Warriors edge Knights

WASILLA — During the final two days of the Palmer Hockey Showdown tournament last week, the Wasilla Warriors and Colony Knights were part of a combined three tied games. Tuesday, as the Warriors and Knights skated with the score knotted at 3 deep in the third period, hockey faithful probably could not help but wonder if the Valley rivals were on the verge of another draw.

But Alex Engan found a way to break the stalemate.

The Wasilla sophomore scored the game-winning goal with 6 minutes and 27 seconds left in the third to help the Warriors score a 4-3 North Star Conference victory over the Knights at the Menard Arena in Wasilla.

With the Warriors on the power play, Dylan Abbott moved the puck forward to Engan, who raced up the left wing, and unleashed a wrister from the left wing circle that found the far side of the net.

“The whole team worked hard and played smart through most of that third period,” Wasilla head coach Trent Schachle said after the win.

Wasilla grabbed an early 3-1 lead in the game, but Colony used a pair of second-period goals to tie the score at 3.

“We were getting tired,” Schachle said.

Jake Kirsch and Cooper Smith each scored in the second period to help the Knights tie the game. Early in the second, Kirsch created a turnover in the Wasilla defensive zone, right between the circles, and was able to pop a quick shot in the upper shelf of the net. About four minutes later, Smith cashed in on a Colony power play chance to tie the game at 3.

Colony held the first lead of the game. Kirsch, who tallied a game-best two goals, hammered home a rebound off a Tesean Evans shot to give the Knights a 1-0 lead with 10:18 left in the first.

But that lead wouldn’t last long.

Just more than a minute later, Porter Schachle poked in a rebound created by a Russell Harren shot to tie the score at 1.

“He drives wide. Porter’s goal was all because of Russell’s hard work,” Trent Schachle said.

Harren used his speed later in the period, wheeling up the left side before finding the back of the net.

“Russell has amazing speed,” Schachle said.

Colony outshot Wasilla 34-24 in the loss. Wasilla goalie Aaron Campbell made 31 saves in the Warriors win. Colony head coach Jamie Smith said the play of Campbell was certainly a difference-maker in the game. Smith also said Colony’s ability to cash in on only one power-play opportunity was a factor.

“We need to work on our power play,” Smith said.

Overall, Smith said, despite the loss, he’s happy where his team is headed early in the 2016-17 season.

“I felt good. They’ve got a good team,” Smith said of the Warriors. “I tell our kids. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

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

Wasilla 4, Colony 3

Tuesday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Colony- Kirsch (Evans) 10:18; 2. Wasilla- Schachle (Harren) 9:11; 3. Wasilla- Matson (Harren, Lutz) 8:43; 4. Wasilla- Harren (unassisted) 2:52.

Second period — 5. Colony- Kirsch (unassisted) 11:23; 6. Colony- Smith (Riekena) pp 7:39.

Third period — 7. Wasilla- Engan (Abbott, Matson) pp 6:27.