored twice against the Lathrop. His second goal of the night, a shorthanded tally late in the third period, was the game-winner.

With 3 minutes and 43 seconds left in regulation and Lathrop skating on the power play, Styers picked up a loose puck, broke away from the Lathrop defense and buried the game-deciding score.

Freshman Micah Ranum also scored a power-play goal in the win.

On Saturday, North Pole hit double digits in shots in each of the three periods and out-shot the Hawks 26-16 in the contest.

The Patriots took a 5-0 lead into the third period, and exploded for six goals in the final frame. Three of those scores came on the power play, while another was scored in a 4-on-4 situation.

Senior Nick Tillman led North Pole with the hat trick, while junior Nicholas Crutcher, sophomore Vance Bridgeman and freshman Jared Linnell each scored twice. Sophomore D.J. Carney and freshman Jordan Pascoe also scored for NPHS.

“I think they’re the toughest team we’ve faced so far,” Styers said of the Patriots. “I’d put them up there with the caliber of Wasilla.”

The Hawks have suffered a handful of key injuries in the past few weeks. Junior defenseman Brendan Weimer is out with a broken leg. Styers said he is hoping to have Weimer back by the end of the season.

Also out is freshman Rye Humphries with a broken collarbone.

Jake Henkel, the center of Houston’s top line, saw limited action on Saturday due to injury.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Houston 3, Lathrop 2

Friday, Menard Memorial Arena

Lathrop 1-0-1—2

Houston 0-2-1—3

First period — 1. Lathrop- Martin (Anderson, Fowler) 13:26.

Second period — 2. Houston- Ranum (Marre, Hundley) pp 10:07, 3. Houston- Styers (Henkel) 6:23.

Third period — 4. Lathrop- Thiel (unassisted) sh 8:22, 5. Houston- Styers (unassisted) sh 3:43.

Shots on goal: Lathrop 8-8-11—27, Houston 10-8-3—21; Saves: Lathrop- Williams 10-6-2—18, Houston- Rauchenstein 7-8-10—25; Penalties: Lathrop 5-for-10, Houston 6-for-12; Power plays: Lathrop 0-for-4, Houston 1-for-5.

North Pole 11, Houston 0

Saturday, Menard Memorial Arena

North Pole 2-3-6—11

Houston 0-0-0—0

First period — 1. North Pole- Carney (N. Copley) pp 4:17, 2. North Pole- Crutcher (Tilman, Land) 2:11.

Second period — 3. North Pole- Bredgeman (Carney, Crutcher) 9:52, 4. North Pole- Linnell (Kurkowski, Land) 1:16, 5. North Pole- Crutcher (Tilman) 1:08.

Third period — 6. North Pole- Tilman (Land) 4x4 14:09, 7. North Pole- Linnell (Land, Crutcher) pp 12:13, 8. North Pole- Tilman (unassisted) 11:36, 9. North Pole- Bridgeman (Tilman, N. Copley) pp 10:36, 10. North Pole- Tilman (Linnell) pp 7:49, 11. North Pole- Pascoe (N. Copley) 1:38.

Shots on goal: North Pole 15-18-13—46, Houston 6-7-3—16; Saves: North Pole- P. Copley 6-7-3—16, Houston- Rauchenstein 13-15-x—28, Munoz x-x-7—7; Penalties: North Pole 5-for-10, Houston 8-for-16; Power plays: North Pole 4-for-8, Houston 0-for-5.