Warriors, Knights advance to Division I state hockey tournament, will play each other in the first round

Both the Wasilla Warriors and Colony Knights capped the Division I regular season by splitting with a pair of Railbelt Conference opponents from Fairbanks over the weekend.

Wasilla and Colony finished in a tie at 3-3-0 in the Railbelt Conference. But the Warriors grabbed second place in the four-team conference and an automatic bid to the state tournament. Colony finished third, and is also headed to state.

Both Valley teams beat Lathrop and fell to West Valley. Wasilla and Colony also finished tied at 3-3-0 in the conference. The Warriors and Knights finished 2-0-0 against Lathrop, 0-2-0 against West Valley, and 1-1-0 against each other.

Wasilla earned the second seed with the third tiebreaker, goal differential. The Warriors outscored Colony 8-5 in the two meetings.

And now, the Warriors and Knights will meet once again, this time in the first round of the ASAA/First National Cup Division I state hockey tournament, which starts Thursday at the Menard Arena. The rivals face off Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals.

The Warriors raced past Lathrop 11-1 on Feb. 8. Karson McGrew, Jacey Matson and Evan Owen scored two goals each. Dylan Mead, Mason Varner, Matthew DeMaster, Chase Malstrom and Simon Giani also scored. Braeden Willis made 11 saves for the Warriors. Wasilla outshot Lathrop 42-12.

West Valley beat the Warriors 6-3 on Feb. 7. Robert Mikulecky and Elijah Barcelona scored for the Warriors. West Valley tallied five power plays goals in the win.

Colony beat Lathrop 10-2 on Feb. 7. Tristen Sawyer and Jake Seward-Jenski scored two goals each. Dane Joseph, Jaxon Allen, Toryn Coffey, Jac Albers, Matthew Ross and Austin Fangmann also scored.

Allen, Fangmann and Logan Zarones scored during a 9-3 loss to West Valley on Feb. 8.

Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.